How Many Restaurants Does Kevin Gillespie Have?

Kevin Gillespie Restaurants: Key Takeaways

Kevin Gillespie currently owns 4 restaurants, all located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
His portfolio includes a mix of casual dining venues and an upscale fine dining restaurant, Nàdair, opened in 2024.
Kevin Gillespie holds no Michelin stars, focusing instead on creative, approachable cuisine with an emphasis on live-fire cooking and unique service styles.
He partners notably with Meriwether Companies to operate his restaurant group and prefers full ownership without franchising or licensing.

Chef Kevin Gillespie is a prominent figure in the Atlanta dining scene, known for his innovative culinary style and diverse portfolio of restaurants. This article explores how many restaurants he owns and their various concepts.

From the casual, dim sum-inspired service at Gunshow to the refined live-fire Scottish dishes at Nàdair, we detail Gillespie’s footprint in Atlanta’s vibrant food culture and what makes each of his venues unique.

Kevin Gillespie Restaurants: Global Presence and Restaurant Count

Kevin Gillespie owns a total of 4 restaurants, all located in the United States, specifically in Atlanta, Georgia. His portfolio is concentrated within this city, showcasing a blend of casual dining and fine dining concepts.

Unlike chefs with expansive international empires, Gillespie focuses on creating innovative dining experiences in his hometown. His venues range from quick-service formats inside sports stadiums to elevated fine dining with a focus on live-fire cooking.

Region	Approx. Number of Restaurants	Notable Examples
United States	4	Gunshow, Ole Reliable, Kevin Gillespie's Gamechanger, Nàdair (all Atlanta, Georgia)

Note: All establishments are fully owned by Kevin Gillespie, with no franchises or licensed locations.

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Michelin-Starred Flagship Restaurants

As of now, Kevin Gillespie does not hold any Michelin stars. His restaurant concepts prioritize approachable, inventive cooking over formal Michelin evaluation metrics.

This focus allows Gillespie to emphasize unique dining experiences like dim sum-style service and live-fire culinary techniques, rather than traditional fine dining accolades.

Nevertheless, his newest venture, Nàdair, which opened in 2024, positions itself firmly in the fine dining segment with ambitious cuisine inspired by Scottish traditions and live-fire cooking methods. While currently unawarded by Michelin, it reflects Gillespie’s aspiration to elevate local culinary standards.

Learn more about Michelin star statistics to understand the challenges and prestige of earning these culinary awards.

Notable Kevin Gillespie Restaurant Concepts and Locations

Kevin Gillespie’s restaurant offerings are diverse yet united by a spirit of innovation and authenticity. His key concepts cover casual to fine dining, all within the Atlanta area.

“Gunshow” Restaurants

Gunshow is arguably Gillespie’s most renowned and original concept, featuring dim sum-style service and an open kitchen that invites interaction.

It opened in Atlanta and offers guests a unique casual dining experience where dishes are presented tableside from rolling carts. Price range per person is roughly $30–$50, making it an accessible but elevated option.

If you are interested in staffing such innovative restaurants, check our article on restaurant staff hiring to attract the right talent for dynamic service styles like dim sum carts.

Ole Reliable

Ole Reliable is a casual café-style spot also based in Atlanta. It primarily serves coffee and tea alongside a limited menu of breakfast and lunch items.

The venue is known for its relaxed vibe and affordability, with prices between $10–$20 per person.

Kevin Gillespie's Gamechanger

This concept is a quick-service restaurant located inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, catering to sports fans and event attendees.

The price range is moderately casual, around $15–$25 per person. It focuses on fast yet quality culinary offerings, aligning with the stadium's busy environment.

For quick-service and stadium dining concepts, learning about seasonal hiring strategies can help manage fluctuating staff needs during events and peak times.

Nàdair

Opened in May 2024, Nàdair represents Gillespie’s foray into high-end fine dining. The restaurant specializes in reimagined Scottish cuisine with a focus on live fire cooking techniques.

Located in Atlanta, Nàdair offers a distinct upscale menu with prices ranging from $75–$150 per person, elevating Gillespie’s portfolio and signaling his ambitions in the fine dining arena.

If you’re interested in management roles in fine dining establishments like Nàdair, the restaurant manager interview questions page offers useful preparation insights.

Kevin Gillespie Restaurant Empire: Conclusion

In total, Kevin Gillespie’s restaurant empire is compact but diverse, with 4 owned restaurants located exclusively in Atlanta, Georgia.

The portfolio spans casual dining, quick-service, and fine dining, with unique concepts such as Gunshow’s dim sum-style service and Nàdair’s upscale live-fire Scottish cuisine.

Though he does not currently hold any Michelin stars, Gillespie’s ventures emphasize innovation and culinary integrity over formal awards. His close partnership with Meriwether Companies supports this focused, localized growth strategy.

Kevin Gillespie’s restaurants define a vibrant Atlanta food scene, where quality, creativity, and accessibility prevail. His ownership model avoids franchising, ensuring direct control over his concepts and their execution.

Looking ahead, Nàdair’s recent launch signals Gillespie’s desire to broaden his culinary impact while maintaining an intimate footprint within the city.

Employers aiming to attract top talent to restaurants like those in Gillespie’s portfolio may find the top server and waiter hiring tips useful for building an excellent front-of-house team.

01. How involved is Kevin Gillespie in day-to-day restaurant operations?

Kevin Gillespie maintains active involvement in the creative direction and menu development for all his restaurants. Though he may not oversee daily service personally at each venue, especially at busy casual spots like Ole Reliable and Gamechanger, he provides strategic oversight and works closely with executive chefs.

At his flagship fine dining restaurant Nàdair, Gillespie is more hands-on, often directing the kitchen and refining dish presentations.

02. Are Kevin Gillespie's restaurants expensive — and which ones offer the best value?

Kevin Gillespie’s restaurants cover a broad price spectrum that caters to different dining preferences.

Venue Type	Price Range (per person)	Notes
Nàdair (Fine Dining)	$75–$150	High-end, live fire and Scottish-inspired cuisine.
Gunshow (Casual Dining)	$30–$50	Unique dim sum-style casual dining experience.
Kevin Gillespie's Gamechanger (Quick-Service)	$15–$25	Casual stadium dining with quick service.
Ole Reliable (Casual Dining)	$10–$20	Coffee and light breakfast/lunch fare.

Best value depends on your occasion: casual coffee and quick bites at Ole Reliable and Gamechanger offer affordable options, while Gunshow balances innovative dining with approachable pricing.

03. How does Kevin Gillespie choose new cities or countries for expansion?

Kevin Gillespie currently focuses his restaurant development within Atlanta, Georgia, reflecting a commitment to cultivating the local dining scene.

Due to the size and coherence of his portfolio, his expansion strategy appears deliberately localized, prioritizing depth over breadth.

Any potential future expansion outside this region would likely be measured and intentional, balancing quality control with market opportunities.

04. Are Kevin Gillespie's restaurants sustainable or locally sourced?

Kevin Gillespie emphasizes fresh, sustainable ingredients across his restaurants, sourcing locally whenever possible, especially for his fine dining venue Nàdair.

While detailed sustainability policies are not widely publicized, the focus on live-fire cooking and seasonal menus supports responsible culinary practices.

05. Can you book Kevin Gillespie's restaurants online — and are there loyalty programs?

Most of Kevin Gillespie’s restaurants accept online reservations through their official websites or popular booking platforms such as OpenTable.

However, due to their casual nature, venues like Ole Reliable and Gamechanger may not require reservations.

Currently, there are no known unified loyalty programs across Gillespie’s restaurants.