Rising Stars 2024: Nick Hassiotis

Born in Saudi Arabia to a Greek father and an American mother, Nick Hassiotis’s upbringing was soaked in global experiences and cuisines.

“Some of my childhood memories are being on the seaside in Greece, watching the fishermen come back and throw the octopus against the rocks to tenderize them,” says Hassiotis. “So food has always been near and dear to my heart, and I’ve always said if I can be around good food and good drinks every day, I’m a happy guy.”

Those early experiences were just the jumping off point for an impressive career within Atlanta’s restaurant community, including managing establishments such as Tiny Lou’s at the Hotel Clermont and working alongside renowned chefs and restaurateurs like Richard Blais, Tom Colicchioto and Steve Palmer.

Hassiotis joined Foundation Social Eatery (FSE) in its first life in Roswell, then returned as partner alongside Mel and Sandy Toledo when the duo announced plans to reopen in 2022. The restaurant also has a sister concept, Petite FSE, a bistro-style market and cafe that sits at the front of the larger space.

Today he takes charge of the restaurant, maintaining the front of house, developing the training program for new hires, ordering inventory, curating wine lists and even developing the cocktail and zero-proof menu.

“In other industries, there’s an HR department, there’s a receiving department, there’s an accounting department,” Hassiotis says. “In a restaurant, you wear all of those hats.”

Hassiotis juggles a lot, but he makes it work. He gives energy to the living, breathing beast that is the restaurant, but makes sure to find a balance, always making it a priority to be there for his family’s big moments. “It really is a labor of love,” he says. “You have to really like and get fulfillment from service and understand that seeing the joy on other people’s faces makes you happy inside.”

By Haley Harward