The Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) has announced the finalists and honorees for the 2023 Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards. All finalists are peer-nominated and 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, honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to Georgia’s restaurant industry, will take place at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta 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.
The finalists and honorees of 2023 include:
Lifetime Achievement Honoree
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
Read about the 2022 Restaurateur of the Year here.
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
Read about the 2022 Restaurateur Rookie of the Year here.
Industry Partner of the Year Finalists
Full Course, Lauren Fernandez
LC Food Distributor, David Troncoso
NetFinancials, Kristina Howard + Lori Johnson
United Distributing, Doug Hertz
Read about the 2022 Industry Partner of the Year here.
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
Read about the 2022 Hospitality Hero of the Year here.
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
