Industry Veteran to Lead Menu Innovation, Operations Consistency and Collaborative Supply Chain Efforts
Big Table Restaurants is wrapping up 2023 with a major new hire announcement. The company that owns beloved Atlanta-area restaurants HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern (Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Atlantic Station, Halcyon in Alpharetta and Vinings), Cattle Shed Wine & Steak Bar in Alpharetta and Big Table Events & Catering has selected Donald Gale as its new director of culinary. His vast and diverse experience in the restaurant industry is destined to shape Big Table’s restaurants in 2024 and beyond.
“With more than three decades of experience, Donnie has been recognized for leading restaurants to higher quality and higher success,” says Big Table Restaurants co-owner Sean Yeremyan. “His broad range of skills and industry knowledge are invaluable. We’re pleased to welcome him to our team.”
Gale’s focus will be on menu development, multi-unit operations consistency and training, supply chain vendor collaboration, testing/feedback performance analytics and operational fit. His impressive background includes stints at several prominent restaurant groups including as vice president of R&D and procurement of Outback Steakhouse International from 1991-2012. During his time, he led menu development of locally inspired items for each market while maintaining the core Outback Steakhouse experience. While establishing meat sourcing and portioning programs, he developed an incredible appreciation for cultural traditions and the beginning of globalization.
Most recently he was director of R&D, procurement and culinary for Southern Proper Hospitality Group’s Tin Lizzy’s brand in Atlanta. Previous positions also include director of R&D and culinary for Metro Diner in Tampa and vice president of R&D and procurement of Blackburn Ameripub in North Carolina.
Gale says he values people, stewardship and having fun when working with a restaurant group and looks forward to bringing those ideals along to the Big Table Restaurants team.
Owned by husband-and-wife restaurateurs Sean and Becky Yeremyan, Big Table Restaurants is comprised of unique dining concepts: HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern, Cattle Shed Wine & Steak Bar in Alpharetta and Big Table Events & Catering. With locations in Brookhaven (404-464-8971), Dunwoody (470-395-7904), Forsyth’s Halcyon community (470-448-4572), Atlantic Station (404-343-2800), Vinings (678-293-5036) and Peachtree City (opening early 2024), HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern offers local fare in a welcoming environment for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Cattle Shed Wine & Steak Bar, located in the Halcyon mixed-use development in Forsyth County, is an upscale wine and steak bar serving seasonal, chef-driven dishes including premium steak cuts, small plates and charcuterie boards along with an immense selection of more than 150 wines, aperitifs, craft cocktails and sangria. Big Table Restaurants was a 2022 Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter Awards honoree (13th fastest-growing private company in metro Atlanta and the fastest-growing among local hospitality companies), and Sean Yeremyan was among the 2022 Georgia Titan 100 honorees recognizing the state’s top 100 CEOs and c-level executives.
