Allen Walski Named New Jersey Chef of the Year
The New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association honored the Clemmy's chef and co-owner at its 41st annual awards ceremony.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Dining Out
The New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association named Allen Walski Chef of the Year, selecting him from eight competing chefs at its awards ceremony in Hamilton. Tommy's Taverns' Bonfiglio family was also named Restaurateur of the Year.
Why it matters
The honor recognizes chefs and restaurateurs whose work shapes the state's dining scene, drawing attention to independent restaurants that have earned high regional ratings. For New Jersey diners, awards like these can serve as a guide to restaurants with recognized culinary leadership.
Walski was selected from eight competing chefs, and seven of the nominees were on New Jersey Monthly's Top 50 Restaurants of 2026 list. Clemmy's received a 3-star review from New Jersey Monthly in 2024, and the source does not specify how the judges weighed these criteria in choosing the winner.
The players
New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association
The industry association that presents annual awards to honor leaders across the state's restaurant and hospitality sector.
Allen Walski
The chef and co-owner of Clemmy's in Waretown, who earlier served as executive chef at the Arlington in Ship Bottom.
New Jersey Monthly
A statewide magazine that publishes restaurant reviews and an annual list of the state's top 50 restaurants.
The details
Walski, chef and co-owner of Clemmy's in Waretown, previously served as executive chef at the Arlington in Ship Bottom before opening Clemmy's in 2023. The awards were presented at the association's 41st annual ceremony at the Stone Terrace in Hamilton, where Robby Younes of Crystal Springs Resort was named Hotelier of the Year.
Timeline
2023: Walski opened Clemmy's in Waretown.
2024: New Jersey Monthly gave Clemmy's a 3-star review.
November 5, 2026: Walski was named Chef of the Year at the awards ceremony.
Culture Shift
Seven of the eight nominees were on New Jersey Monthly's 2026 Top 50 list, showing how statewide restaurant rankings increasingly overlap with industry awards. Recognition from both sources now reinforces which chefs and independent restaurants gain visibility across New Jersey.
Diners planning a night out in New Jersey can use the winners and nominees as a starting point for restaurants with recognized culinary leadership. Checking current hours and reservation policies before visiting Clemmy's in Waretown is advisable, since the source does not provide that information.
The takeaway
Industry honors like this one can help diners discover independent restaurants beyond the state's most visible names. Checking both association awards and magazine rankings gives a fuller picture of where New Jersey's chefs are earning recognition.
Further reading
For more on the state's eateries, browse Dining Out coverage across New Jersey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Jersey Monthly.
