Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced today that the 40th Annual RAMMY Awards will return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as an in-person event on Sunday, July 24, 2022. The awards return to honor excellence in long standing categories that range from individual professional honors to accolades celebrating culinary concepts and service.

Over this milestone year for the association, restaurants have faced relentless challenges, but The RAMMY Awards will continue to honor the accomplishments of the restaurant and foodservice industry across the metropolitan Washington region. The awards exist to shine light on some bright and talented stars who stood out for their talents, resilience, and inspiration to their peers and patrons. Overall, the awards honor the entire industry and offer a moment of celebration, which all in the industry deserve.

Last year, categories and eligibility criteria were different to reflect the challenging 2020 year that restaurants spent creatively rethinking how they operate and how diners engage with their establishments. For 2022, the RAMMYS will return to most of the regular categories as the industry has spent the year rebuilding, recovering, and even opening many new establishments to add to the rich fabric of the regional dining scene. However, a selection of categories appear in the Publicly Voted section, which are influenced by last year’s pivots, and which speak to pandemic-era aspects that both restaurants and diners have continued to enjoy and employ. Another carry over from last year, the Publicly Voted categories are open to ANY foodservice operation in the region, while other categories return to requiring RAMW membership in order to be eligible.

On eligibility, consistent with previous years, restaurants that were previously named winners in the past five years are not eligible to be nominated for that same category. This rule will not apply to the 2021 winners, since categories were so different last year, with exception to the winners in the 2021 Managers and Employees of the Year categories. For more information on The 2022 RAMMYS eligibility criteria, visit therammys.org/eligibility-2022.

Anyone in the public can nominate and those in the industry can nominate themselves and others for the following 2022 RAMMY Awards categories. Visit www.therammys.org to submit nominations.

  • Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year

  • Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year

  • Casual Restaurant of the Year

  • New Restaurant of the Year

  • Wine Program of the Year

  • Cocktail Program of the Year

  • Beer Program of the Year

  • Service Program of the Year

  • Chef of the Year

  • Rising Culinary Star of the Year

  • Pastry Chef of the Year

  • Manager of the Year

  • Employee of the Year

  • Restaurateur of the Year

Publicly Voted Categories:

  • Favorite Gathering Place of the Year

  • Best Brunch of the Year

  • Favorite Fast Bites

  • Outstanding Pop-Up Concept

  • Standout Family Meal Packages To Go

  • Splendid Holidays at Home

  • Hottest Sandwich Spot

RAMW has begun accepting online nominations for the above categories at www.therammys.org and looks forward to highlighting the industry’s strength, passion, dedication, and support for communities throughout metropolitan Washington. Nominations will be accepted through Monday, February 28, at 11:59pm EST. Finalists will be announced at an invite-only event this April.

As always, the RAMW Executive Committee will determine the nominees and honorees for the following categories: 

  • Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year

  • Honorary Milestone Award

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