7 Hospitality Heroes Powering Great Restaurants in 2025

Perhaps they’re pouring you the perfect glass of wine. Maybe they’re the friendly face you see when you open the door, swiftly guiding you to your table. Or maybe they’re working efficiently in the dish pit, helping the entire restaurant run more smoothly. Whether you see them or not, there are many people who play a role in elevating a restaurant from good to extraordinary.

The inaugural F&W Hospitality Heroes accolade recognizes those who go above and beyond — the workers in the front and back of house who embody the spirit of hospitality in every way. Selected from nominations from all over the country, these seven individuals are essential in making their restaurants a more joyful, successful operation for their coworkers and guests alike. 

Amanda Pedrick — Server at Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.

“Amanda has a thirst for knowledge and learning new skills to better connect with her tables and team. She makes sure that her guests have a special night — even if it means wearing a paper birthday hat and taking selfies with them to celebrate a 50th birthday. She treats everyone as if they are friends in her own home. Amanda also loves her team so much that she even woke up at 5 a.m. to watch them run a marathon — and provide them with shots halfway through with her dog, Rio.” — 2018 F&W Best New Chef Kevin Tien, chef-owner of Moon Rabbit

Maria Rodriguez — Bartender at Cantina Rosa, Chicago

“Maria has always possessed a strong work ethic, a care for and understanding of the idea of a team, and a desire to be great at whatever task is set in front of her. Cantina is a great bar in itself, but it’s my favorite bar because of her. She consistently manages the bar and the floor with a high level of grace and hospitality. Watching her consistent growth over the last four years has been inspiring.” — 2022 F&W Best New Chef Damarr Brown, chef de cuisine of Virtue

Matt Dean — Cashier at Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, Wilmington, North Carolina

“Matt is an exceptional hospitality professional whose dedication and warmth have been integral to Bitty & Beau’s. For over nine years, he has created a welcoming environment for every guest who has walked through the door. Matt’s genuine kindness, depth of knowledge, and ability to make each customer feel values sets him apart as a true leader in hospitality. Whether he’s offering a friendly greeting, providing personalized recommendations, or ensuring that every aspect of the customer experience is seamless, he embodies the heart and soul of exceptional service.” — Emma Grace Wright, creative director of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

Avery Ribiat — Maître D’ at Lady of the House, Detroit

“Avery has an authentic love for Lady of the House, and it is evident through their interactions with guests. They genuinely care about each person who walks through our doors, and our guests pick up on this sincerity. A special touch that Avery initiated is writing beautiful, personalized, handwritten calligraphy ‘love notes’ for guests who are celebrating a special occasion. This is a labor of love, but one that is certainly worth the time spent. Avery always lends hands to the rest of the team on the floor, and is always striving to learn more about every position in the restaurant and deepen their understanding of how the many moving pieces of the restaurant come together to create a beautiful whole. ” — Alana Zacharias, general manager of Lady of the House

Eric Moorer — Sommelier at Gemini, Washington, D.C.

“In all my years of fine dining, Eric is the most talented wine person I’ve worked with. Mainly because he makes wine about people first. He calls what we do, ‘The Land of Yes,’ because it’s only about the things that bring joy. Eric has been pushing back against the exclusivity of wines and wines as a commodity. He has helped us innovate with a wine pricing structure that is 20% to 30% less expensive than other restaurants’ wine lists by offering our bottles at retail prices to take home, with a flat $15 fee to drink those same bottles on-site. This is all in service of affordability and trying to put beautifully made products into the hands of everyone.” — 2007 F&W Best New Chef Johnny Monis, owner of Gemini

Lorenzo Marrero — Oyster Shucker at Pêche, New Orleans

“Lorenzo has made a career out of shucking oysters. He has worked in the industry for over two decades, and five of those years have been spent at Pêche. People come to our oyster bar to hang out with Zo. He delivers great service by talking about the different types of oysters and how they taste while shucking 300-plus a day. He’s also a great team player and makes sure the oyster bar is working efficiently at all times.” — 2024 F&W Best New Chef Nicole Cabrera Mills, chef de cuisine of Pêche

Anonymous — Dishwasher in Philadelphia

This Hospitality Hero has worked as a dishwasher at a celebrated restaurant in Philadelphia for 20 years. “He takes incredible pride in being able to do his job well and needs little to no direction, and he passes this knowledge on to the entire team,” said the restaurant’s owner. This honoree did not wish to be recognized publicly out of concern for his safety.