On Monday, June 29, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) revealed the winners of the 44th annual Rammy Awards, offering a glimpse into the vibrant restaurant landscape of the nation’s capital. This year’s awards featured a notably different format compared to previous years, with nearly two dozen categories celebrating excellence in the culinary industry.
Traditionally hosted at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Shaw, this year’s ceremony took place on a Monday rather than the usual Sunday, similar to the format of the James Beard Awards. The event was split across two locations, beginning at the Wharf’s Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater for the awards presentation, followed by a lively celebration at the nearby music venue, the Anthem. This year also saw the introduction of a new step in the selection process, narrowing down semifinalists to finalists.
Among the standout winners, Albi, the acclaimed wood-fired Palestinian restaurant by chef Michael Rafidi located in Navy Yard, took home the award for Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year. This accolade comes shortly after Albi received a prestigious four-star review from The New York Times, marking it as the first out of New York City to achieve such a high rating. Additionally, Tsehay in Adams Morgan, the only Ethiopian restaurant nominated in any category, was honored as Casual Restaurant of the Year. Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, a long-standing downtown establishment that has faced numerous nominations without a win, was finally recognized with the Service Program of the Year award.
An anonymous panel of judges from food and media selected the nominees and winners in most of the culinary categories. The awards ceremony featured prominent presenters, including Top Chef alum Carla Hall, podcast host Nycci Nellis, and NBC4’s Jummy Olabanji, Eun Yang, and Tommy McFly, creating an engaging atmosphere for attendees.
A comprehensive list of the winners has been compiled:
In total, five categories were open for public voting, allowing any qualifying restaurant or food service operation in the area to participate, regardless of their RAMW membership status. Notably, a new award for Content Creator of the Year was introduced for 2026. The earlier announced winners include:
However, the awards evening was not without its controversies, as union representatives distributed flyers outside the event, highlighting allegations of “illegal union-busting” tactics by restaurateur Stephen Starr in D.C.; a subject thoroughly covered by Eater last year.
In a celebratory note, Mayor Muriel Bowser was awarded the Capital Achievement Award, and RAMW also honored legacy establishments throughout the DMV region with Honorary Milestone Awards for reaching significant anniversaries: The Diner (25 years), La Chaumière (50 years), and Giant Food (90 years).
