We Won: Rammy's 2025 Casual Restaurant of The Year

August 4, 2025

• by

The Smokehouse

This summer, something rare happened: slow-smoked barbecue took the spotlight at one of D.C.’s biggest culinary stages. We’re honored to share that 2fifty Texas BBQ won Best Casual Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 RAMMY Awards.

A Night to Remember

The RAMMYs, hosted by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, are often called the “Oscars of D.C. dining.” The judges are anonymous. The process is months long. And the categories recognize everything from pastry programs to lifetime achievements. So when a smokehouse like ours gets the nod, judged not by flash but by consistency, care, and craft, it means a lot.

We showed up in our Sunday best, stood shoulder to shoulder with peers we admire, and took home the award for Casual Restaurant of the Year. It was loud, it was humbling, and it was ours to carry home. Not just for the trophy, but for everything it represents.

What We Really Took Home

We didn’t win this alone. We won it with:

  • Guests who’ve waited in line, brought friends, and made us part of your weekends.
  • Regulars who know the specials by heart and the brisket bark by feel.
  • Team members who arrive before sunrise, work the pits, plate with pride, and clean up after the rush.

As Debby often says, “Every plate that goes out is the result of someone’s early morning and someone else’s late night” . This award carries their fingerprints.

Barbecue Isn’t Usually on That Stage

Barbecue is slow. It’s quiet. It’s not about plating tricks or fancy reductions. It’s about fire, wood, and time. It’s about knowing when to wrap a brisket by the bend, not the clock. And most of all, it’s about respect: for the process, the ingredient, and the people you serve.

That’s what makes this recognition powerful. It tells us that what we do, with no gas assist, no shortcuts, just smoke and soul, has a place in the story of this city’s food scene.

We’re Just Getting Started

Winning a RAMMY doesn’t mean we’re done. It means we keep showing up. We keep trimming the fat. We keep seasoning with memory. It’s a reminder that doing things the right way still matters.

So to everyone who helped us carry the smoke this far, thank you. We’re proud to represent barbecue on this stage. We’re proud to represent Salvadoran roots in this space. And we’re proud to represent you, the community that made this dream a reality.

Come hungry. Come early. The fire’s still going.

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