Restaurant 475 at the Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners goes a bit against type. Yes, it’s a welcoming, relaxing and inviting dining option if you’re a hotel guest. But it’s also an unexpected find for residents a warm and casual dining destination with a creative menu and the originality more often associated with an independent restaurant.
Executive Chef Robert Mitchell and his staff are developing a following among residents and visitors alike for a Southern-inspired menu exhibiting quality, unique from-scratch dishes like Sweet Tea and Thyme brined chicken, and signature offerings that include homemade ice cream and sorbets.
The flavors of Memphis, Louisiana and the beaches of South Florida, married with skills honed at the Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts, all influence a distinct menu featuring weekly specials.
Mitchell made a name for himself in the culinary world while working in St. Petersburg and Marco Island, Florida, and in New Orleans. He’s now brought his love for cooking and customer service right here to Gwinnett County. His passion for all things culinary, however, began as a simple hobby used to help express himself.
“My family moved from Canada to Memphis when I was a teenager,” Mitchell says. “It was a complete culture shock for my sisters and me. I was a huge fan of ice hockey and there just weren’t any places or people who were really into ice hockey like I was. So I struggled with making friends and connections.”
Mitchell took up cooking with his mom and grandmother, and gradually began to perfect his techniques.
“It was an outlet, and something for me to do that I found gratifying,” Mitchell says. “I remember following Emeril Lagasse. He was huge in the 90s and that’s when I really started to develop a passion for cooking.”
As a young adult, Mitchell worked in various chain restaurants. And despite being interested in the culinary world, upon graduating from high school, he went to work in another industry. It didn’t take long to realize that he wasn’t enjoying his job in paint sales. Cooking was what he really wanted to do.
“I enjoyed interacting and meeting different people every time I traveled from store to store, but something was missing,” Mitchell says. “That’s when I realized that the last time I was genuinely happy at work was when I was cooking. At that point, I decided to go to culinary school.”
Mitchell enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh, where he learned the techniques of cooking that every chef needs to know in order to succeed. Upon graduation, Mitchell embarked on a culinary journey that took him from St. Petersburg to Marco Island to New Orleans.
To Mitchell, a chef is at their best when they learn from other experienced chefs and utilize day-to-day hands-on experience. While on his culinary journey, he learned from the best and trained with several culinary stars. He had the opportunity to prepare a private lunch for the world-renowned Chef Mario Batali and was invited to cook at the James Beard House in New York City on two separate occasions.
Mitchell is now focused on making Restaurant 4?7?5 a unique and popular choice, not just for out of town guests, but for residents as well. They even offer a free VIP card that provides a 20% discount in the restaurant, just for the asking.
Regular guests can expect new menu offerings each time they visit with favorites like the homemade ice cream and sorbet changing seasonally to include flavors like key lime pie, pumpkin spice or red velvet cake.
“I’m very proud of our progress. We have a small team of eight people,” Mitchell says. “I believe that the food and beverage operations at the hotel are operating at a new, higher level. Locals and travelers are beginning to find us and rate us highly on Yelp. For banquet food and service, we are currently ranked in the top tier of 359 Marriott hotels worldwide. Be sure to visit our Facebook and Yelp page where I frequently post pictures and specials.”
Restaurant 475 also offers catering and custom cuisine for special events, wedding receptions, holiday celebrations and meetings hosted in the Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners banquet venues.
For more information about Restaurant 475, catering options or meeting planning at the Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners, call 770.246.7951 or visit facebook.com/atlcp and marriott.com/atlcp.
