St. Louis remains in the running to secure a James Beard Foundation honor this year.
The prestigious culinary organization announced the nominees for its 2026 awards on Tuesday, a paring-down of its previously released semifinalists list.
Vicia is on the list in the outstanding restaurant category, Robin is nominated as Best New Restaurant, and both Loryn Nalic of Balkan Treat Box and chef and restaurateur Nick Bognar of Sado and Pavilion are nominated for best chef in the Midwest. Louie is nominated for outstanding hospitality.
The best new restaurant category is meant to highlight an establishment that opened between October 2024 and Sept. 30, 2025, and that “already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come, and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere,” according to the award category. Robin, the Maplewood prix-fixe dining room from chef Alec Shingel, opened about a year ago and has received high marks for its thoughtful setting and meticulously executed menu.
Missouri is the only state represented twice on the list of nominees: Anjin in Kansas City is also up for the award.
Vicia, the farm-to-table spot in the Cortex District of the Central West End, has received numerous accolades since it opened nine years ago this month. The flagship restaurant in Tara and Michael Gallina’s Take Root Hospitality Group is up for the outstanding restaurant award for the first time, a category honoring restaurants that demonstrate “consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations,” acrcording to the foundation. The small category pits restaurants across the country against each other. The others up for the award are based in Nashville, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and San Antonio.
The award for hospitality considers bars, bakeries and restaurants that serve “as a beacon for the community” while demonstrating consistency excellence in food, atmosphere, operations and service. The nomination in this category for the popular Demun pizza and Italian spot is its first recognition from the James Beard Foundation.
Bognar and Nalic share the opportunity to be the city’s first best chef: Midwest winner since Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Cafe won it in 2017.
Bognar, who’s behind acclaimed Sado and Pavillion in the Hill, as well as iNDO in Botanical Heights, is known for a menu that infuses creativity along with his family’s restaurant heritage.
Nalic, the chef-owner at Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge in Webster Groves, was up for the award last year, as well. Her Eastern European flavors are also popular offerings at Energizer Park.
The winners will be announced in June.