After getting completely shut out of the James Beard Awards the last two years, we have high hopes that Seattle could reclaim its reputation as a city whose restaurant scene punches above its weight. The annual restaurant awards just announced this year’s slate of semifinalists, the long list that will get whittled down into a slate of nominees in April, ahead of the June ceremony.

Unfortunately, that comeback won’t be happening in three of the major national categories, as Seattle got shut out of Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Restaurant, and Emerging Chef.

The city did pop up in other national categories, starting with Seattle’s own Susan Lucci: For the third straight year, Quynh Pham and Yenvy Pham of Phở Bắc Súp Shop, Phởcific Standard Time, and our 2023 Restaurant of the Year, the Boat, made the list for Outstanding Restaurateur. This category takes into account how the sisters build community, use creativity in their businesses, and demonstrate integrity—things the Phams have been wowing us with since they took over their parents’ original Phở business.

Somewhat predictably, two local spots that have made a lot of waves with national media made it to the Best New Restaurant list, Beacon Hill’s FamilyFriend and our 2024 Restaurant of the Year, Atoma. Two other national media darlings snagged equally fittings nods: Saint Bread for Outstanding Bakery, and Sophon for Best New Bar (a new category). 

Archipelago, previously a semifinalist for regional Best Chef and a nominee for Outstanding Chef, showed its range by getting listed for Outstanding Hospitality. Anu Apte of Rob Roy also jumped categories after last year's nomination for Outstanding Bar program, qualifying this year as Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service, another new category this year.

Canlis has earned a ton of nominations across a variety of categories dating back to 2003, and this year it got two. One came in the new Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category for sommelier Linda Milagros Violago, who became the first woman to run the 75-year-old restaurant's vaunted wine program.

Two surprising new local entries to the national categories came from the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages program, where Ltd Edition Sushi made the list, and Roquette, which popped up for Outstanding Bar.

The regional Best Chef category for the area covers Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, and this year, and historically involved a grudge match between Seattle and Portland to see who could get more semifinalists on the list, sprinkled with folks from elsewhere, but this year Seattle’s three—Janet Becerra of Pancita, Logan Cox of our 2019 restaurant of the year, Homer, and Aisha Ibrahim of Canlis—were joined by two Eastside restaurants, Ajay Panicker of Kathakali, an Indian Eatery in Kirkland, and Jun Takai of Takai by Kashiba in Bellevue. Jay Blackinton of Houlme on Orcas Island rounded out the Washington contingency. Find the full list here. 

While we have a few more months until the semifinalists get whittled down to nominees, next month the organization will announce the America’s Classics awards, which go to longtime local, independent restaurants that reflect the culture and character of the community.