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Considered the Oscars of the food world, the 2025 James Beard Foundation's Restaurant and Chef Awards finalist announcement April 2 elevated only one out of three South Carolina nominees . Robbie Robinson of City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia is moving on to the next round. Charleston's Femi Oyediran and Miles White of Graft Wine Shop and Chubby Fish were not voted forward after being named semifinalists on Jan.
22. Robinson, whose restaurant specializes in Central Texas and Carolina barbecue, is one of five finalists in the Best Chef: Southeast category. The chef was also named a semifinalist in the same category in 2024.
It's been a fast ascent for Robinson, who debuted City Limits' brick-and-mortar location at 1119 Methodist Park Rd., in West Columbia in May 2023. Though his restaurant only opens nine hours a week, it's become the talk of South Carolina, with old-school cookery that speaks to an earlier era.
"The emotions stirring inside are pretty powerful," Robinson said when reached by phone April 2, thanking his crew and customers who wait in long lines to eat. Robinson, who could become the first South Carolinian to win Best Chef: Southeast since Rodney Scott in 2018, credited Palmetto State pitmasters like Scott, John Lewis of Lewis Barbecue and Hector Garate of Palmira Barbecue for raising the bar. Texas boasts world-class barbecue, Robinson said, but South Carolina has destinations that can compete on a national stage.
"We've got a lot of very talented pitmasters right now in South Carolina," Robinson said. "I think that we've got a pretty solid lineup right now to be in the conversation (of), 'Who has the best barbecue in the country?' " Oyediran and White of Graft Wine Shop were bested by establishments in New York, Nevada, Alabama, Texas and California in the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category. Restaurants in Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma and Rhode Island outlasted Chubby Fish, South Carolina's third and final semifinalist nominee, in the prestigious Outstanding Restaurant category.
The 2025 finalist announcement comes one year after South Carolina had one of its strongest showings to date in the James Beard Awards, now in its 35th year. In 2024, the state had 11 semifinalists and sent four finalists to the awards ceremony in Chicago, where Lula Drake Wine Parlour made Columbia history by winning the city’s first James Beard — in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. Spartanburg's Wade’s Restaurant also took home the America’s Classics Award for the Southeast region, previously won by Bertha's Kitchen and Bowens Island Restaurant.
James Beard Award voting is administered by a committee team that leads a large group of judges who review nominations, taste food and provide scores before the awards are handed out. Ahead of the 2025 Restaurant and Chefs Awards ceremony, subcommittee members and judges will visit the finalists, participate in discussions and vote. The top-scoring chefs and restaurants will be announced at a ceremony on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Each finalist nominee, including Robinson, will have the opportunity to travel to Chicago for the ceremony..
