It’s awards season, and the culinary world is abuzz. The 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists were unveiled on January 21, and Pennsylvania is coming in strong. Philadelphia had a tremendous showing among the many nationwide contenders, and Pittsburgh and Lancaster earned nods as well. The James Beard awards, sometimes likened to the Oscars of food, recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality and the broader food system. With Michelin’s foray into Philly in 2025, and the continued innovation of the state’s food scene, it’s an incredible time to be a Pennsylvania gourmand.
Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya
Check out this year’s semifinalists – who are already winners in our book – and take a peek back at last year’s nominees while you’re at it!
Best Restauranteur: Greg Vernick of Vernick Philadelphia (PHL)
Philly heavyweight Chef Greg Vernick leads acclaimed culinary group, Vernick Philadelphia, which includes his flagship, Michelin-recommended, Rittenhouse bistro, Vernick Food & Drink along with Vernick Fish and Vernick Coffee Bar in Logan Square and pasta spot Emilia, opening January 26 in the growing foodie haven of Fishtown-East Kensington. Keep your eye on this Cherry Hill native as his star rapidly ascends and grab your reservation to experience his attention to detail, yourself. Vernick Food & Drink, 2031 Walnut St., Philadelphia; (267) 639-6644.
Outstanding Restaurant: Kalaya (PHL)
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more vibrant menu than that of Kalaya, which splashed on the scene in 2019, quickly outgrowing its South Philly spot and moving to an expansive space just north in Fishtown. Thai Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon is a culinary celebrity, with multiple James Beard Awards for best chef and best new restaurant, an acclaimed cookbook and a Michelin recommendation. She named Kalaya for her mother, who ran a curry paste stall in Thailand. Suntaranon will go down in history for her exceptional expression of southern Thai food, her alluring and imaginative aesthetic and her warm hospitality. 4 West Palmer St., Philadelphia; (215) 545-2535.
Emerging Chef: Frankie Ramirez of Amá (PHL)
Mexico City-born Chef Frankie began his culinary path at 16 as a dishwasher at STARR’s Washington Square (now Talula’s Garden). He’d found his passion and set to work, first as a line cook at famed eateries like Morimoto and Parc, and later as a sous chef and then executive chef at spots like Tredici Enoteca and The Refectory. At Amá in Fishtown, he fuses the six main culinary regions of Mexico in an inventive, seasonal and excquisite menu that’s meant to be shared. 101 West Oxford St., Philadelphia; (215) 425-5880.
Best New Restaurant: Emmett (PHL)
Chef Evan Snyder hit the ground running with his Levantine-inspired Emmett in Northern Liberties. In its first year of business, Emmett has quietly turned heads and built a reputation for its astoundingly good macro-Mediterranean dishes with influences of French, Italian, North African and Middle Eastern cuisine. The tasting menu, while an investment, offers a true culinary experience, with five courses chock full of shareable delights like lamb kibbeh, steelhead trout, badger flame beet and its renowned sesame madeleines with the butter du jour. The a la carte option lets you pick and choose, and the thoughtful beverage menu includes elevated zero proof drinks and locally-sourced beer, ciders and wines. We love all of it! 161 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia; (215) 207-0161.
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Justine MacNeil of Fiore (PHL)
Pastry Chef and Fiore co-owner Justine MacNeil delights the Fishtown-Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia with her delectable Italian baked goods. Available behind the counter daily, her pastries include bomboloni donuts filled with sweet creams, jams and chocolate, tri color cookies, tortas, flaky cornettos, buttery montata cookies and savory tomato pie – among much more. After a few pivots, Fiore reintroduced dinner service (in addition to breakfast and lunch) in 2025, offering even more ways to experience MacNeil’s genius.
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage Program: APTEKA (PGH)
Grown out of pierogi night pop-ups, the now-established local and James Beard favorite APTEKA offers vegan Central and Eastern European fare and drinks. Every January, it offers a comfort food-forward menu called Crapteka, with (meatless) burgers and fries, before returning to its more traditional fare. Drink-wise, there’s an interesting mix with plenty of imported European beers, cocktails that roam into tropical territory, and all kinds of fun and flavorful non-alcoholic beverage. There’s a white rum, coconut milk, pineapple and lychee cocktail and an equally appealing whole orange soda made with clementine juice and peel. On the woodsier side, try a foraged tea like sycamore and quaking aspen, or bark tea made with hickory, sassafras and slippery elm. Whatever suits your fancy, it’s sure to be compelling and delicious. 4606 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh; (412) 251-0189.
