OCEAN CITY — The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) on Wednesday announced the nominees that qualified as finalists for its annual Stars of the Industry Awards, recognizing the best in hospitality around the state in a variety of categories and the resort again is well represented on the list.
RAM officials announced the finalists for its 2015 awards, which will be announced at a special Havana Nights Gala and the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge on April 12.
Ocean City’s restaurants and bars and hospitality community have gone up against some of the heavyweights in the industry from the western shore in recent years and have held their own in the voting and brought home many of the top honors. This year should be no different with several resort area restaurants and hospitality leaders on the list of nominees in several categories.
For example, in the Favorite Restaurant category, Jules in north Ocean City has been nominated and will face stiff competition from several top notch restaurants in the fan voting. Also nominated in the category are Houlihan’s in Columbia, Laurrapin Grille in Havre de Grace, Madrones in Frederick, Miss Shirley’s Café in Baltimore and Pasta Plus in Laurel.
Touch of Italy in Ocean City has been nominated for Favorite New Restaurant in the RAM Awards. The new restaurant, which occupies the space in the Holiday Inn in Ocean City on 66th Street that was long home to the popular Reflections restaurant, will face off against Ananda in Fulton, Highland Inn in Highland, the Iron Rooster in Annapolis and Lib’s Grill in Perry Hall.
The local area’s growing brew pub industry is well represented in the Craft Brew Program of the Year category. Among the nominees are Berlin’s own Burley Oak Brewing Company and the EVO Public House in Salisbury. Other nominees include Max’s Taphouse in Baltimore, Red Brick Station in White Marsh and Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia.
While the winners in many categories are decided by the voting public, other categories are chosen by RAM members only. Among the RAM members only categories are Restaurateur of the Year and the local area is represented with two well-known operators. Among the nominees area Buddy Trala, who operates Sunset Grille and its associated establishments, and John Harrison of the Harrison Group, which operates many long-standing properties in the resort area.
Voting will open next Wednesday, Feb. 18 and will continue through March 11. The public can vote at www.marylandrestaurants.com/gala or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marylandrestaurants.