3 Montgomery County Restaurants Win RAMMY Awards

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Three Montgomery County restaurants won a 2018 RAMMY Award from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).

The RAMMYs honor restaurants and individuals from the foodservice community in a highly-anticipated awards ceremony every summer. The 2018 winners were announced Sunday in 21 award categories.

Three Montgomery County restaurants were honored: The Daily Dish in Silver Spring won "Favorite Gathering Place of the Year;" Owen's Ordinary in North Bethesda won "Beer Program of the Year" and the Moby Dick House of Kabob chain won "Favorite Fast Bites of the Year."

The Daily Dish, located at 8301 Grubb Rd., specializes in American fare. Their Sunday brunch is very popular with dishes like Challah French Toast, Chesapeake Eggs Benedict and Belgian Waffles. They also offer Make Your Own Pizza Kits that diners can take home for birthdays, school fundraisers, family night and more.

Owen's Ordinary at 11820 Trade St. in North Bethesda is a neighborhood tavern, barroom and beer garden at Pike & Rose. They are open for brunch, lunch and dinner. Happy hour is popular with $2 off all Maryland full pours and food specials.

Moby Dick House of Kabob has locations throughout the county in Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, Olney, Gaithersburg and Germantown. They opened their first restaurant in 1989 and offer Persian cooking with a Mediterranean flair. Popular dishes include gyros, pita roll-ups and kabobs.

The winners were determined by public voting and a panel of volunteer judges consisting of food and dining journalists, educators and foodservice industry professionals. The voting public decided the winners in four categories: Favorite Gathering Place of the Year, Upscale Brunch, Everyday Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites.

The 36th Annual RAMMY Award winners are:

• Upscale Brunch of the Year: Osteria Morini
• Casual Brunch of the Year: Ambar Capitol Hill
• Favorite Gathering Place of the Year: The Daily Dish
• Favorite Fast Bites of the Year: Moby Dick House of Kabob
• Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Gerald Addison and Chris Morgan, Compass Rose Bar + Kitchen, Maydan
• Beer Program of the Year: Owen's Ordinary
• Cocktail Program of the Year: Espita Mezcaleria
• Wine Program of the Year: BOURBON STEAK
• Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: USI Insurance Services
• Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year: Right Proper Brewing Company
• Employee of the Year: Andrea Tateosian, Urbana
• Manager of the Year: Heidi Minora, Commissary
• Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Clarity
• Casual Restaurant of the Year: Ivy City Smokehouse Tavern
• Service Program of the Year: minibar by José Andrés
• Restaurateur of the Year: Ari Gejdenson, Mindful Restaurants
• Pastry Chef of the Year: Tiffany MacIsaac, Buttercream Bakeshop
• Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Masseria
• New Restaurant of the Year: CHIKO
• Chef of the Year: Amy Brandwein, Centrolina

RAMW is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the DC metro area.