Steakhouse server can’t escape from New England roots

Artelle Peters, 64, has worked in the restaurant industry for 30 years. You might even say hospitality runs in the blood of this Native American who is a member of the Wampanoag tribe.

“We were the first tribe to welcome the Pilgrims,” he said with pride.

Peters has been welcoming guests at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Buckhead for the past eight years. And, as Atlanta hosts this year’s Super Bowl, this pro server has been taking care of an amped-up sports crowd and VIPs for the past few days.

With so much traffic at the restaurant this week, Peters has had to stay on his game, but he has had time to look up and see a few famous faces take a seat at the restaurant, including Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

Having moved to Atlanta from Florida 25 years ago, Peters has developed an allegiance to the Peach State, but when it comes to Super Bowl LIII, he’ll be rooting for New England. After all, he did live in Boston for a spell and he’s a native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He noted that others from Team Davio’s will stand squarely in New England’s corner when they line up against the L.A. Rams.

“The owner, Steve (DiFillippo), is from there,” he said. “We are big Patriots fans.”

But, said Peters, when it comes to the weather, Atlanta beats Beantown hands down.

“Boston is too cold. Florida is too hot. Atlanta is just right.”

Artelle Peters