Buckhead Life Restaurant Group has shaped Atlanta’s dining identity for decades. When founder I. Pano Karatassos launched the company in 1979, he set a new standard for hospitality in the city. The opening of Chops Lobster Bar in 1989 cemented that legacy, establishing a steakhouse that many Atlantans still consider a benchmark of fine dining. In the years since, the group expanded its reach to South Florida, opening a Chops in Boca Raton and spinoff called Lobster Bar Sea Grille in Ft. Lauderdale. But despite its enduring influence in Atlanta, the city hasn’t seen a Buckhead Life opening in years. That changes with Chops Lobster Bar’s upcoming debut at Centennial Yards Downtown. Slated to open in spring 2027, the 13,0000-square-foot restaurant will feel similar to the Buckhead location with some new menu items.

“Chops is all about luxury: luxury steaks, luxury ingredients, and luxury wines,” says Buckhead Life Restaurant Group co-president and culinary director Pano I. Karatassos Jr., son of the founder. “We will continue to bring our signature, top-quality steaks and seafood. We have a lot of confidence in our brand. People love what we do.”