The Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) is thrilled to announce the finalists and honorees for the 2023 Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards. All finalists are peer-nominated, ensuring the most deserving in the industry are recognized. Winners are chosen by the GRACE Academy, comprised of former GRACE finalists and honorees as well as current GRA Board members. 

The GRACE Awards Gala, an inclusive event honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to Georgia’s restaurant industry, will take place at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta (pictured below) on Thursday, November 30, 2023. At the event, winners will be announced for Restaurateur of the Year, Restaurateur Rookie of the Year, Industry Partner of the Year, Hospitality Hero of the Year, Restaurant Manager of the Year, Restaurant Employee of the Year, ProStart® Teacher and Student of the Year, the GRA Hall of Fame, and the Georgia on My Mind People's Choice Awards. The GRACE Lifetime Achievement and Chairman’s award winners also will be honored. 

“This year’s nominees represent the incredible diversity of Georgia’s hospitality industry,” said Karen Bremer, President and CEO of the GRA. “The last three years have been a testament to our resilience as an industry, so it is important to celebrate those who continue to exhibit excellence, those who are innovators and those that continually give back to their communities. I am proud of the amazing community that we have built together, and I can’t wait to see where the next generation of restaurant leaders will take us!” 

To learn more about the GRACE Awards or to sponsor and purchase tickets, visit garestaurants.org/GRACE.

• Robby Kukler, Founder, Kukler Restaurant Advisory and Co-Founder, Fifth Group Restaurants

RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

• Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, I. Pano Karatassos, Pano I. Karatassos, Niko I. Karatassos

• EPIC Restaurant, Jamie + Melissa Keating

• Fork U Concepts, Scott + Alexis Kinsey

• NaanStop, Neal + Samir Idnani

RESTAURATEUR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

• Fenders Diner and Community Brew & Tap, Jay Reeder

• La Semilla, Reid Trapani + Sophia Marchese

• MAD Hospitality, Preston Snyder

• Rreal Tacos, Miguel Hernandez + Damian Otero 

INDUSTRY PARTNER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

• Full Course, Lauren Fernandez

• LC Food Distributor, David Troncoso

• NetFinancials, Kristina Howard + Lori Johnson

• United Distributing, Doug Hertz 

HOSPITALITY HERO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

• Café Intermezzo, Brian + Page Olson

• Nakato Japanese Restaurant, Sachi Nakato Takahara

• The Gaslight Group, Brian Huskey

• Zunzi’s + Zunzibar, Chris Smith

RESTAURANT MANAGER OF THE YEAR

• Brian Steiper, BAR{n} Booze & Bites/Dash Hospitality 

RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

• Matt Bryant, Sweet Auburn BBQ 

PROSTART® TEACHER OF THE YEAR

• Chef James Bryant, Berkmar High School        

PROSTART® STUDENT OF THE YEAR

• Haja Kabba, Benjamin Banneker High School 

People’s Choice Award Honorees + Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced live on November 30, 2023, at the Georgia Aquarium.