New Buckhead Restaurant Atlas Announces Jason Babb as General Manager

Staff Report

Tavistock Group and Atlanta’s famed chef and restaurateur Gerry Klaskala are pleased to announce the arrival of Jason Babb as general manager of Atlas, the highly anticipated new restaurant opening in January 2015 in the heart of Buckhead at The St. Regis Atlanta. With more than fifteen years in restaurant management, Babb has led some of the country’s top fine dining establishments from Atlanta’s Bones to one of Boston’s premiere steakhouses at Grill 23.

Earlier this month, Atlas announced the arrival of Chef de Cuisine Christopher Grossman. Grossman served as chef de cuisine at Atlanta’s Aria for four years prior to his move to Napa Valley’s The French Laundry, known as one of the world’s top restaurants.

“Atlanta is firmly on the map as one of America’s most exciting culinary destinations,” said Babb. “ I am honored to join the team at Atlas to create what I believe will become one of the most sought-after dining spots in the South, where Chef Christopher Grossman’s culinary expertise is complemented with a first-class dining experience.”

Babb’s passion for the industry began at an early age, when he served as a dishwasher for a local restaurant in high school. While earning his bachelor’s degree in organizational and managerial communications from Emerson College in Boston, Babb started what would be a long and successful career at Grill 23, beginning as a server and ultimately serving as the general manager for twelve years. During Babb’s time at Grill 23, the restaurant received recognition from acclaimed food writer John Mariani and publications including Zagat, Town & Country, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Wine Spectator, Cook’s Illustrated, Connoisseur, Santé and Boston Magazine. In addition to pioneering the city’s first craft cocktail menus and spearheading the restaurant’s transition to an all-natural beef provider, Babb successfully created a collaborative service-minded culture before moving to Atlanta to join the fabled Bones steakhouse.

“Jason brings an extraordinary level of precision and understanding of how to run a restaurant efficiently so that everyone from the front of the house, the kitchen, the bar and most especially the guest, all feel like their needs are taken care of,” said Klaskala, Atlas consulting chef and founder of Aria and Canoe. “It’s a rare skill set, and we are delighted to have him on board.”

Atlas is located at The St. Regis Atlanta, situated within the shopping and financial district of Buckhead. For more information, visit atlasrestaurant.com.