Oyster Oyster chef Rob Rubba has won the RAMMY award for ‘Chef of the Year’. Photograph by Rey Lopez
DC’s restaurant industry’s biggest prizes, the RAMMYs, returned to normal with a grand gala at the convention center on Sunday night. The usual recognitions for best new restaurant and chef of the year had paused during the pandemic in favor of honors for innovative take-out packaging and choice terraces. But this year, the big accolades were back, along with some carryover categories from the Covid era (exceptional pop-up, “splendid vacation at home”).
Another change that’s stuck? Recognize at least some restaurants that are not members of the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Association, a move that has helped make the awards more diverse and representative of the culinary scene. Publicly voted categories like Best Brunch and Hottest Sandwich Shop were open to everyone. The other main categories, decided by an anonymous panel of food and media professionals, were limited to paying members only.
Here are the winners:
Chef of the year: Rob Rubba, Oyster Oyster
Culinary Rising Star of the Year: Christian Irabien, Muchas Gracias
Restaurateur of the year: Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, The Fried Rice Collective
Pastry Chef of the Year: François Yann Buisine, A je ne sais quoi
Employee of the Year: Herman Machado, The Salt Line – Navy Yard
Manager of the year: Robert Heim, Shaw Tavern
New restaurant of the year: Daru
Casual Restaurant of the Year: All Day Ruthie
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year:Albi
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Cranes
Wine of the year program: Queen’s English
Cocktail program of the year: Serenata
Beer Program of the Year: quarry house tavern
Service Program of the Year: Goat with tail
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: Congress Seafood
Publicly voted categories
Splendid holidays at home: Unconventional dinner
hottest sandwich: At Mangialardo
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year: Casta Rum Bar
Favorite quick bites: Small Minor Taco
Outstanding pop-up concept: Bun Daddy
Exceptional Family Meal Packages on the Go: 2 BBQ Fifty Texas
Best brunch of the year: Restaurant A&J
The 2022 RAMMY Honor Award recipients were also honored, celebrating a significant number of years of service to residents and visitors to the Washington metropolitan area: 1789 and The Tombs (60 years), Anthony’s Restaurant (50 years), Bombay Bistro (30 years) , Duangrat’s (35 years old), El Tamarindo (40 years old), Franklins (30 years old), La Côte d’Or Café (30 years old), Mike’s American (35 years old) and Tabard Inn (100 years old).
food editor
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind DC’s food and drink scene. before joining Washingtonian as of July 2016, she was a food editor and Young & Hungry columnist at the Washington City Paper. She is originally from Colorado and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.
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