A restaurant in Minneapolis and a chef in St. Paul each claimed a 2025 James Beard Award

A restaurant that serves French-American cuisine in Minneapolis is the winner of the 2025 James Beard Award for best new restaurant.

Bûcheron – a French word that translates to lumberjack – claimed the prestigious award, one of several that recognize “excellence in the culinary arts, food and beverage, and hospitality industries,” according to a June 16 news release from the James Beard Foundation.

The best new restaurant recognizes establishments that opened between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, and “already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations,” the news release says.

And Bûcheron wasn’t the only Minnesota restaurant to be recognized. Karyn Tomlinson, of St. Paul’s Myriel, was named best chef in the Midwest region, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

“It’s with deep celebration that we congratulate the 2025 restaurant and chef award winners – distinguished culinary, beverage, and hospitality leaders whose talent and vision are shaping our dining landscape,” said James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach.

Which restaurants received awards?

• Outstanding Restaurateur: Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d’ Or and Le Rock, New York, New York
• Outstanding Chef: Jungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, New York
• Outstanding Restaurant: Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, Colorado
• Emerging Chef: Phila Lorn, Mawn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Best New Restaurant: Bûcheron, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Outstanding Bakery: JinJu Patisserie, Portland, Oregon
• Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Cat Cox, Country Bird Bakery, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Outstanding Hospitality: Atomix, New York, New York
• Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Charleston, Baltimore, Maryland
• Outstanding Bar: Kumiko, Chicago, Illinois
• Best New Bar: Identidad Cocktail Bar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Austin, Texas
• Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez, Superbueno, New York, New York

Which chefs received awards?

• Best Chef, California: Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles, California
• Best Chef, Great Lakes: Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago, Illinois
• Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic: Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C.
• Best Chef, Midwest: Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul, Minnesota
• Best Chef, Mountain: Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, Idaho
• Best Chef, New York State: Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, New York
• Best Chef, Northeast: Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence, Rhode Island
• Best Chef, Northwest and Pacific: Timothy Wastell, Antica Terra, Amity, Oregon
• Best Chef, South: Nando Chang, Itamae AO, Miami, Florida
• Best Chef, Southeast: Jake Howell, Peninsula, Nashville, Tennessee
• Best Chef, Southwest: Yotaka Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, Arizona
• Best Chef, Texas: Thomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring, Texas