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Which chef took home the top prize at this year’s RAMMYS?

By Luke Lukert

Did the shop that creates your favorite pastrami sandwich win a top prize, or did the watering hole that mixes your favorite cocktail win best bar? The best chefs and restaurants across the D.C.-area were honored at the 2025 RAMMYS Awards and Gala Sunday night.

The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington held its 43rd annual event at D.C.’s Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Carlos Delgado, co-owner of Peruvian restaurants Causa and Amazonia in of Northwest D.C., took home the top prize of Chef of the Year, adding to his James Beard and Michelin star accolades.

Restaurateur of the Year went to Seng Luangrath, owner of Laotian restaurants Baan Mae, Thip Khao and Padaek.

New Restaurant of the Year went to Union Market’s La’ Shukran, which dishes out late night Arabic bites in a funky setting. It is also home to Pastry Chef of the Year Alicia Wang, who is also responsible for eats at YELLO and Albi.

The hottest sandwich spot in D.C. went to Jetties, with its Thanksgiving-inspired Nobadeer sandwich with turkey.

Best Bar honors belong to the Tune Inn Restaurant and Bar on Capitol Hill.

If you are looking for a less formal place to eat, 2Fifty Texas BBQ with locations on K Street and in Riverdale, Maryland, won Casual Restaurant of the Year.

And if you want to dress up, Latin American vegetable-focused MITA won Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year.

Best Brunch went to the ever-popular French bistro Le Diplomate.

And who should you look out for? Chef Suresh Sundas, who prepares curry-inspired dishes on Maryland Avenue at Daru.

All 2025 RAMMYS winners are listed below (*denotes publicly voted category):

  • Allied Member of the Year: Keany Produce & Gourmet
  • Beer Program of the Year: Atlas Brew Works
  • *Best Bar of the Year: Tune Inn Restaurant and Bar
  • *Best Brunch of the Year: Le Diplomate
  • Casual Restaurant of the Year: 2Fifty Texas BBQ
  • Chef of the Year: Carlos Delgado — Causa/Amazonia
  • Cocktail Program of the Year: Jane Jane
  • Employee of the Year: Juan Sanchez — Cafe du Parc and Willard’s Peacock Alley
  • Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year: La Tejana
  • *Favorite Gathering Place of the Year: The Dew Drop Inn
  • Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: MITA
  • *Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year: Jetties
  • Manager of the Year: Lorena Reyes — Founding Farmers
  • New Restaurant of the Year: La’ Shukran
  • Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year: Alicia Wang — Yellow/Albi/La’ Shukran
  • Restaurateur of the Year: Seng Luangrath — Baan Mae, Padaek, and Thip Khao
  • Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Suresh Sundas — Daru
  • Service Program of the Year: El Cielo
  • Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Tail Up Goat
  • Wine Program of the Year: Era Wine Bar

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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