Teresa's Next Door A James Beard Award Semifinalist

PHILADELPHIA – Foodies rejoice: you have some new restaurants to seek out. The semifinalists for this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards — dubbed the Oscars for restaurants — have been released and Wayne is represented among the semifinalists

The awards across 21 categories for national and regional chef and restaurant awards were released on Thursday. Categories include best new restaurant, best chef, outstanding baker and outstanding service, among others.

Out of more than 20,000 entrants, Teresa's Next Door made the list.

Located at 126 N. Wayne Ave., Teresa's Next Door was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Bar Program.

The popular Main Line spot is no stranger to high praise, as Craig LaBan, the Philadelphia Inquirer food critic, recently said Teresa's Next Door "has blossomed into what may well be the single greatest place to drink well in the suburbs, no matter what your beverage preference."

It has also been named among the best bars in the region by Philadelphia Magazine.

The foundation holds an online open call for entries every year. A committee reviews thousands of entries to come up with a nominating ballot of semifinalists in each category.

An independent volunteer panel of more than 600 judges — comprised of top regional restaurant critics, food and wine editors, culinary educators, and past winners — then votes on specific award categories to determine the final five nominees in each category.

They then vote on these five nominees to select the winners.

The foundation will announce the final nominees on the morning of March 14 at Parc in Philadelphia. The event will be live-streamed.

The winners will be announced at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City on April 27. They’ll receive a certificate and a medallion engraved with the James Beard Foundation Awards insignia. There are no cash prizes.

Click here to see the full list of awards.

Photo credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for #Culinary Kickoff