The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington delivered the city’s most anticipated hospitality night of spring.
Mayor Bowser Headlined the Capital Achievement Award
On May 5, The Watergate Hotel hosted the 3rd Annual RAMMYS Honors Cocktail Reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., gathering chefs, restaurateurs, and tastemakers under one roof. Guests were treated to a generous spread of tacos paired with flowing tequila, Peroni, and Peroni 0.0 throughout the evening.
Mayor Muriel Bowser took center stage as the 2026 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award recipient, a nod to her decade-plus of championing small business policy, expanding capital access, and strengthening DC’s hospitality backbone. During a fireside chat with MS NOW’s Symone Sanders-Townsend, co-host of The Weeknight, the Mayor revealed that if she ever opened a restaurant, it would serve breakfast all day!
It was refreshing to see the Mayor loosen her usual buttoned-up demeanor. NBC News4 Today’s Jummy Olabanji served as emcee.
Milestone Honorees Defined DC Dining History
That night, RAMW celebrated restaurants reaching landmark anniversaries. The Diner and Mezè Restaurant and Bar marked 25 years. All Day Cafe @ Kramers, L’Auberge Chez François, and La Chaumière celebrated 50.
Giant Food hit 90, and the crowd erupted with a loud, collective plea for the grocery chain to bring back its beloved Bulk Food Barrels.
The St. Regis Washington, D.C. crossed the century mark, and Executive Chef Jason Galbao was named a Semi-Finalist for Chef of the Year in the 2026 RAMMYS Awards, marking the first year the program has introduced a Semi-Finalist round.
An Honorary RAMMY Award went to Stratus Firm for 13 years of producing the gala. Proceeds benefited Educated Eats, RAMW’s foundation supporting the next generation of industry talent.
A Lead-In to June’s Main Stage
Consequently, the reception set the table for the 44th Annual RAMMYS Awards & Gala on June 29 at Arena Stage and The Anthem. Tickets are available now!
The Washington Lobbyist proudly champions the restaurateurs, operators, and frontline workers powering DC’s dining economy. Grab your June gala tickets at TheRAMMYS.org and toast the people who feed our city.
