James Beard Awards: See The NYC Restaurants In The Running

EAST VILLAGE, NY — The nation's best places to eat include more than dozen options in NYC alone, according to nominations for the prestigious James Beard awards, which were released on Thursday.

The James Beard Foundation Award is considered one of the highest honors for a restaurant or food-industry professional. More than a dozen NYC restaurants and chefs were nominated for the award in different categories.

Two New York City staples — Balthazar and Momofuku Noodle Bar — made the long list for the best overall restaurant in the U.S. Only restaurants that have been continuously open for more than 10 years are eligible for the honor.

Chelsea's The Red Cat was nominated for outstanding service, and the two locations of Corkbuzz were recognized for their outstanding wine program.

The nominees were culled from 20,000 entries throughout the country, according to the James Beard Foundation. A panel of judges will narrow down nominees to a shortlist before picking the winners in May.

Here are all of the nominees in the five boroughs:

• Cote, nominated for best new restaurant
• Empellón Midtown, nominated for best new restaurant
• Dianna Daoheung of Black Seed Bagels, nominated for outstanding baker
• Bar Goto, nominated for outstanding bar program
• Dante, nominated for outstanding bar program
• Andrew Carmellini of Locanda Verde, nominated for outstanding chef
• Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune, nominated for outstanding chef
• Natasha Pickowicz of Flora Bar, nominated for outstanding pastry chef
• Stephanie Prida of The Pool, nominated for outstanding pastry chef
• Balthazar, nominated for outstanding restaurant
• Momofuku Noodle Bar, nominated for outstanding restaurant
• The Red Cat, nominated for outstanding service
• Corkbuzz, nominated for outstanding wine program
• Jordan Salcito of Ramona, nominated for outstanding wine, spirits, or beer professional
• Clare de Boer of King, nominated for rising star chef of the year

And here are the nominees for best chef in New York City:

• Greg Baxtrom, Olmsted, Brooklyn, NY
• Emma Bengtsson, Aquavit
• Rawia Bishara, Tanoreen, Brooklyn, NY
• Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy
• Charles Gabriel, Charles’ Country Pan Fried Chicken
• Sean Gray, Momofuku Ko
• Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau, Shuko
• Ignacio Mattos, Estela
• Carlo Mirarchi, Blanca, Brooklyn, NY
• Joe Ng, RedFarm
• Erik Ramirez, Llama Inn, Brooklyn, NY
• Missy Robbins, Lilia, Brooklyn, NY
• Justin Smillie, Upland
• Rita Sodi, I Sodi
• Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske, Contra
• Alex Stupak, Empellón Midtown
• Alex Raij and Eder Montero, Txikito
• Ann Redding and Matt Danzer, Uncle Boons
• Jody Williams, Buvette Gastrothèque
• Helen You, Dumpling Galaxy, Queens, NY

Image credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images. Image caption: People walk past the restaurant Balthazar on September 10, 2014 in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City.