Today, the James Beard Foundation announced the restaurant and chef finalists for the 2026 awards. The annual honors, widely known as the “Oscars” of the food world, are considered one of the top acknowledgments in the restaurant industry. Today’s final round of names whittles down t he lengthy list of semifinalists shared in January. Maison Bar à Vins, Adams Morgan’s French-themed offshoot of neo-bistro Lutèce, advanced to be in the running for the coveted national title of Best New Restaurant in America. While Maison Bar à Vins is described as a wine bar by the Popal Group, chef Matt Conroy’s menu includes bites that range from marinated octopus and olives to a full meal of pasta with rabbit ragu. And D.C.’s vet sommelier Brent Kroll, who runs Maxwell Park wine bar in Shaw and created the wine list at Navy Yard’s new Canton Disco, is a finalist in the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category. D.C. only has one 2026 finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic — a highly competitive category that considers chefs from Virginia all the way up to New Jersey — and it’s Suresh Sundas of Tapori, one of Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America last year. The four other finalists up for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic are all from Pennsylvania. Some semifinalists did not move on to the finals across multiple nationwide categories, including Anthony Jones of Marcus DC (Emerging Chef); Bresca (Outstanding Hospitality); Centrolina (Outstanding Restaurant); Fried Rice Collective (Outstanding Restaurateur); 2 Amys’ Peter Pastan (Outstanding Chef); and Service Bar’s Christine Kim (Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service). In all, D.C. punched a ticket to the awards ceremony in just five categories this year. Winners will be unveiled during the glitzy gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 15. Here’s the full list of locals looking to medal at the 36th-annual James Beard Awards: Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) Suresh Sundas, Tapori, Washington, D.C. Best New Restaurant Maison Bar à Vins, Washington, DC Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C. Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program Field Main, Marshall, VA Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service Brent Kroll, Maxwell Park, Washington, D.C. Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Foundation Awards. ...read more read less