Image courtesy of James Beard Awards
The James Beard Awards have announced their semifinalists.
Three Virginia restaurants made the cut Wednesday when the James Beard Awards announced their semifinalists.
Two chefs are nominated in the “Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic” category. They are:
- Chef Leah Branch, The Roosevelt in Richmond
- Chef Tarik Sengul, Smyrna in Charlottesville
Also nominated in Virginia is Field & Main in Marshall, in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Category.
Here’s more information about each semi-finalist.
Field & Main
Photo courtesy of Field & Main
Owners Neal Wavra and Star Wavra
Field & Main is located at 8369 W. Main St. in Marshall, about an hour's drive west of Alexandria, in an area known for its local wineries, farm-to-table dining, historic buildings and hiking.
Neal and Star Wavra opened Field & Main Sept. 1, 2016. The farm-to-table dining connects guests with local farmers. The cuisine is hearth-inspired, using local ingredients, with dishes cooked over a wood-burning hearth. The restaurant is described as cozy, historic, romantic and family-friendly.
The eatery is known for its wine-pairing meals. In fact for a wine dinner last year, they hosted Winemaker of the Year Louisa Rose, who traveling in from the Barossa Valley in Australia, to showcase her celebrated wines specializing in Riesling and Shiraz.
Field & Main is open from 5-8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 4-7:30 p.m. Sundays and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Roosevelt
Photo courtesy of The Roosevelt
The Roosevelt restaurant exterior in Richmond
The Roosevelt, 623 N. 25th St., about a two-hour drive from Alexandria, is a James Beard nominated neighborhood spot in a turn-of-the-last-century building in Church Hill, Richmond's oldest neighborhood. Their food is an untraditional celebration of the food of the South, served alongside a great wine list, a hearty roster of regional beers, and a selection of craft cocktails that'll knock your socks off.
The Roosevelt opened in Richmond in July 2011, to public and critical acclaim. The Roosevelt was named 2012 Restaurant of the Year by Style Magazine, Best New Restaurant in the Region by Richmond Magazine and awarded an Elby as the city's Best New Restaurant. The Roosevelt was again awarded Elbys in 2013 & 2017 for Best Cocktail Program, and in 2014 for Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year.
Photo courtesy of The Roosevelt restaurant
Chef Leah Branch
Originally from Chesterfield, Va., and a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, Chef Leah Branch has worked in the food service industry for 20 years. She began her career in catering and has since worked as a baker, line cook, sous chef and executive chef.
She was named one of the "Richmond Dining All-Stars" in both 2022 and 2023, landed on Richmond's "Top 40 Under 40" in 2023 in addition to her latest James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2026. Her cooking has been featured in Garden & Gun, Eater and the Cooking Channel's "Sugar Showdown". Branch has a strong passion for Southern cuisine and strives to explore our regional foodways at The Roosevelt.
The Roosevelt is open for dinner from 5-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5-9 p.m. Sundays.
Smyrna
Photo courtesy of Smyrna
A dish from Smyrna in Charlottesville
Opened in June 2022, Smyrna at 707 W. Main St. is about a two-hour, 15-minute drive from Alexandria; it has received notable mention from various sources. Located on the busy W. Main Street in Charlottesville, a mere walking distance from UVA, Smyrna strives to conform to the vibe set by the neighborhood, one of sheer diversity.
Smyrna’s dishes are inspired by an Aegean/ Mediterranean cuisine, executed by chef Tarik Sengul. The use of locally sourced ingredients enhances each dish, by way of quality and taste. Sengul also draws inspiration from his experience working at fine dining restaurants in NYC, most notably Temple Court, Intersect by Lexus and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, where he worked with his mentor Christophe Bellanca.
Photo courtesy of Smyrna
Executive Chef Tarik Sengul at Smyrna restaurant in Richmond
An open kitchen allows for guests to not only witness the preparation of dishes, but also to forge an interaction with usually off-limits kitchen staff. Smyrna endeavors to uphold its philosophy that all who enter are granted with an experience as delightful as it is unique.
Hours are 5-9:30 p.m.Wednesday-Saturday;5-9 p.m. Sundays and Mondays and closed on Tuesdays.
2026 Awards Set for June
The 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards will be held on Monday, June 15 at the prestigious Lyric Opera of Chicago. As one of the culinary industry's most celebrated events, this annual ceremony honors the exceptional talent, innovation and dedication of chefs and restaurateurs from across the country.
Bon apétit!
