Here are the 12 Georgia restaurants, bars and chefs named 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists

The James Beard Awards semifinalists include twelve Georgia-based chefs, restaurants and bars. (Pixabay)

The Washington Post / The Washington Post

The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced the semifinalists for the organization’s annual awards, with five Georgia-based chefs and several Savannah and metro Atlanta bars and restaurants among the list of nominees.

The James Beards Awards are one of the culinary industry’s most prestigious honors. The awards aim to acknowledge “exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive,” according to the organization’s website.

This year saw the addition of three new categories: Outstanding Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.



The semifinalists were chosen through a selection of open submissions, the foundation’s voting body and recommendations from the general public.

The 12 Georgia semifinalists are a noticeable jump from the seven that got nominated in 2024. Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang of Talat Market in Atlanta are the only repeat semifinalists from last year, for Best Chef Southeast. Lassiter and Savang went on to be named finalists that year but did not win the award outright.

Georgia restaurants, bars and chefs found themselves recognized in eight of the James Beard Awards’ 25 categories:

Outstanding Restaurant

Kimball House — Decatur

Outstanding New Restaurant

Casa Balam — Decatur

Outstanding Hospitality

Aria — Atlanta

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage Programs

Lucian Books and Wine — Atlanta

Outstanding Bar

Lone Wolf Lounge — Savannah

Best New Bar

Marietta Proper — Marietta

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

Kursten Berry — Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours — Atlanta

Best Chef Southeast

Brandon Carter and Joseph Harrison — Common Thread — Savannah

Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang — Talat Market — Atlanta

Bruce Logue — BoccaLupo — Atlanta

Brian So — Spring — Marietta

Fu Li Zhang — LanZhou Ramen — Doraville

The James Beard Award finalists are expected to be announced on April 2, and winners will be named at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 16, in Chicago, Illinois.