Ria Montes
Fish Shop | Washington, D.C.
February 2026
Born in the Philippines, Ria Montes moved to the United States with her family when she was just six years old. She grew up in Queens, New York, and, after high school, enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology. But after graduating in 2013, Montes knew something was missing. Encouraged by her aunt, Montes switched gears and started taking classes at the French Culinary Institute. Soon after, she got a job as a line cook at Maloney & Porcelli, where she worked the sauté station, before joining the culinary team at Andaz 5th Avenue.
When a position opened up at Blue Duck Tavern at the Park Hyatt, Montes made the move to Washington, D.C., to start as a sous chef at the acclaimed hotel restaurant. There, she worked breakfast, lunch, and dinner services and helped the team earn a Michelin star while learning from Rising Stars alum Brad Deboy. In 2018, Montes took on a sous chef role at A Rake’s Progress, where she dove into hearth cooking, embraced local and seasonal ingredients, and was mentored by Rising Stars alum Opie Crooks. After a stint at Chef Michael Rafidi’s Albi following the pandemic, Montes reunited with Crooks to help open No Goodbyes at The Line D.C. Then, in 2022, she became the chef de cuisine of Rising Stars alumni Bryan and Michael Voltaggio’s Estuary, where she led the contemporary American restaurant with skill and organized events like Miss-en-Place, a dinner series that highlighted female chefs and sommeliers in the D.C. area.
In 2025, Montes joined the opening team of Fish Shop on The Wharf. Inspired by Fish Shop’s original location in Ballater, Scotland, Montes is emphasizing sustainability and community in her own kitchen by relying on locally sourced ingredients that uplift fishermen and farmers in the Chesapeake region. At the same time, she is prioritizing the growth and education of her team, creating even more efficient systems in the back of house, and continuing to advocate for local causes like Dreaming Out Loud.
2026 StarChefs D.C.-Maryland-Virginia Rising Stars Award Winner
