STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.—The New York City Hospitality Alliance honored 31 restaurants, bars, nightclubs and industry professionals at its annual awards ceremony March 9, 2026 at Tao Downtown in Manhattan, recognizing businesses and workers who shape the city’s dining and nightlife scene.
The event brought together owners, operators, staff, service providers and civic leaders for the NYC Hospitality Alliance Awards: A Bash for the Boros, a celebration that supports the alliance’s mission to reduce regulatory barriers, protect small businesses and help the hospitality sector thrive.
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Staten Island honorees included Harvest Cafe, BOTA Supper Club and ZaRa Forest Turkish Cuisine.Pamela Silvestri
“Restaurants, bars and nightlife venues are where New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe gather to enjoy great food and drinks, celebrate milestones, connect and build community,” said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance. “We are proud to recognize this year’s award honorees—the local businesses, operators and workers whose passion and dedication continue to make New York City the hospitality capital of the world.”
Frank Wilkinson of Rab’s Country Lanes was on hand to cheer for his fellow Staten Islanders. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)Staten Island winners and attendees
Staten Island had a strong showing in the winners circle. Harvest Cafe, BOTA Supper Club and ZaRa Forest Turkish Cuisine were honored in the I Love Boros: Staten Island category.
Harvest Cafe can be found at 694 New Dorp Ln, Staten Island NY 10306, 347-857-6888, harvestcafe-si.org. The restaurant operates under A Very Special Place non-profit’s umbrella which trains and employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities alongside professional staff. BOTA Supper Club is located at 402 St Marks Pl., St. George, 347-466-5585, botasupperclub.com. Billed as a “modern supper‑club,“ fans like its seasonal menus, craft cocktails and live entertainment.
ZaRa has three locations: 1745 Forest Ave., Graniteville, 929-949-6810, zaraforest.com; 1995 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills, 718-979-6122, zaracafegrill.com; 854 Arthur Kill Rd., Greenridge, 929-635-1500, zaraarthur.com.
Spokeswoman Kristen Hepsen for A Very Special Place and Harvest Cafe described the program’s mission and impact: “Harvest Café opened in 2011 as part of A Very Special Place, Inc., and unites chefs and restaurant staff to work together with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to operate a full-service, successful restaurant.”
She added, “By working at the café, program participants learn first-hand experience in the food-service industry and receive training that includes customer service, indoor and outdoor restaurant maintenance, food preparation, line cooking and presentation, dishwashing, front-of-house services, waiting tables and greeting. Skills learned and experience gained in the café may allow members of the program to progress in seeking employment in the restaurant and food industry in the Staten Island community.”
Also in attendance were 2024 Staten Island winners Frank Wilkinson of Rab’s Country Lanes and Shaw-Nae Dixon of Shaw‑nae’s House in Stapleton. Wilkinson said, “Our city’s hospitality community is one big family, and nights like this remind us just how special that community is. It was a room full of the people who keep this city fed, fueled and thriving every single day. I was proud to cheer on Staten Island’s winners—Harvest Cafe, BOTA Supper Club and ZaRa Forest Turkish Cuisine—who continue to show the rest of the city that our borough’s culinary scene is something special.”
Longtime alliance board members Lois and Richard Nicotra brought 55 Team Nicotra members to support the event. “We are proud longtime board members of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, and last night we were honored to bring 55 members of Team Nicotra together in support of the alliance and the broader hospitality community. Hospitality has always been more than a job to our teams at our Hilton Garden Inn and our restaurants like Lorenzo’s, Nicotra’s Ballroom, the COMMONS café and Pienza Brick Oven Pizza Café; it is a profession, a calling and a responsibility to the people and places we serve,” they said.
Other awards and honorees
The awards recognized excellence across 20 categories spanning all five boroughs. Ed Brown of Restaurant Associates received the Big Apple Award for lasting impact on the city’s restaurant industry. Sophie Deverell of Golden Age Hospitality won the Next Generation Award for influential professionals under 40.
