Pittsburgh Restaurant Scene Has Multiple James Beard Award Semifinalists

PITTSBURGH, PA — A local restaurant and chef were named 2026 James Beard semifinalists, the organization announced Wednesday.

A vanguard of culinary honors in the United States since 1990, the Awards have been a definitive source for culinary excellence for more than 35 years.

Sometimes known as the “Oscars of food,” the awards recognize eateries and chefs who create exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems, the James Beard Foundation said. Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

The semifinalists announced on Wednesday are across 14 categories. The best chef semifinalists are in a dozen regions.

In Pittsburgh, the following chef and restaurant were named semifinalists this year:

Jamilka Borges of Lilith on the North Side was named a semifinalist for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, which includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington, D.C. She was a Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic nominee in 2019 and was a Beard Rising Star Chef semifinalist in 2015.

Apteka, a Central and Eastern European restaurant on Penn Avenue in Lawrenceville, was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category.

In this category, the award is given to a restaurant that demonstrates exceptional care and skill in the pairing of wine and other beverages with food. This includes the selection, preparation, and serving of wine, cocktails, spirits, coffee, tea, beer, or any other beverage with outstanding hospitality and service that helps inform and enhance a customer’s appreciation of the beverage(s).

Receiving a James Beard Award can be transformational for restaurants and chefs. Recognition of any kind — whether as a semifinalist, nominee, or winner — can lead to significant visibility, new opportunities, and positive economic impact that helps sustain these vital businesses. In 2025, 96 percent of surveyed semifinalists reported a positive impact on their business and communities following their recognition, the organization said in a news release.

Nominees will be announced on March 31, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.