James Beard Awards 2025: Metro Atlanta’s 3 Restaurants, 2 Chefs, and More Named Semifinalists

Atlanta area’s culinary world is excited with as many as 10 restaurants and chefs having made it to the list of semifinalists for James Beard Awards 2025.
James Beard Awards 2025 in Atlanta
Among the semifinalists for the James Beard Awards 2025 are 10 restaurants and chefs from the Atlanta area (Source: jamesbeard.org)

Highlights

  • In great news for the Atlanta area’s Culinary scene, 10 of its best restaurants and chefs have made it to the semi-final round of the James Beard Awards 2025.
  • The nominees have been selected across 7 categories and will now compete for the final nomination.
  • Atlanta area did not have a winner last year, so the hopes are high for a win this year.

Sign up now to get our Daily Breaking News Alerts

Opt out at anytime

Atlanta and Metro Atlanta area has 10 nominees in the semi-final round for the James Beard Foundation Awards 2025, often called the Oscars of the food world. The local restaurant scene is being represented by these nominees, which is amazing news for all who are part of it.

Three new categories focused on beverages have been introduced this year. They are Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

The final nominees for this year’s awards will be announced on April 2. The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony announcing and honoring the winner will be on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Metro Atlanta’s James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalists

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Gmail
Inside restaurants are among the nominees from Metro Atlanta. From top left – Kimball House, Casa Balam, Aria, Lucian Books and Wine. (Source – Respective official websites)

Chefs and restaurants in Metro Atlanta have been selected across various categories for the James Beard Foundation Award Semi-Final. The semi-finalists from Atlanta in the categories are given below:

Outstanding Restaurant: Kimball House, Decatur

Best New Restaurant: Casa Balam, Decatur

Outstanding Hospitality: Aria, Atlanta

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Lucian Books and Wine, Atlanta

Best New Bar: Marietta Proper, Marietta

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Kursten Berry, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Atlanta

Best Chef: Southeast (Includes Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Tennesse): 

  • Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang of Talat Market, Atlanta
  • Bruce Logue of BoccaLupo, Atlanta
  • Brian So of Spring, Marietta
  • Fu Li Zhang of LanZhou Ramen, Doraville
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Gmail

The chefs from Atlanta who are the semifinalists in the Best Chef: Southeast category, from top-left – Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang, Bruce Logue, Brian So, and Fu Li Zhang (Source – Respective official restaurant websites)

In recent years, Chef Terry Koval of The Deer and the Dove, Decatur, was a winner of the award from the Atlanta area. He won the award in 2023 in the Best Chef: Southeast category. The Busy Bee Café, Atlanta, won in the America’s Classics category in 2022.

Last year was a bit disappointing for Atlanta’s Culinary world in regards to winning a James Beard Award. There were no winners from Atlanta or the state of Georgia in 2024. However, Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang of Talat Market, Atlanta, were nominated for the award in 2024, in the Best Chef: Southeast category. They have been selected for the semi-finals yet again this year.

The nominees given above are among the 12 total number of nominees from the state of Georgia. The other restaurants from Georgia that have made it to the semi-final are Lone Wolf Lounge in Savannah in Outstanding Bar and Joseph Harrison of Common Thread in Savannah Best Chef: Southeast category.

The Beard Foundation honors chefs, restaurateurs, authors, journalists, and other professionals in the food and beverage industry with the Award. It is a recognition of exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts and is among the most prestigious honors in the culinary world. Awards are given to the winners selected from various categories.

0 Responses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search