Outstanding Bar: Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday (PHL)
Inside of Philly darling Friday Saturday Sunday you’ll find Lovers Bar, a 13-seat, first come, first served bar with some of the best drinks around. These carefully created concoctions are the brain child of Paul MacDonald, who developed Lovers Bar’s signature Carousel menu from a mathematical principle called the Fibonacci Sequence. It’s essentially an infinite, repeating pattern that creates spirals – like pinecones and seashells. At Lovers Bar, there’s a disc-shaped wheel that you spin, with 21 spirits, wines and liqueurs listed. Once spun, it will land on five different ingredients, with which MacDonald and the team create cocktails with the ratio of 1/4 ounce (times two), 3/4 ounce and 1 1/4 ounces. Overwhelmed? He makes it easy. Or, you can simply order from the approachable drink menu with wine, beer, sake and cocktails like False Prophet, with mezcal, lime, lemon-coriander shrub and quinquina cider. 261 South 21st St., Philadelphia; (215) 546-4232.
Best New Bar: Almanac (PHL)
Japanese bar craft meets American speakeasy at Almanac, where impeccable cocktails await on a cozy second floor, above Ogawa Sushi & Kappo in Old City. The drinks are creative takes on classics, like the Kyōto Red Eye – aka espresso martini – made with Japanese vodka, cold brew, kokuto (black sugar), shio (salt) and coffee liqueur and the Kyushiki, an old fashioned made with Japanese whiskey and bourbon plus kokuto and bitters. The friendly service and cool, refreshing playlists only add to the appeal of this splendid little bar.
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Dan Suro-Cipolloni and David Suro-Piñera of Tequilas and La Jefa (PHL)
Father and son duo Dan Suro-Cipolloni and David Suro-Piñera are at the helm of Tequilas and La Jefa, which the elder Suro-Piñera founded. Central to both are tequila (it’s in the name!) and artfully curated mezcal selections in addition to other high quality spirits. While these Center City hot spots share ownership, they differ in Tequilas’ classic lean on upscale Mexican dining, margaritas included, and Le Jefa’s rustic intimacy in its traditional Milpa Bar. 1602 Locust St., Philadelphia; (215) 546-0181, 1605 Latimer St., Philadelphia; (215) 475-5500.
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)
Jamilka Borgest of Lilith (PHL): Borgest (along with co-Chef Dianne DeStefano) puts forth a farm-sourced menu with a strong emphasis on seafood, meats and pasta and DeStefano’s gorgeous desserts. 238 Spahr St., Pittsburgh; (412) 744-9290.
Nathan Flaim of Luca (Lancaster): Flaim spearheads the farm-driven, Italian focused menu of handmade pastas, locally sourced vegetables and roasted meats in downtown Lancaster. 436 W. James St. #101, Lancaster; (717) 553-5770.
Ian Graye of Pietramala (PHL): Graye leads his NoLibs vegan eatery to acclaim by putting plants on a pedestal and setting a high bar as the norm. 614 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia: (215) 970-9541.
Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya (PHL): Widely acclaimed Chef Ito has redefined the sushi scene in Philadelphia with ingredients flown straight from Japan and a newly opened, more casual eatery, Dancerobot. 780 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia; (267) 909-9002.
Randy Rucker of Little Water (PHL): Rucker steers the ship of this contemporary coastal, seafood-centric, Michelin recommended restaurant in Rittenhouse Square. 261 S. 20th St., Philadelphia; (215) 337-3343.
Randy Rucker
Amanda Shulman of Her Place Supper Club (PHL): Shulman creates a magnificent yet homey experience for dinner and brunch diners at her French-inspired Center City eatery. 1740 Sansom St., Philadelphia; no phone.
Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate of Honeysuckle (PHL): Visionary Chefs Tate and Aude-Tate tell the story of African diaspora and Black roots with their refined yet expressive Michelin recommended dinner and libations menus. 631 N. Broad St., Philadelphia; (215) 307-3316.
Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate
Where have you dined? What’s on your bucket list? Tell us below or on our Facebook and Instagram pages!
- Randy Rucker photo: Ted Nghiem
- Lovers Bar photo: Clay Williams
- All other photos: From the respective businesses
