Honorees & Finalists Announced for 2026 ‘CRAZIES’ Awards
Restaurant & Hospitality Association Will Host 8th Annual Awards Gala on December 7 at Foxwoods Resort Casino
HADDAM, CONN. - The Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association (CRHA) hosted a Kickoff Party last night at The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station to announce the honorees and finalists for the 2026 CRAZIES Awards, an annual event which recognizes the exceptional ability and talent of Connecticut’s hospitality community. On Monday, December 7, hospitality owners, operators, restaurateurs, hoteliers, chefs, industry staff, vendors from across the state will come together at Foxwoods Resort Casino to celebrate the success of their industry and honor winners across more than 20 award categories. Last year’s CRAZIES gala hosted nearly 1,600 guests and generated more than 25,000 online public votes.
“Connecticut’s hospitality industry is powered by incredible people who bring passion, creativity and excellence to their communities every single day,” said Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association President & CEO Scott Dolch. “The CRAZIES are our opportunity to put a spotlight on the very best of our industry, and this year is especially exciting as we celebrate restaurants, hotels and hospitality together like never before. Congratulations to our 2026 honorees and finalists, whose talent, dedication and commitment to hospitality continue to raise the bar across Connecticut.”
The CRAZIES selection process began in July with an online public nomination process and a state-wide group of industry insiders. Subsequently, nearly 35 food, hospitality, and lifestyle media, content creators and writers held multiple meetings to finalize the list of honorees and finalists for 2026.
The 2026 Restaurateur of the Year, who will be honored at the CRAZIES in December, was announced as Yuta Kamori of Hachiroku Hospitality Group. Yuta has quickly become one of the driving forces behind New Haven’s evolving culinary scene, bringing authentic Japanese food, hospitality and culture to Connecticut. Born and raised in Japan, Kamori and his partners launched Hachiroku Shokudo & Sake Bar in 2022 and have since grown their vision into five distinctive New Haven concepts, including Hachiroku Handroll Sushi Bar, The Loop Japanese Grocery & Wine Bar, 116 Cocktail Bar by Hachiroku, and the newly opened Loop Market by Hachiroku.
New for 2026, the CRAZIES will recognize an outstanding Hotelier of the Year, with Charles Mallory, Founder and CEO of Greenwich Hospitality Group, named the inaugural recipient. Through his acclaimed Delamar Hotels collection, Charles has set a new standard for luxury hospitality in Connecticut, combining exceptional guest experiences with a continued commitment to investing in our state. With the recent openings of Delamar Mystic and Delamar Westport, his vision continues to strengthen Connecticut’s reputation as a premier hospitality destination—making him a deserving choice as the first-ever CRAZIES Hotelier of the Year.
The Connecticut Hospitality Hall of Fame inductee for 2026 will be The Vanilla Bean Café (Pomfret). A beloved Connecticut institution for more than three decades, The Vanilla Bean Café has built a lasting legacy through great food, warm hospitality and a deep connection to its community.
The 2026 Friend of the Industry honoree is State Senator Bob Duff, chosen for his continued commitment towards Connecticut’s hospitality community.
In addition to these honorees, the Association announced more than 75 finalists. The public can now vote by CLICKING HERE through the end of November for each category: Restaurant of the Year by Country & Overall, Hotel of the Year, Restaurant Newcomer, Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Bar & Beverage Team of the Year, Service Team of the Year, Caterer of the Year, Vendor of the Year and People’s Choice. Winners will be selected from not only the public vote, but also from our nominating panel members.
The full list of honorees and nominations can be found below. Visit us at www.craziesawards.com to learn more about the finalists, vote for your favorites, purchase tickets and/or become a sponsor. For additional information, please contact us at info@hospitalityct.org.
