James Beard semifinalist chef Rob McDaniel and his wife Emily will open their upscale seafood restaurant in downtown Birmingham in early March. Bayonet, which is directly adjacent to Helen, will open March 10. While their restaurant Helen is known for its contemporary Southern cuisine, Bayonet is a spirited raw bar and seafood concept.

Cincinnati chef nominated for James Beard Award one year after opening 'The Aperture'

America’s Classics honors “locally owned restaurants that have timeless appeal” — and mark the real start of Beards season

Among the six honorees from across the country is the oldest Black-owned barbecue restaurant in Chicago, Lem’s Bar-B-Q.

A fixture on the island for 114 years, it's one of only six restaurants nationwide and the only one in Texas to receive the 2025 America's Classics Award.

Dooky Chase's Restaurant is among six winners of the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics award. America's Classics awards recognize independent restaurants, particularly long-standing ones, that are notable contributors to their community's food, culture and traditions.

The James Beard Awards committee bestowed an America’s Classics Award on South Side icon and trailblazer in Chicago barbecue, Lem’s Bar-B-Q, today — cementing its status nationally as a cultural touchstone.

Whether rain, sleet, or snow may fall, people are always waiting in line for rib tips and hot links at Lem's Bar-B-Q. The South Side staple, located at 311 E. 75th St. in the Chatham neighborhood, has been around for seven decades.

James Beard America's Classics winners. These locally beloved restaurants showcase the heart of American cuisine.