Cincinnati’s incredible food scene continues to garner nationwide recognition. Three local chefs were just named finalists for Best Chef at the 2026 James Beard Awards, the highest individual honor in the culinary world.
This morning, the James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for this year’s ceremony. In the Best Chef: Great Lakes category, which includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, Cincinnati had two nominees.
Jeff Harris, owner/chef at Southern restaurant Nolia, and Sarah Dworak, owner/chef of Eastern European restaurant Sudova, were honored by the foundation as one of the five best chefs in the region. Harris was previously a finalist for the award in 2024.
“I’m filled with immense pride being named a finalist, representing Cincinnati along with my fellow nominees,” Dworak told CityBeat. “It’s made it even more special to receive recognition for showcasing Ukrainian cuisine and culture, using recipes and techniques passed down through generations.”
In addition, David Willocks—chef/owner of the perennially underrated Baker’s Table in Newport—was named a finalist in the Best Chef: Southeast category, which covers Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and West Virginia.
Nolia is well-known for its menu influenced by the flavors of New Orleans and the global South; we called it the best Southern restaurant in the city earlier this year. Dworak has almost single-handedly made Eastern European fare (like pierogis) a common Cincinnati staple thanks to her efforts at Babushka Pierogis, Wodka Bar and now Sudova. And Baker’s Table continues to surprise and impress guests on a regular basis thanks to its six-course farm-to-table menu that changes monthly.
Cincinnati did have two more semifinalists that didn’t make the final cut, however. Longfellow owner Mike Stankovich was nominated for Outstanding Beverage Professional, and Hideki Harada (chef/owner of Kiki and Sen) was a semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes.
Notably, Cincinnati has an equal number of finalists as Chicago, which is one of the best food destinations on the planet and normally has an iron chokehold on the Beard Awards. It’s even more proof that the Queen City’s food scene can go toe-to-toe with the best of the best.
