St. Louis’ restaurant scene just grabbed a serious share of the national spotlight. When the James Beard Foundation rolled out its Restaurant and Chef Award nominees on Tuesday, the city landed multiple finalist slots across some of the most coveted categories.
Vicia is a finalist for Outstanding Restaurant, Robin made the cut for Best New Restaurant, Louie earned a nod for Outstanding Hospitality, and chefs Nick Bognar and Loryn Nalic are both in the running for Best Chef: Midwest.
According to the James Beard Foundation, winners will be revealed at the Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The foundation’s official nominees page lists Vicia, Robin and Louie in their respective national categories and names Bognar and Nalic among the Midwest chef nominees.
Local coverage quickly picked up the news. As reported by Sauce Magazine, nearly all of the St. Louis-area semifinalists announced in January advanced to the final round, and its roundup walks through the hometown contenders and where they cook.
Who Made The Cut
Vicia’s inclusion is a milestone. The Central West End restaurant and its Take Root Hospitality group have stacked up multiple Beard nods over the years, but this is the restaurant’s first finalist slot in the Outstanding Restaurant category. St. Louis Magazine reports co-owner Tara Gallina saying the recognition reflects the work of “the farmers, the growers, the artisans, and the talented team that works with us.”
Per the James Beard Foundation, Robin, chef Alec Schingel’s Maplewood prix-fixe spot, is listed among the Best New Restaurant finalists. That national placement underscores how quickly the small Maplewood operation has drawn attention from critics and peers alike.
Louie, the DeMun/Clayton restaurant from restaurateur Matt McGuire, earned a nod in Outstanding Hospitality, a category that honors the guest-facing culture as much as the kitchen. St. Louis Magazine quotes McGuire crediting his team’s empathy and care as the foundation of the restaurant’s service style.
What Comes Next
Chefs Nick Bognar and Loryn Nalic round out the local finalists in Best Chef: Midwest. Bognar’s work spans Indo, Sado and Pavilion, while Nalic is known for Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge. As outlined by Sauce Magazine, both chefs have been on the Beard radar before, and their nominations further spotlight St. Louis on the national culinary map.
Winners will be announced June 15 in Chicago. In the meantime, expect a little extra buzz and some tougher-to-score reservations at the nominated spots. We’ll check back with local reaction and coverage as finalists gear up for the awards in June.
