4 Pittsburgh Restaurants, Chefs Named 2025 James Beard Semifinalists

PITTSBURGH, PA —Four restaurants and chefs were named 2025 James Beard semifinalists, the organization announced Wednesday.

2025 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 Pittsburgh, this year's semifinalists are:

Best New Restaurant: Fet-Fisk, Bloomfield.

The Beard nomination is the latest honor for Fet-Fisk, which hasn't even been open for a year. In September, it was named one of the nation's best new restaurants by The New York Times. In November, it was named one of the nation's 14 best new restaurants by food website Eater. Fet-Fisk was the only Pennsylvania restaurant to make the list.

Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic Region)

• Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski, Apteka, Lawrenceville.

Lasky and Skowronski previously were named Beard semifinalists in 2023 and 2024 for their Central and Eastern European cuisine prepared at Apteka.

• Wei Zhu, Chengdu Gourmet, Squirrel Hill.

This is Zhu's sixth Beard nomination in the 11 years since he opened Chengdu Gourmet, which specializes in Sichuan cuisine.

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.