Several Northern Virginia restaurants have been named RAMMYS award finalists. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)’s program recognizes excellence across DC’s restaurant and food service community.
Fairfax’s modern American restaurant Elyse is a contender for Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year. Helmed by chef Jonathan Krinn, Elyse is one of Northern Virginia Magazine‘s 50 Best Restaurants of 2025. Our food critics said Krinn’s monthly tasting menu “unfolds like a garden poem … This meal is a masterclass in storytelling, told one plated chapter at a time.”
Vienna Persian eatery Joon, also a 2025 Best Restaurant, is in the running for Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year.
Alexandria’s Matt & Tony’s and Arlington’s Ruthie’s All Day are finalists for Best Brunch of the Year. Ruthie’s chef Matt Hill is opening a second location in Fairfax Corner this spring. Ruthie’s is also on our Best Restaurants list, and Hill and Krinn were both part of our April “Where Chefs Eat” cover story.
Three more restaurants with NoVA locations — Andy’s Pizza, Call Your Mother, and Queen Mother’s Kitchen — are candidates for Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year. Taquería Xochi, which has an Arlington location, is in the running for Casual Restaurant of the Year. And Arlington’s Celebrity Delly is a finalist for Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year.
“At The RAMMYS, you’re immersed in the full experience of what makes the DC region such a powerhouse for dining,” Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of RAMW, said in a release. “These Finalists aren’t just doing exceptional work, they’re also elevating the standard and creating the kind of special moments that keep people coming back and talking about the Washington region as a world-class dining destination. That momentum is real, and it keeps on growing.”
Winners will be announced at The RAMMYS awards ceremony on June 29 at DC’s Arena Stage.
Feature photo of Joon by Michael Butcher
