15th Annual GRACE Awards Finalists And Honorees Announced

ATLANTA (October 31, 2023) –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 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. 

2023 GRACE AWARDS FINALISTS

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

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

Full Course, Lauren Fernandez

LC Food Distributor, David Troncoso

NetFinancials, Kristina Howard + Lori Johnson

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. 

About the GRA: The GRA’s mission is to serve as the voice for Georgia’s Restaurants in Advocacy, Education and Awareness. The GRA is sanctioned by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) to operate Georgia’s only not-for-profit representing the state’s foodservice industry. From large chains to start-ups, the GRA helps make Georgia a better place for restaurants to do business and helps make restaurants better for Georgia. For more information, visit garestaurants.org.

About the GRACE Awards: The Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards (GRACE) is the annual black-tie gala event recognizing excellence in Georgia’s Restaurant Industry. The GRACE Awards stands for the Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards. The Awards Gala is an annual event honoring Georgia's restaurant industry. The GRACE Awards are peer-nominated and honor the top finalists and recipients in the following categories: Lifetime Achievement, Chairman’s Award, 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. All winners will be announced and honored at the event and are presented with crystal works of art created by renowned local artist Hans-Godo Frabel.