2024 Categories & Winners

Legacy Award – Gilles Renussen
Restaurant of the Year – Little Bird
General Manager of the Year – Roger Chu – Brick and brine
Chef of the Year – Dave Vanderlaan – Little Bird
Bartender or Mixologist of the Year – Rob Hanks – The Nightwatch Lounge
Outstanding Service of the Year – MDRD
Brewery of the Year – City Built Brewing Company
Cocktail/Bar Program of the Year – Sidebar
Distillery of the Year – Eastern Kille
Local Farm of the Year – Blandford Nature Center Farm
Global Cuisine Restaurant of the Year – MeXo
Friendly Neighborhood Pub/Bar – Charlie’s Bar & Grille – Grand Rapids
Caterer of the Year – Gilmore Group
Local Chain of the Year – Nonla Burger
Bakery/Bakeshop of the Year – Nantucket Bakery – Grand Rapids
Pastry Chef of the Year – Chef Katy Waltz – Assistant Professor at GRCC
Server of the Year – Richard Smith – Electric Cheetah
Coffee Shop of the Year – Has Heart Coffee

2023 Categories & Winners

Legacy Award – Gerhard Schmied

Restaurant of the Year – GROVE

General Manager of the Year – Eli Harper – The Knickerbocker

Chef of the Year – Oscar Moreno – MeXo Tequilla & Mezcal Bar

Bartender or Mixologist of the Year – Kenton Grassmid – Bowdies Chophouse

People’s Choice: Favorite Place to Eat & Drink – Brick + Brine (Kalamazoo)

Outstanding Service of the Year – Principle Food & Drink

Brewery of the Year – City Built Brewing Company

Wine Program of the Year – Aperitivo

Cocktail/Bar Program of the Year – Obstacle No. 1

Distillery of the Year – Long Road Distillers

Local Farm of the Year – Pebble Creek Produce

Ethnic Origin Restaurant of the Year – MeXo

Dive Bar of the Year – Tip-A-Few (Grand Haven)

Caterer of the Year – Harris Hospitality (Muskegon)

Local National Chain of the Year – Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Resturant

2022 Categories & Winners

Lifetime Achievement Award – Doug Smalls

Cocktail/Bar Program of the Year – Buffalo Traders

Wine Program of the Year – GR Noir

Brewery of the Year – Vivant

Distillery of the Year – Eastern Kille

Outstanding Service of the Year – Bowdies

Local National Chain Award for Service – Nothing Bundt Cakes

Ethnic Origin Restaurant of the Year – La Vencedora

Local Farm of the Year – Revolution Farms

Bartender/Mixologist of the Year – Justin Whitman (MDRD)

Restaurant/Bar General Manager of the Year – Chris Durso (Social Misfits)

Chef of the Year – Phong Nguyen (Monsoon)

Restaurant of the Year – MDR

Dive Bar of the Year – Steel Cat

2019 Categories & Winners

Lifetime Achievement Award – Chef Angus Campbell

Cocktail/Bar Program of the Year – Buffalo Trader’s Lounge

Distillery of the Year – Eastern Kille Distillery

Bartender/Mixologist of the Year – Rob Hanks (Sidebar)

Rising Bar/Restaurant Managers of the Year – Megan Knapp (Reserve Wine and Food) & Tony Jones (Buffalo Traders Lounge)

Restaurant/Bar General Manager of Year – Kevin Skukalek (Terra GR)

Brewery of the Year – Brewery Vivant

Chef of the Year – Jeremy Paquin (GROVE)

Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year – IRIE Kitchen

Dive Bar of the Year – Anchor Bar

New Restaurant/Bar of the Year (2019 Opening) – Kingfisher Restaurant and Deli

Restaurant of the Year – Marcona on Lyon

Food and Beverage Retailer of the Year – Martha’s Vineyard