Jamie Leeds is one of Washington’s most highly recognized chefs and restauranteurs due to her wildly successful restaurants; her very active role in the community and her 30 plus years of inspiring culinary experience in New York and Washington, DC. In May 2005, she opened her first Hank’s Oyster Bar and began serving what she termed “Urban Beach Food”. Hank’s is named after Leeds’ father, who she credits as her inspiration for becoming a chef. Since its’ opening, Hank’s Oyster Bar has been praised by Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Southern Living, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, DC magazine, The Washington Times and Fox Morning News.

In 2007, Jamie opened her second Hank’s Oyster Bar on King Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Her third Oyster Bar opened in 2012 on Capitol Hill near Eastern Market. Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf, the fourth and largest location, opened in October 2017. You can also find her at her Italian restaurant Hank’s Pasta Bar or her cocktail bar Hank’s Cocktail Bar, both of which opened in the winter of 2016. Following the success of all six restaurants, JL Restaurant Group was formed.

Favorable reviews and positive community response earned Jamie Leeds the nomination for “Rising Culinary Star” from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s Capital Restaurant & Hospitality Awards in June 2003. Chef Leeds was also named a “Rising Star Chef” by Starchefs.com for Washington, D.C.’s 2003 awards program, which selected only seven chefs throughout the area for the coveted recognition. In 2006, her new restaurant Hank’s Oyster Bar was nominated for a RAMMY for “Best New Restaurant” by the Restaurant Association of Washington and in 2008 and 2014, Hank’s won the coveted and publicly voted RAMMY for “Best Neighborhood Restaurant”. In 2012, Hank’s Oyster Bar was nominated again by Restaurant Association of Washington for “Best Casual Restaurant”. Most recently, in 2016 and 2017, Jamie was nominated for another RAMMY for “Restauranteur of the Year.”