Alexandria’s Hospitality Heroes: The Restaurant Workers Making Dining Better

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A great restaurant is about more than what arrives on the plate. It is also about the people who remember a regular customer’s name, step in when a coworker needs help, keep a dining room moving during a busy service and make guests feel like they belong. Alexandria Hospitality Heroes are all around us.

That philosophy is at the heart of Food & Wine’s 2026 “Hospitality Heroes” recognition, which shines a national spotlight on the servers, bartenders, dishwashers and other restaurant employees whose contributions can easily go unnoticed. The magazine contacted hundreds of restaurant professionals across the country to identify people who exemplify exceptional hospitality.

Alexandria has its own group of hospitality professionals who deserve that kind of attention. In fact, two Alexandria-area hospitality workers have already received particularly strong recognition from the Chamber ALX: Jeffry Alberto of Tequila & Taco and Guillermo “Mr. G” Ruiz of The Westin Alexandria Old Town. Their stories offer a starting point for a local version of the Hospitality Heroes concept — one that celebrates the people who help make Alexandria’s restaurant and hospitality scene special every day.

Jeffry Alberto: From Dishwasher to Hospitality Leader

One of the most compelling Alexandria hospitality stories belongs to Jeffry Alberto, General Manager of Tequila & Taco. Alberto was named Hospitality Employee of the Year by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in 2025. His path through the industry began approximately a decade earlier as a dishwasher. Since then, he worked his way through the hospitality ranks to become general manager.

The Chamber’s recognition described Alberto as a familiar and welcoming presence who approaches his work with positivity and a willingness to tackle whatever needs to be done. The organization also highlighted his ability to connect with regular customers and his empathy toward employees.

He has experienced the work that diners rarely see and the responsibilities that come with leading a restaurant team. His story also illustrates how hospitality careers can develop over time when an employee is willing to learn every part of the operation.

For Alexandria diners, Alberto’s story is a reminder that the person greeting a guest or managing a dining room may have spent years working behind the scenes to get there.

Guillermo “Mr. G” Ruiz: 18 Years of Hospitality

Another Alexandria hospitality professional who has earned formal recognition is Guillermo “Mr. G” Ruiz, Banquet Director at The Westin Alexandria Old Town. Ruiz was named Hospitality Employee of the Year for 2026 by the Chamber ALX during its annual Community Champions Honors program.

Ruiz has spent 18 years working as the hotel’s Banquet Director. The Westin Alexandria described him as representing the “heart of hospitality” and celebrated his recognition as a reflection of the culture created by the hotel’s team.

Banquet operations require a different kind of hospitality than a typical restaurant dinner. Events may involve dozens or hundreds of guests, detailed schedules, changing room configurations, multiple food and beverage requirements and countless small details that most attendees never notice — precisely because someone is making sure everything works. That behind-the-scenes coordination is what makes Ruiz an especially interesting candidate for a local Hospitality Heroes profile.

Juan Ramirez: Leadership That Starts With the Team

Another Alexandria hospitality professional who has attracted regional attention is Juan Ramirez, General Manager of Bastille Brasserie & Bar.

Ramirez was named Manager of the Year at the 2026 RAMMY Awards, one of the Washington region’s major restaurant-industry honors. Ramirez’s recognition is significant because it puts the focus on something diners may not always see: the person responsible for helping an entire hospitality team succeed.

Bastille, located at 607 N. Fayette Street in Old Town, has long been part of Alexandria’s restaurant community. Ramirez’s RAMMY win brought regional attention to both his leadership and the restaurant’s team

Todd Hunt and the Search for Alexandria’s Unsung Heroes

Todd Hunt of Oak Steakhouse Alexandria is another name worth including. Hunt was a finalist alongside Ramirez for the 2026 RAMMY Manager of the Year award, giving Alexandria two representatives in one of the region’s most prominent individual hospitality categories.

Who Should Be Alexandria’s Next Hospitality Hero?

Alexandria’s restaurant community is large enough to support a local Hospitality Heroes project of its own. A citywide list could include employees from Old Town, Del Ray, Carlyle, Eisenhower, Potomac Yard, North Old Town, West End and other Alexandria neighborhoods. And rather than limiting nominations to chefs and managers, the list could intentionally spotlight the people who are often overlooked.