Fairfax Restaurants Nominated For 2021 RAMMY Awards

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax restaurants are among the finalists for the 2021 RAMMYs, the regional restaurant and food service awards held by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).

The annual awards honor the accomplishments of the DC region's restaurant and food service community. For this year only, the RAMMYs will include special categories that recognize the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and creative ways businesses have adapted. A few examples are Finer Dining in a Box honoring takeout meals, Most Innovative To-Go Packaging Game celebrating creative takeout packaging, Most Impressive Pivot to Provisions or Market for restaurant operators providing provisions and other supplies, and Coolest Cocktails and Beverages To-Go. Another change this year was that RAMW membership was not required for nominations.

Glory Days Grill will be receiving a 2021 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award, celebrating its 25 years of service. Glory Days has several locations in the DC area, including one in the Pan Am Shopping Center in Fairfax.

Great American Restaurants has a number of eateries around the DC area, including Arties in Fairfax, Sweetwater in Merrifield, and both Coastal Flats and Ozzies in Fairfax Corner. The company impressed the nominators with its technological know-how in supporting virtual menus, online ordering, and contactless pickup. The company was nominated in the Technology Trailblazers category. Silver Diner, with locations in Merrifield and Fair Oaks, was also nominated in this category.

Merrifield's Caboose Brewing Co. was nominated for the Prime Pandemic Patio Scene award. Caboose Brewing Co.'s locations in Vienna and Merrifield both have outdoor spaces well suited for pandemic-era dining.

Taco Bamba, which has a University Mall location in Fairfax, was also nominated for the Standout Family Meal Packages To-Go award. The restaurant concept offers Tres by Taco Bamba, dinner kits on select days that can be picked up from the Fairfax location or delivered in select areas.

Nearly half of the award categories will be open to a public vote. Voting will be open from Aug. 2 to Sept. 2. Standout Family Meal Packages To-Go and Prime Pandemic Patio Scene are two of the categories the public can vote on.

Winners will be announced winners on Sept. 19 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. See the full list of 2021 RAMMY award finalists here.

Patch editor Emily Leayman contributed to the reporting of this story.