20 NYC Restaurants, Chefs Named 2025 James Beard Semifinalists

NEW YORK CITY — Twenty New York City restaurants and chefs were named 2025 James Beard semifinalists, the organization announced Wednesday.

This year is the 35th anniversary of the prestigious culinary awards, sometimes known as the “Oscars of food,” that recognize eateries and chefs who create exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems, the organization said. Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

This year in celebration of the pivotal anniversary, the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists are recognized across 25 categories, with an expanded focus on beverages, introducing three new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

Other categories include outstanding restaurateur, outstanding chef, outstanding restaurant, emerging chef, best new restaurant, outstanding bakery, outstanding pastry chef or baker, outstanding hospitality, outstanding wine and other beverages program, outstanding bar and best chef.

In New York City, the following restaurants and chefs were named semifinalists this year:

Outstanding Restaurateur

• Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d' Or, and Le Rock, New York, NY
• Simon Kim, Gracious Hospitality Management (COTE, Undercote, and COQODAQ), New York, NY

Outstanding Chef

• Gabriel Kreuther, Gabriel Kreuther, New York, NY
• Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY

Outstanding Restaurant

• Don Angie, New York, NY
• The Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, NY

Emerging Chef

• Danny Garcia, Time & Tide, New York, NY
• Daniel Garwood, Acru, New York, NY

Best New Restaurant

• Café Carmellini, New York, NY
• Corima, New York, NY
• Kisa, New York, NY

Outstanding Bakery

• Fan Fan Doughnuts, Brooklyn, NY

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

• Camari Mick, Raf's, New York, NY

Outstanding Hospitality

• Atomix, New York, NY
• Melba's, New York, NY

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

• Hawksmoor, New York, NY

Outstanding Bar

• Leyenda, Brooklyn, NY

Best New Bar

• Sip & Guzzle, New York, NY

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

• Cassandra Felix, Daniel, New York, NY

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

• Takuma Watanabe, Martiny’s, New York, NY

Nominees will be announced on April 2, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

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