Pano Karatassos of Atlanta, Georgia, is considered one of the United States' premier restaurateurs.  He is the Founder and President/Owner of the prestigious Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, which includes Pano's & Paul's, 103 West, Buckhead Diner, Chops (as well as The Lobster Bar and The Club at Chops), Pricci, Veni Vidi Vici, Atlanta Fish Market, Pano’s Food Shop, Buckhead Bread Company & Corner Cafe, Nava, Bluepointe, and Kyma.  Karatassos is passionate about his business.  He develops the concept of each of his independent restaurants, oversees the day-to-day operations of his restaurants as well as regulates the food, personnel, and decor quality standards.  He is an active member of his community as a charity fundraiser and a member of several civic boards and efforts.

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Pano was destined to be in the restaurant industry, as his name-sake father ran a restaurant import food business called Pano's Food Shop in Savannah.  A man of Greek descent, Pano worked with his father as a youngster, and then worked in the food department while serving in the Navy.  Later, Pano was educated at the renowned Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.  After graduation in 1960, Karatassos did his apprenticeship at the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia.  He went on to hold numerous positions at the DeSoto Hotel in Savannah, Georgia; the Palm Beach Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Florida; the Gstaad Palace Hotel in Gstaad, Switzerland; the Montreaux Palace Hotel in Montreaux, Switzerland; the Hotel Corporation of America in Washington D.C.; and the Lodge of The Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri.

Pano met Chef Paul Albrecht in 1968 while working in Washington D.C. and later worked with him in Missouri.  They both greatly admired each other's talents and commitment to excellence; therefore, after years of working for other people, he decided to establish a restaurant of his own, with Paul as Chef/Partner at the flagship restaurant Pano's & Paul's.  Pano’s & Paul’s opened in 1979 and became the first of an important culinary empire.

After analyzing several popular markets in the Sun Belt, Pano decided on Atlanta, which he perceived as the most dynamic city in the South.  Pano's dedication, business finesse, food knowledge, and ability to serve a discriminating clientele are the primary reasons why his restaurants have been so successful.  To date his restaurant empire includes Pano's & Paul's which opened in 1979; the Fish Market in 1981, relocated as the Atlanta Fish Market in 1993; 103 West which opened in 1982 and became a private dining establishment exclusively in 2001; Pricci in 1985; the Buckhead Diner in 1987; Chops in 1989 and subsequently The Lobster Bar at Chops in 1996, and The Club at Chops in 1999; Veni Vidi Vici in 1993, Buckhead Bread Company & Corner Cafe in 1994; Nava in 1995; Bluepointe in 1999; partner in Atlanta’s Philips Arena’s premier food division along with Larry Levy, Chairman and CEO of Levy Restaurants in 1999; and Kyma in 2001.

Pano’s & Paul’s Restaurant has been attributed as the restaurant which heightened Atlanta's fine dining standards to where they are today.  Pano uses a simplistic yet profound philosophy in operating his internationally acclaimed restaurants, "Running a restaurant is not a big thing, it's just a thousand little things."  He prioritizes innovative menus, well-drilled staffs, attention to detail, and consistency in service.  It is clear that the restaurants' success is a direct result of Karatassos' devotion to the restaurants, which is evidenced by his frequent visits to each dining establishment - a classic “hands-on operator”.

Considered a leader in his industry and his community, Pano has received many honors:

• Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians list, 2000-2002

• Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Hospitality Hall of Fame, 2000

• Culinary Salute Honoree at March of Dimes “Evening in Provence” launch, 2001

• National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation College of Diplomates, 1999

• Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence, 1997

• From Minds to Menu Award for Best Menu Concepts for Upscale Restaurants, 1997

• Restaurant and Institutions Ivy Award, Pano’s & Paul’s, 1997

• Entrepreneur of the Year for the hospitality industry by INC. Magazine

• Life Member and Honorary Trustee of The Culinary Institute of America

• Nation’s Fine Dining Hall of Fame (Nation’s Restaurant News)

• Culinary Institute of America’s 1995 Humanitarian of the Year Award

• Council of Independent Restaurant Brokers Georgia’s Entrepreneur of the Year, 1995

• Restaurants & Institutions Ivy Award, Buckhead Diner, 1994

• IFMA Silver Plate National Independent Restaurant Operator of the Year, 1993

• Torch of Liberty Award given by the Anti-Defamation League, 1993

• Bullish on Buckhead award given by the Buckhead Business Association, 1990

• Nation’s Restaurant News Independent Restaurateur of the Year, 1989

• The Variety Club of Atlanta’s Restaurateur of the Year, 1987

• Georgia’s Restaurateur of the Year, 1992 and 1985

• MUFSO Golden Chain Award (Nation’s Restaurant News), 1989

As a community leader, Pano has served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association overseeing Atlanta’s Restaurant Council; a founding member of Atlanta's Table, a project of the Atlanta Community Food Bank; a former South Central Bailli of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs; an active alumnus and board member of the Culinary Institute of America; as well as a member of the Buckhead Coalition.

Heralded for being generous with local charities and cultural programs, Pano is especially noted for his adoption of the hunger issue to which he devotes most of his charitable efforts.  He is the Atlanta chairperson for the national Share Our Strength (SOS) Taste of the Nation event, for which he is one of the country's leading fund-raisers and organizers raising over four million dollars. The proceeds from SOS are distributed to local, national, and international hunger agencies.  Pano also developed the country's first freshly "prepared food program" for the hungry, versus the traditional offering of leftovers or canned food.  Not only does Pano donate weekly prepared food for Atlanta's Table, but also has been instrumental in recruiting other restaurants in the area to join him in this effort.  In cooperation with Atlanta's City Council, Pano has donated the 103 West Ballroom, food, service, and time to feed over 500 homeless children and mothers on Christmas Day - complete with Santa Claus and presents.  Pano is a prominent fundraiser for the March of Dimes, an organization which conducts research on birth defects, plus he is an active board member of Atlanta’s Meals on Wheels, a food service for the home-bound elderly, and many other non-profit efforts.

Pano is an Archon of the Greek Orthodox Church.  He and his wife, Georgia, have three children, Anne, Pano Jr., and Nicholas, all of whom have been educated at culinary schools.  Pano enjoys traveling and working out in his home gym, yet his favorite hobby is truly his work.

Media Contact:  Elaine LaMontagne  770-518-9100

All contents of pages and images Copyright © 2003,
NECO, Inc. All rights Reserved.

Hosted and maintained by Inter Media Post