Other notable winners included Santa Diaz of Clinton Street Baking Company, who received the Determination Award; Andrew Carmellini of NoHo Hospitality, who won the Chef Award; and Emma’s Torch, which received the Community Impact Award.
Borough-specific I Love Boros awards went to restaurants across the city: Brooklyn honorees included Theodora, Sofreh and Fusion East; Bronx winners were Casa della Mozzarella, Seis Vecinos Restaurant and Beatstro; Manhattan winners were Raoul’s, COQODAQ and Il Sole; and Queens honorees included Hamido, Kam Rai Thai and Adrienne’s NYC.
Nightlife and trending categories recognized Xanadu Roller Arts with the City That Never Sleeps Award and Julius’ Bar with The Bar Award. Breads Bakery Babka won the Trending Taste Award for capturing internet attention and making an industry impact.
The categories and full list of 2026 winners across New York City are as follows:
1. Big Apple Award—Goes to a person whose success and influence will leave a lasting impact on NYC’s restaurant industry.Honoree: Ed Brown, Restaurant Associates
2. Next Generation Award—Goes to an influential person who is still early in their hospitality industry career. Recipients must be under 40 years old on March 9, 2026.Honoree: Sophie Deverell, Golden Age Hospitality
3. Determination Award—Goes to a person who started at an entry-level job in the hospitality industry and is now in a leadership role.Honoree: Santa Diaz, Clinton Street Baking Company
4. Hearts of Hospitality Award—Goes to a person recognized for excellence in the profession of human resources in hospitality.Honoree: Thaisis Conyers, Corner Table Restaurants
5. I Love Boros: Brooklyn—Goes to three favorite restaurants in Brooklyn.Honorees: Theodora; Sofreh; Fusion East
6. I Love Boros: Bronx—Goes to three favorite restaurants in the Bronx.Honorees: Casa della Mozzarella; Seis Vecinos Restaurant; Beatstro
7. I Love Boros: Manhattan—Goes to three favorite restaurants in Manhattan.Honorees: Raoul’s; COQODAQ; Il Sole
8. I Love Boros: Queens—Goes to three favorite restaurants in Queens.Honorees: Hamido; Kam Rai Thai; Adrienne’s NYC
9. I Love Boros: Staten Island—Goes to three favorite restaurants on Staten Island.Honorees: Harvest Cafe; BOTA Supper Club; ZaRa Forest Turkish Cuisine
10. City That Never Sleeps Award—Goes to an important and influential nightclub. Honoree: Xanadu Roller Arts
11. Back of House Award—Goes to a person who has achieved respect and excellence working in a restaurant kitchen. Honoree: Tokiko Jinta, Hirohisa
12. Front of House Award—Goes to a person who has achieved respect and excellence working on the dining room floor of a restaurant. Honoree: Rob Henriquez, Red Hook Lobster Pound
13. Operations Award—Goes to a person who has achieved respect and excellence working in hospitality operations. Honoree: Elizabeth Murray, The Marlow Collective
14. Chef Award—Goes to a person who has achieved respect and excellence working as a chef. Honoree: Andrew Carmellini, NoHo Hospitality
15. Bartender Award—Goes to a person who has achieved respect and excellence working as a bartender. Honoree: James Shrum, Blue Ribbon Restaurants
16. Night Owl Award—Goes to a person whose success and influence will leave a lasting impact on the NYC nightlife industry. Honoree: Nur Khan, Maison Nur
17. Community Impact Award—Goes to a philanthropic organization or person whose mission partners with the hospitality community to support an important cause. Honoree: Emma’s Torch
18. Sustainability Award—Goes to a hospitality business that excels at implementing sustainable business practices. Honoree: Highgate Hotels
19. Trending Taste Award—Celebrates a viral dish, restaurant, bar, or hospitality moment that captured the internet’s attention and made a lasting impact on the industry. Honoree: Breads Bakery Babka
20. The Bar Award—Goes to an important and influential bar. Honoree: Julius’ Bar
21. Fast Casual Award—Goes to an important and influential limited-service restaurant. Honoree: NAYA