People are always asking where I’m from, and I love to joke that I’m from the Deep South. In Brazil, my father ran a successful truck repair shop while my mother owned a clothing factory, and together they made some killer real estate deals. Unfortunately—or fortunately—things went “North,” and that’s when my brother and I decided to move to the States. Like most immigrants, I started from the bottom, and not speaking any English made the move even more interesting. I would love to bore you with all the details of my beginnings, but I’m going to fast-forward to my restaurant experience.
I worked for several pizza chains early on and later became a busser and server at Violette Restaurant under Chef Guy Luck. My love for restaurants flourished when a friend at Violette got me an opportunity with Buckhead Life Restaurant Group—and that’s when my career took off. At BLRG I rose from server to assistant manager, beverage manager, AGM, and eventually General Manager—all in a short time. There I met my greatest mentor Mimi Cogan; restaurateur inspiration Pano Karatassos; my business partner and best friend Chef Jamie Adams; and the rarest and most precious jewel of all, my wife, Antoinette Moura.
I left BLRG for a year to get my “Master’s Degree in Restaurant Business” in pursuit of an IHOP franchise. Read that again with sarcasm. At IHOP University I learned about perfectly cut tomatoes, penny-pinching, and how to responsibly run a restaurant. Twenty thousand dollars later (and I’m NOT bitter 😉 … scrambled eggs, anyone?
Next came the il Giallo (“il Jah-lo”) project, when Pano offered Chef Jamie and me the chance to buy Veni Vidi Vici. We tried—but couldn’t make it work. Then, in late 2014, we signed the lease for il Giallo and had it open by Halloween 2015—hence “Gialloween.” The lessons and community support we gained there have been invaluable.
In 2019, our next baby arrived: Lagarde. Every great neighborhood needs a watering hole, and in Chamblee we built one that’s neighborhood-driven, affordable, irreverent, edgy, family-friendly, fun—have I mentioned fun yet? It hits all the senses—and the sixth one, too. Lagarde is the merging of two friends’ dreams and a love letter to the land that adopted me as a son. The eagle in our logo rests on the “A” for America, surrounded by stars and capped by “GA” in red—proof of where we are and where it all started. With New Orleans in Jamie’s blood and “Lagarde” honoring that connection, the whole thing is a joyful “Let the Good Times Roll” moment. More watering holes are coming soon—hint, hint!
G’s Pizza, our latest project, circles back to our beginnings. I started making and delivering pizzas when I first came to the States, and trust me, the chains don’t even come close. We use organic 00 flour from Italy, let our dough ferment 48 hours, and serve 12-inch Neapolitan pies—the perfect size for sharing (though my kids devour one solo). Our salads are fresh with real dressings—no bagged mockups here. Next to il Giallo, we push creativity—like our pulled short rib “Lasagna” pie. Pizza is our passion, and it shows.
I also want to thank Chef Chris Hall from MTH Pizza, who encouraged us every step of the way. Thanks, Chris!
I truly hope you enjoy our restaurants. Most recently, we expanded to serve the Milton, Alpharetta, and Roswell communities with our fine-dining venture, L’Antoinette, in Crabapple. L’Antoinette was born out of both desperation and inspiration. When Lagarde’s expansion didn’t feel right—especially next to another Italian concept—we pivoted. Jamie’s years in Italy’s Piedmont region, with its strong French influence, was the spark. The name comes from a painting my wife bought over ten years ago: a quaint bistro front painted Antoinette, now hanging in the restaurant. The kitchen serves classic French fare with subtle twists—think Coq au Vin, bistro salad, duck confit, beef bourguignon, sole, and escargot. The vibe is elegant and welcoming, with a standout green “diamond” bar countertop—way ahead of the design trend curve. When we opened, some wondered how a casual restaurateur could flip to fine dining—but this is already in our bones, as il Giallo proves. Since launching, L’Antoinette has been featured in Eater Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, Milton Insider, and others, and went viral for our Unlimited Fries & Steaks offer atlanta.eater.com+10atlanta.eater.com+10opentable.com+10ajc.com.
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