Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Chef Alec Schingel Credit: photo courtesy of Robin Restaurant

Every year, the James Beard Awards recognize extraordinary talent and achievement in the culinary world. Today, Tuesday, March 31, the finalists were announced, and nearly all of the St. Louis-area semifinalists announced in January have made it to the final round. 

Below are the local finalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards:

Best New Restaurant
Robin Restaurant, helmed by Alec Schingel

Best Chef: Midwest
Loryn Nalic, of Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge
Nick Bognar, of Indo, Sado and Pavilion

Outstanding Hospitality
Louie

Outstanding Restaurant
Vicia

Winners will be honored on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Subscribe!

Sign up. We hope you like us, but if you don’t, you can unsubscribe by following the links in the email, or by dropping us a note at pr@saucemagazine.com.

Lauren is a longtime journalist who has honed her writing, reporting, editing and photography skills in various roles at newspapers, magazines and websites in the Midwest. Her time spent with Sauce since...