2026 HONOREES & FINALISTS
HONOREES________________________________________________
RESTAURATEURS OF THE YEAR
Yuta Kamori – Hachiroku Group
HOTELIER OF THE YEAR
Charles Mallory – Greenwich Hospitality Group
HOSPITALITY HALL OF FAME
The Vanilla Bean Café | Pomfret
FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY
State Senator Bob Duff
FINALISTS________________________________________________________________
CATERER OF THE YEAR
Ani’s Table & Marketplace | Rocky Hill
A Thyme to Cook | North Stonington
Cat’s Kitchen | Stratford
Herbaceous Catering | Milford
ONTHEMARC | Norwalk
RESTAURANT NEWCOMER
The Bedford | Foxwoods Resort Casino
Dandelion | Westport
Little Lotus | New Haven
Mozz & Co. | West Hartford
tacobarn | Sandy Hook
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Ryan Carbone | Ore Hill & Swyft
Valice Francis | Bar Naan
Danielle Hartog | Newbrook Kitchen
Roland Olah | ROLi
Shilimat Tessema | Lalibela
PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
Arlene Cardenas | Marjolaine Pastry Shop
Andrea Corazzini | G Café Bakery
Stacy D’Angelo | Arethusa al tavolo
Whang Suh | Hen & Heifer
Seleste Tan | La Bistro
BAR & BEVERAGE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Conspiracy | Middletown
Flinders Lane Kitchen & Bar | Stamford
MŌLÌ | Greenwich
Sherkaan | New Haven
Vaughan’s Public House | Hartford
SERVICE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Casadoro Ristorante & Bar | Newington
Luigi’s Restaurant | Old Saybrook
Millwright’s Restaurant | Simsbury
Union League | New Haven
Washington Prime | Norwalk
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Hotel Marcel | New Haven
Lost Fox Inn | Litchfield
Mayflower Inn & Spa | Washington
Madison Beach Hotel | Madison
The Whaler’s Inn | Mystic
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Crust Issues | Norwalk
Echo Craft Kitchen | Watertown
Fresh Salt | Old Saybrook
George’s Pizza & Restaurant| Unionville
Máncora Restobar | Hartford
VENDOR OF THE YEAR
Bold Wood Interiors | New Haven
City Fish Market | Wethersfield
Mattress Concierge | Hartford
Omaha Beef Company | Danbury
Westport Farmers’ Market | Westport
LITCHFIELD COUNTY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Belden House & Mews | Litchfield
Ore Hill | Kent
The Pink House | West Cornwall
The Restaurant at Winvian | Morris
FAIRFIELD COUNTY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
29 Markle Ct | Bridgeport
Casa Me | Westport
Happy Monkey | Greenwich
Rowayton Seafood | Norwalk
HARTFORD COUNTY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
The Foundry | Hartford
The Laurel | West Hartford
Gveenah | West Hartford
Max a Mia | Avon
NEW HAVEN COUNTY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Bufalina | Guilford
The Luke Brasserie & Bar | New Haven
Vyne Restaurant & Bar | Middlebury
ROLi | New Haven
TOLLAND COUNTY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Bidwell Tavern | Coventry
The Flour Girl Cafe | Hebron
Lakeview Restaurant & Bar | Coventry
Little Mark’s BBQ & Grill | Vernon
MIDDLESEX COUNTY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
The Essex | Old Saybrook
Liv’s Oyster Bar | Old Saybrook
Marker 37 | Chester
The Village Bistro | Chester
WINDHAM COUNTY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Black Dog Bar & Grille | Putnam
The Hare & The Hound | Putnam
The Main Moose | Columbia
The Mansion at Bald Hill | Woodstock
NEW LONDON COUNTY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Barbary Coast | Mystic
Haring’s | Noank
The Farm Italy | Mohegan Sun
Whitecrest Eatery | Stonington
ABOUT CRAZIES
Presented annually by the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association, the CRAZIES Awards is Connecticut’s premier celebration of the restaurant, hotel and hospitality industry. Often referred to as the “Oscars of Connecticut hospitality,” the CRAZIES recognize the exceptional chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, operators, employees and businesses that make the state’s hospitality community one of the most dynamic in the country. Each year, industry professionals from across Connecticut come together to celebrate excellence, innovation and the people whose passion and dedication continue to elevate hospitality throughout the state. The 2026 CRAZIES Awards Gala will take place Monday, December 7, at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Learn more at www.craziesawards.com.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT RESTAURANT & HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION
The Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association is a full service, not-for-profit trade association dedicated to supporting every type and size of hospitality business (restaurant, hotel, caterer, inn and more). We are advocates for the Connecticut hospitality industry, a hub for information and a platform for networking. We commit ourselves to offering cost effective benefits and resources you need to run a profitable business. The industry plays an integral role in Connecticut’s economy employing more than 170,000 hospitality workers and generating more than $21 billion in annual sales. Along with the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF), the Association protects, advances, and educates the growing industry. Learn more at www.hospitalityct.org.
CONTACT:
Katie Gerber | Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association
katie@hospitalityct.org | 860-278-8008