The Georgia Restaurant Association has named its finalists for the 2026 GRACE Awards, now in their 18th year, with winners to be announced at a gala on Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. George McKerrow returns as master of ceremonies for an event that draws owners, operators, chefs and suppliers from across the state.

Peer nomination drives the process. Members of Georgia's hospitality community put forward candidates, and the GRACE Academy — an independent panel of former honorees, current and former GRA board and advisory board members, and GRA corporate partners — selects the winners. That structure gives the awards credibility within the trade, though the GRA does not disclose the size of the voting panel or its selection criteria.

"Every year, the GRACE Awards give us the opportunity to recognize the extraordinary people behind Georgia's hospitality industry," said Stephanie Fischer, president and CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association. "This year's finalists represent the talent and spirit of service that make our industry so special."

Who made the restaurateur shortlist?

Four groups compete for Restaurateur of the Year, and the list maps the breadth of the Georgia market:

• Lucky Momo Hospitality (Brush Sushi, Cuddlefish, Lucky Star, Momo Cafe, Momonoki, O by Brush) — chef Jason Liang and John Chen
• Nooshé Jān Restaurant Group (Bibi Eatery, Delbar Middle Eastern) — Fares Kargar
• Sterling Hospitality (Marlow's Tavern, Sterling Culinary Management, the Woodall) — John C. Metz Jr.
• Surcheros — Luke Christian

Emerging Restaurateur of the Year finalists are Che Butter Jonez (chef Malik Rhasaan and Detric Fox-Quinlan), Puma Yu's (Pete Amadhanirundr and Ally Smith), Spur Hospitality (Cuevacía, Saints + Council; William Pitts) and Table at the Lake (chef Casey Burchfield and Jon Altizer-Bieger).

Chef of the Year finalists span four operators and several formats: J. Trent Harris of Mujō and Koshu Club under Castellucci Hospitality Group; Freddy Money of Atlas, part of Tavistock Group; Brian So of Spring and Spring 2nd Branch; and Joey Ward of Georgia Boy, Rivalry Beef, Southern Belle and Southern Belle Chicken Co.

What about the technology and staff categories?

The Future of Hospitality category is entirely vendor-side this year. Finalists are Foresio AI, the surplus-food platform Goodr, and Serve Robotics, the delivery-robot operator — a signal that the GRA views automation and waste reduction as the industry's near-term direction. The association did not say which Georgia operators currently deploy these systems.

Individual recognition is thinner. Restaurant Manager of the Year has a single finalist, Dominique Buchanon of K5 Hospitality. Restaurant Employee of the Year likewise lists one finalist, Dexter Barber of the Ruth's Chris Steak House in downtown Atlanta.

Additional honors include the GRA Hall of Fame, the Chairman's Honor, the Georgia on My Mind People's Choice Awards and a Lifetime Achievement recipient, to be announced at the gala.

"What makes the GRACE Awards so meaningful is that these individuals are being recognized by the hospitality community they serve alongside every day," Fischer said. "Their stories reflect the hard work that defines this industry."

The awards carry no prize money; their value lies in visibility for the named groups at the start of the 2026 booking cycle. Expect the Dec. 7 gala to double as a read on which Atlanta operators — multi-concept groups over single-unit independents, in this finalist field — hold the industry's favor heading into next year.