Maryland's Best Bars And Restaurants Nominees, Vote Now

Columbia, MD – Nominees for Maryland's best restaurant finalists in the 2018 Stars of the Industry Awards include Stanford Grill in Columbia, Lewnes' Steak House in Annapolis and Woodmont Grill in Bethesda. The dining public can March 7-28 for the statewide Stars of the Industry Awards celebrating Maryland’s most elite restaurants and hospitality professionals.

Last year more than 35,000 Maryland foodies voted in the competition, which recognizes new restaurants, chefs, craft brewers, established restaurants, and Ocean City favorites, among other categories. Winners will be announced on Sunday, May 6, at the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s Stars of the Industry Awards Gala – A Shore Thing, to be held for the first time in Ocean City.

The following restaurants and restaurateurs have been nominated as the top finalists in each category:

Maryland's Chef of the Year:
1. George Batlas – Manor Tavern
2. Rashad Edwards - George Martin Group
3. Jon Kohler - Pairings Bistro
4. Enzo Livia - Il Pizzico
5. Julian Marucci - Tagliata

SEE ALSO: Foodie Favorites, Most Romantic, Best In US: MD Restaurants 2017

Craft Brew Program of the Year:
1. The Ale House- Columbia
2. The Brass Tap at the Fitzgerald - Baltimore
3. Pizzeria Paradiso - Hyattsville
4. Wet City - Baltimore
5. White Rabbit Gastropub - Frederick

Maryland's Favorite New Restaurant:
1. Ekiben - Baltimore
2. The Elephant - Baltimore
3. Heritage 485 - Prince Frederick
4. Medium Rare - Bethesda
5. The Turn House - Columbia

Maryland's Favorite Restaurant:
1. Lewnes' Steak House - Annapolis
2. The Prime Rib - Baltimore
3. Stanford Grill - Columbia
4. Sunset Grille - Ocean City
5. Woodmont Grill - Bethesda

Maryland's Favorite Bar or Tavern:
1. Cancun Cantina - Hanover
2. Dock Street Bar & Grill - Annapolis
3. The Horse You Came In On - Baltimore
4. Looney's Pub - Bel Air
5. Upper Deck Sports Bar and Grill - Mt. Airy

Heart of the Industry:
1. Boris Bobrov (Server) - AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar
2. Brian Cieslak (Sous Chef) - Preserve
3. Ryan Galliant (Bar Manager) - Hudson Coastal

RAM Allied Member of the Year:
1. Acme Paper & Supply Co., Inc. - represented by Andy Attman
2. Heartland Payment Systems - represented by Chrissy Mayhew
3. Prime Souce Purchasing, Inc. - represented by Bessie Marino
4. The Schmid-Wilson Group - represented by Rob Schmid
5. UnitedHealth Group - represented by Kimberlee Vandervoorn

RAM Restaurateur of the Year:
1. Kyle Algaze - Iron Rooster
2. Bob Giaimo - Silver Diner
3. Mike Isabella - Mike Isabella Concepts
4. Charles Levine - Citron
5. Jay Taustin - The Embers Restaurant/BLU Crabhouse & Raw Bar

Ocean City's Favorite Boardwalk Treat:
1. Dumser's Dairyland
2. Fisher's Popcorn
3. Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard
4. Thrasher's French Fries
5. The Wrapper

Ocean City's Favorite Crab House:
1. BLU Crabhouse & Raw Bar
2. Crab Alley Restaurant & Seafood Market
3. The Crab Bag
4. Hooper's Crab House
5. Phillips Crab House

Ocean City's Favorite New Restaurant:
1. Braddah Barney's
2. Dry Dock 28
3. Northside Pit & Pub
4. Rare & Rye
5. Shotti's Point

Brice & Shirley Phillips Lifetime Industry Achievement Award:
Susan Jones – Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association

Maryland Hospitality Hall of Honor:
1. Harrison Group - Ocean City
2. Waterman's Seafood Co. - Berlin
3. Ocean Odyssey - Cambridge
4. Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel - Ocean City
5. Market Street Inn - Salisbury
6. DaVinci's by the Sea - Ocean City
7. Macky's Bayside Bar & Grill - Ocean City
8. Annie's Paramount Steak & Seafood House - Grasonville

Cornerstone of the Industry Award:
1. Blackwall Hitch - Annapolis
2. Cafe Mezzanotte - Severna Park
3. Glory Days Grill - Statewide
4. Tino's Italian Bistro - Columbia

The dining public can vote for their favorites online at marylandrestaurants.com/gala and on Facebook, facebook.com/marylandrestaurants.

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