See MoCo Restaurants Nominated For Top Dining Awards In DMV

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Nine Montgomery County restaurants are among the finalists for the 2025 RAMMYs, the regional restaurant and food service awards held by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.

The annual awards honor the accomplishments of the DMV's restaurant and food service community.

Venues from Montgomery County that were nominated, and the category they are in, include:

Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year:

• Emma’s Torch-DC
• Yellow-Georgetown
• La Tejana-DC
• Love on the Run at Love Makoto-DC
• Andy’s Pizza - Tysons, Fairfax, DC, Alexandria, Bethesda, Ballston locations

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year:

• Ometeo - Tysons
• King Street Oyster Bar - DC, Potomac
• Tail Up Goat-DC
• Petite Cerise-DC
• Amparo Fondita-DC

New Restaurant of the Year:

• Ama-DC
• La’ Shukran-DC
• Kayu-DC
• Pascual-DC
• San Pancho-Takoma Park

Best Brunch of the Year :

• Sequoia-DC
• Vera Cocina & Bar-DC
• Josephine-Alexandria
• J. Hollingers Waterman’s Chophouse-Silver Spring
• Le Diplomate-DC

Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year:

• Your Only Friend-DC
• Queen Mother’s-Arlington
• Soko Butcher-Takoma Park
• Jetties-DC; Bethesda and Chevy Chase
• AmpersSandwich at Shilling Canning Co.-DC

Chef of the Year:

• Carlos Delgado, Causa / Amazonia-DC
• Matt Adler, Caruso’s Grocery-DC, North Bethesda
• Matt Conroy & Isabel Coss, Lutece and Pascual-DC
• Rubén García Castilla, Casa Teresa-DC
• Mike Friedman, Red Hen-DC

Restaurateur of the Year:

• Seng Luangrath, Baan Mae
• Cici Yang, Yume Sushi, KYOJIN Sushi, and Rimtang
• Daniel Kramer, Duke's Grocery-DC, Potomac
• Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurant Group
• Tea Ivanovic, Immigrant Food

Restaurant Employee of the Year:

• Keiri Tobar Morales – RPM Italian
• Luis Jara – All Set Restaurant and Bar-Silver Spring
• Juan Sanchez – Café du Parc and Willard’s Peacock Alley
• Daniel Fuentes – Madhatter
• Kristen Wilson – Causa/Amazonia

“Each year, the RAMMYS shine a light on the incredible talent, resilience and creativity that define our region’s vibrant hospitality industry,” said Shawn Townsend, RAMW president and CEO, in a news release. “This year’s finalists represent the heart of our community — from innovative entrepreneurs to the teams that deliver outstanding experiences.”

The RAMMYS honor excellence in the Washington metropolitan area’s restaurant and food service community, from innovative beverage programs and top-tier service to culinary creativity and leadership.

Although RAMW members will vote to choose the winners in a majority of categories, the public can cast ballots in these categories: Best Bar of the Year, Best Brunch of the Year, Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year, and Favorite Gathering Place of the Year. Public voting will be open from May 1 to May 31.

Winners will be announced on Aug. 3 during The RAMMYS Awards & Gala, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. View the full list of 2025 RAMMY Awards Finalists.