The 33rd annual RAMMY Awards, a.k.a. the Oscars for Washington’s restaurant industry, unfolded Sunday night at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. A black tie crowd of hundreds included the city’s top chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and other leading hospitality players, all present to learn who’ll earn trophies—and more importantly, bragging rights.
As is the case every year, an anonymous panel of judges—including past winners, industry insiders, and members of the media—decide the victors. A few categories, including Favorite Gathering Place and Favorite Fast Bites, are determined by public voting.
It’s also important to note that not every restaurant and bar in Washington is eligible for the competition. All nominees must be paying members of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW); a few notable establishments, including Rose’s Luxury, don’t participate in the trade group. There’re also restrictions in regards to time—most categories require that a restaurant operate for a year or more.
