The James Beard Foundation has announced the six recipients of its 2025 America’s Classics Award, which is given to locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal that serve quality food and are beloved by their communities.
This year’s honorees include: Lem’s Bar-B-Q in Chicago; The Pioneer Saloon
Ketchum, Idaho; Sullivan’s Castle Island in Boston; Lucky Wishbone in Anchorage, Alaska; Dooky Chase in New Orleans, La.; and Gaido’s in Galveston, Texas.
The New York City-based foundation said this year’s winners join the ranks of more than 100 U.S. restaurants that have received the award since the category was introduced in 1998.
They will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 16, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
“Independent restaurants play a crucial role in our local economies, and through the America’s Classics Award, we get to celebrate the remarkable establishments that have served as cherished pillars of culture, community, and good food for decades,” Clare Reichenbach, James Beard CEO, said in a statement. “It is an honor to recognize this year’s winners, who reflect the rich depth and breadth of American food culture, and who will surely continue to have a positive impact for years to come.”
Each year, the Restaurant and Chef Awards voters and the public are invited to recommend restaurants for the America’s Classics Award during the open call for recommendations period from October through November.
The 2025 James Beard Award America’s Classics winners are:
America’s Classics: Great Lakes
Lem’s Bar-B-Q
Chicago
Current Owner: Carmen Lemons
Carrying on a 70-year legacy that began with brothers Myles and Bruce Lemons in 1954, and James B. Lemons in 1968, Lem’s Bar-B-Q continues to be a cornerstone in Chicago’s culinary scene. It is known for its rib tips and hot links.
America’s Classics: Mountain
The Pioneer Saloon
Ketchum, Idaho
Current Owners: Sheila Witmer and Duffy Witmer
The Pioneer Saloon, also known as the “Pio,” is a destination for locally sourced steaks paired with an Idaho potato. Capturing the spirit of the American West, this saloon blends rustic charm with warm hospitality. Menu standouts include the “Jim Spud,” a baked potato heaped with teriyaki beef, a variety of toppings, and cheese; and smoked Idaho trout, steamed artichoke, and shrimp cocktail. It was originally built in the 1940s as a gambling casino.
America’s Classics: Northeast
Sullivan’s Castle Island
Boston
Current Owner: Brendan Sullivan
Sullivan’s Castle Island, lovingly referred to as “Sully’s,” is a Boston institution that has served working-class Bostonians for generations. Established in 1951 by Dan Sullivan Sr. as a hot dog stand, for more than 70 years the seasonal restaurant has been operated continuously by four generations of the Sullivan family. Sully’s is known for its double smash burgers with large amounts of cheese; hot dogs; crinkle cut fries; lobster rolls; and locally sourced fresh seafood.
America’s Classics: Northwest and Pacific
Lucky Wishbone
Anchorage, Alaska
Current Owners: Patricia Brown-Heller, Heidi Heinrich-Lervaag, and Carolina Stacey
Since Lucky Wishbone opened during a post-war population boom in Anchorage in 1955, it has remained a city institution, serving up white cardboard takeout boxes of perfectly composed cheeseburgers, sizzling thighs and drum sticks, and corn muffins with honey through its passenger-side drive-thru. In 1943, George Brown, a World War II pilot, met Peggy, who would become his wife of 67 years, in a restaurant in Denver. Together, they built a community of customers who became their best friends. Brown built the restaurant that withstood the second-largest earthquake ever recorded at 9.2 and could often be found in his customary seat among the green vinyl booths until 2018, when he died at age 96. The restaurant is now owned by Carolina Stacey, who has been an employee since 1994; Heidi Heinrich-Lervaag, the first hostess hired at the restaurant in 1979; and George and Peggy Brown’s daughter, Patricia, whose first job was peeling potatoes every day before school.
America’s Classics: South
Dooky Chase
New Orleans, La.
Current Owners: The Chase Family
Dooky Chase restaurant has been a cornerstone of Creole cuisine and Black American culture for more than eight decades. The restaurant is situated in the New Orleans neighborhood of Treme, one of the oldest Black communities in the United States. Opened in 1939 as a convenience store and sandwich shop by Dooky Chase Sr. and his wife, Emily, it became a full-fledged restaurant in 1941 under Edgar “Dooky” Chase Jr. and his wife Leah Chase. Known as the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” Leah Chase was a trailblazer in the culinary world. Dooky Chase became famous for its classic Creole dishes, such as gumbo, jambalaya, fried chicken, and shrimp Creole.During the 1960s, Dooky Chase became a haven for civil rights leaders, politicians, and activists.
America’s Classics: Texas
Gaido’s
Galveston, Texas
Current Owner: Nick Gaido
Gaido’s has been a Galveston fixture for 114 years, with its fish-shaped logo and marquee sign among the most recognizable landmarks on the Seawall. Italian immigrant San Giacinto Gaido became orphaned two years after arriving on the island and pulled himself out of poverty by working in the service industry. He eventually opened his own sandwich shop, and then Gaido’s in 1911, which is now operated by fourth-generation Nick Gaido and his wife, Kateryna. The restaurant’s focus is Gulf seafood.
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