McKendrick’s Steak House, located in the Park Place Shopping Center in Dunwoody, announced that Branden Holte has joined the restaurant as executive chef
Holte, an Atlanta native, has more than 20 years of experience leading kitchens in the city, according to a release from McKendrick’s.
He trained under Chef Pano Karatassos at Kyma, before developing a whole-animal butchery and charcuterie program at Bull & Beggar in Asheville, NC. Holte later returned to Atlanta, where he served as executive chef at Under the Cork Tree, helped open Prime 120 in Woodstock, and rose to culinary director, and then director of operations for Succulent Hospitality.
Most recently, Holte held leadership roles at Local Three Kitchen & Bar and Warhorse Atlanta, a private, members-only dining concept. There, he co-opened Seahorse, a 28-seat sushi omakase restaurant, with McKendrick’s operating partner Anthony Casiello.
A 30-year history/looking to the future
The appointment comes as McKendrick’s marks more than 30 years in business. Founders Claudia and Doug McKendrick said the restaurant’s longevity rests on its food and on relationships built with generations of guests and staff.
The owners say the steakhouse format that has defined the restaurant since it opened in 1995 will remain, but new additions will now include in-house butchery, house-made bread, and closer ties to local farmers and producers under Holte.
Restaurant leaders said Holte stood out during an extensive search because of his steakhouse background, hands-on approach and hospitality focus.
“What draws me to this opportunity is the chance to be part of a well-established steakhouse with a rich history,” Holte said in the release. “I’m excited to bring my knowledge and creativity to help this classic steakhouse reconnect with a new generation. My goal is to honor the traditions that have always made it special while introducing new elements to broaden its appeal to a new generation of diners.
Holte’s appointment reunites him with Casiello, with whom he previously opened Seahorse. “Chef Holte and I have always made a strong team because we see food, beverage and service the same way,” Casiello said. “He has the rare combination of classic steakhouse discipline and genuine creative instinct. I couldn’t be more excited for what he’s going to bring to our menu and guests.”
Holte said he wants the transition to honor the restaurant’s history, while moving it forward.
“At the end of the day, this is about honoring something special,” he said. “McKendrick’s has been a cornerstone of Atlanta dining for three decades, built on the relationships between our team and the guests who return year after year.
Park Place in transition (again)
McKendrick’s is one of the shining stars in the somewhat empty Park Place Shopping Center, which, while adding tenants, has also lost several. After the popular Alon’s Bakery shuttered in 2023, it was followed by the closures of nearby Sage Wood Fire Tavern in 2024, and Cowboy’s and Caviar in early 2025.
The center, now under the ownership of EDENS, announced in 2024 an overhaul of its the center to turn it into “a vibrant modern village,” which began with a renovation of its courtyard.
Le Faucheur Tearoom, offering a European-inspired tea service, opened April 3, and Irving, TX-based Simply South Pure Indian Vegetarian is slated to open in October, about 7,000 square feet of the Alon’s space at the front of the center.
In addition, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has listed on its website that it is “coming soon” with no specific date associated with its opening.
Last December, Pepper Boxing, a 3,000-square-foot training facility, moved into part of the former Alon’s Bakery space, but recently closed with little notice, as reported first by Tomorrow’s News Today.
Pepper Boxing is listed in the shopping center’s online directory, and the phone number is still active, although nobody answered when a Rough Draft reporter called. The website indicates that there are no classes available on its schedule for the foreseeable future.
