Aria Is Atlanta’s 2025 James Beard Award Finalist

Aria in Buckhead is a finalist for the 2025 James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality. This comes on the heels of the restaurant’s chef and owner, Gerry Klaskala, announcing his retirement after 25 years of opening the place, leaving longtime general manager Andrés Loaiza as the new owner.

Aria was chosen from a list of semi-finalists, which included Atlanta area restaurants Kimball House for Outstanding Restaurant, Casa Balam for Best New Restaurant, and Lucian Books and Wine for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, among others. It is the only restaurant from Georgia to make the finalist list.

The Outstanding Hospitality Award is given to “a restaurant, bar, or other food and drinking establishment that fosters a sense of hospitality among its customers and staff that serves as a beacon for the community and demonstrates consistent excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations,” according to the James Beard Award guidelines. The restaurant made Eater Atlanta’s Best Dishes We Ate roundup for its mountain trout with spinach, almonds, and grapes, and stellar wine list.

LuAnne DeMeo

Restaurants competing against Aria in the same category are:

• Archipelago, Seattle, WA
• Atomix, New York, NY
• Harbor House Inn, Elk, CA
• Mixtli, San Antonio, TX

Additionally, Chad Houser of Cafe Momentum is recognized as the Humanitarian of the Year. The nonprofit program equips 15 to 19-year-olds who have previously spent time in a juvenile detention center with restaurant education and practical learning for employment opportunities. A location of the cafe opened recently in Downtown Atlanta.

Here is the complete list of 2025 James Beard finalists from around the country. The winners will be awarded medals at a ceremony in Chicago on June 16. Media Award winners will be announced on June 14.

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards. Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2025. All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation.