OCEAN CITY — The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) last weekend doled out its annual Stars of the Industry Awards, representing the best in hospitality around the state, and again the local area was represented on the winners list.
RAM last Sunday hosted its special Havana Nights Gala at the Hyatt in Cambridge during which it announced the award winners in several categories. For the last several years, Ocean City and Worcester County have been well represented on the list of nominees in several categories and have brought home more than their fair share of awards, recognizing the area hospitality community’s evolution as a major culinary destination in Maryland.
This year was no different as Buddy Trala, who operates the Sunset Grille and its associated establishments in West Ocean City, was named Restaurateur of the Year in Maryland by RAM. Sunset Grille was named Favorite Restaurant in Maryland by RAM in 2011. John Harrison of the Harrison Group, which operates many long-standing properties in the resort, was also nominated for the Restaurateur of the Year award.
Another iconic Ocean City landmark was also honored at the RAM Gala on Sunday. The Greene Turtle, which started nearly 40 years ago with its original location on 116th Street in Ocean City and has now blossomed as a franchise with dozens of locations throughout the mid-Atlantic region, was honored with the McCormick Cornerstone of the Industry Award.
In addition, Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs, long a fixture on the waterfront in historic downtown Annapolis, was announced as a 2015 inductee into the Maryland Hospitality Hall of Honor. Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs is currently preparing to open its new location on the bay at Wicomico Street in Ocean City.
Several other local businesses were nominated for awards in several categories this year. For example, Jules in north Ocean City was nominated for Favorite Restaurant in Maryland. That award went to Miss Shirley’s Café in Roland Park.
Touch of Italy in the Holiday Inn at 66th Street in Ocean City was nominated for Favorite New Restaurant in Maryland. That award went to Lib’s Grill in Perry Hall.
The local area’s growing brew pub industry was 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. That award went to Red Brick Station in White Marsh.