Restaurateurs with projects in Arlington and Falls Church are stepping into another RAMMY Awards season with plenty of recognition to go around.
Restaurants and hospitality groups with a foothold in the local area have received nearly two dozen RAMMY semifinalist nominations at the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s annual program spotlighting excellence in the region’s culinary scene.
Five of the 10 restaurants in the “Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year” category have locations in Arlington: Andy’s Pizza, Call Your Mother, Colada Shop, Queen Mother’s Kitchen and Stellina Pizzeria.
Colada Shop, the Cuban cafe and restaurant with outposts in Crystal City and Clarendon, is also entering the pool with nominations for best chef and best restaurateur.
Other highlights include the popular Falls Church spot, NUE: Elegantly Vietnamese, for “Upscale Restaurant of the Year,” as well as Northside Social pastry chef Bridie McCulla for “Pastry Chef of the Year.”
This is the first year in the RAMMYS four-decade history that the program is revealing its semifinalists. Typically, the program releases a list of finalists each year ahead of the awards program.
“The RAMMYS have always been about celebrating the people who make Washington’s dining scene so dynamic,” Restaurant Association Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of RAMW. “Introducing Semi-Finalists allows us to expand the circle of recognition of chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality professionals who are pushing the industry forward and making Washington one of the most exciting food cities in the country.”
Semifinalists advancing to the finalist round will be announced April 6 during a ceremony at The Hamilton Live in D.C., followed by a RAMMYS Honors Cocktail Reception on May 5 and the 44th Annual RAMMYS Awards and Gala on June 29.
Here’s a look at the semifinalists representing restaurants in Arlington and Falls Church.
- Upscale Restaurant of the Year: NUE: Elegantly Vietnamese (944 W. Broad Street)
- Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Robbie Reyes — Lucky Danger (1101 S. Joyce Street)
- Manager of the Year: Pizzeria Paradiso (coming soon to 1611 Crystal Drive)
- Employee of the Year: Ingrid Arteaga — Open Road (1201 Wilson Blvd)
- Beer Program of the Year: Astro Beer Hall (4001 Campbell Avenue) and Solace Outpost (444 W. Broad Street)
- Pastry Chef/Baker of the Year: Bridie McCulla — Northside Social (3211 Wilson Blvd and 205 Park Avenue) and Genesis Flores — Seven Reasons Group (Surreal at 2117 Crystal Drive)
- Chef of the Year: Jovana Urriola — Colada Shop (2811 Clarendon Blvd and 244 19th Court S.)
- Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year: Andy’s Pizza (901 N. Pollard Street), Call Your Mother (1671 Crystal Drive), Colada Shop, Queen Mother’s Kitchen (1711 Crystal Drive) and Stellina Pizzeria (2800 S. Randolph Street)
- Casual Restaurant of the Year: Taqueria Xochi (1450 S. Eads Street) and The Falls (370 W. Broad Street)
- Restaurateur of the Year: Téa Ivanovic & Peter Schechter — Immigrant Food (4245 Fairfax Drive), Daniella Senior — Colada Shop and Enrique Limardo and Ezequiel Vázquez-Ger — Seven Reasons Group
- Best Bar of the Year: The Salt Line (4040 Wilson Blvd)
- Best Brunch of the Year: Ambar (2901 Wilson Blvd) and Ruthie’s All Day (3411 5th St S.)
- Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year: Queen Mother’s Kitchen
