Brian Piccini
CEO/OWNER
Brian Piccini is the visionary force behind Boston Urban Hospitality, a thriving restaurant group that has left a mark on the city's culinary landscape. Born out of Piccini's passion for hospitality and his tireless work ethic, this enterprise has grown from its beginnings in 2006 into a collection of four award-winning restaurants: Boston Chops Downtown, Boston Chops South End, Deuxave, and dbar.
Fostering a trusting and communicative culture in the workplace is critical to our partners, who place value in vigorous growth, both business and personal.
Piccini’s first experience in the industry came at the age of 18 where as pianist for The Top of the Hub he learned the ins and outs of the guest experience. Even while working full-time as a server and bartender, his entrepreneurship couldn’t be contained by hospitality alone—he also opened a studio and produced dance music, studied neuroscience at Northeastern and developed real estate—using his earnings from his restaurant jobs. This 360-skill set coupled with a relentless desire for discovering new places and experiences through global travel perhaps explain Piccini's gift at transforming failed restaurants into vibrant, successful, award-winning businesses.
When Piccini opened dbar in Dorchester in 2006, he revitalized the neighborhood by introducing a fresh and approachable dining concept. His innovative fare, crafted with the finest local ingredients and a nod to New England seasonality, quickly gained recognition as a beacon of culinary excellence. Next, Piccini ventured into the realm of upscale cuisine with the launch of Deuxave in 2009, a modern French gem nestled in Boston's historic Back Bay. The fine dining restaurant's elegant and inventive dishes quickly made it on to the top of every 'Best Of' list in Boston and showcased Brian's unwavering commitment to culinary excellence. In 2014, he further expanded his culinary group with the critically acclaimed urban steakhouse, Boston Chops, located in the vibrant South End. The restaurant's success led to the opening of a second Boston Chops location in Downtown Crossing in 2018, solidifying its status as a local culinary institution.
Under Piccini’s leadership, he assembled an exceptional team that consistently delivered stellar service and forward-thinking cuisine, earning accolades and critical acclaim at both the local and national levels. His award-winning restaurants have been featured in publications such as The Boston Globe, Food & Wine, Forbes, Eater, and more.
One of Piccini's defining characteristics is his commitment to fostering a workplace culture built on trust and open communication. He recognizes that the strength of any organization lies in its people, and he places immense value on their growth, both professionally and personally.
Piccini continues to look ahead with excitement and anticipation, eager to explore new culinary concepts and push the boundaries of greater Boston's vibrant dining scene. With his unwavering dedication to his craft and his unrelenting passion for hospitality, Piccini remains a driving force in greater Boston's thriving restaurant industry.
OUR TEAM
Cat Quarantello
CFO
With a double major in accounting and mathematics from Fairfield University, Catherine is well equipped to lead the company's finances and reporting. With 11 years on the team, Catherine’s financial leadership has ensured great profitability for our hospitality group in an industry that has razor thin margins. She understands the seasonal swings of our locations, and directly manages the cash flow making sure all accounts are timely paid and received.
Our company believes in profit sharing with all our top management. Catherine is integral in providing the monthly performance reporting and feedback to all teams to maximize to profit centers they control and are bonused on. In addition to her full-time work with us, she is a real estate developer consistently having aresidential development project for her personal growth. This gives her more strategic insight when overseeing the finances of a restaurant construction or renovation project.
Mitch
Hayes
Director of Operations
Mitch Hayes is the reason this multi-restaurant group runs so smoothly. After Mitch worked with Washington DC’s Stir Food Group, he joined us in 2010 as a spirited and hands-on General Manager, who has been instrumental in growing our business in every position he held.
His experience working cross-functionally means he can press pause on overseeing our management teams in order to host, expedite, serve or bartend. He can even talk wine pairings with our guests as a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Nick
Daddona
Beverage Director and Sommelier
Nick Daddona is behind Boston Urban Hospitality’s wine and cocktail menus. He has over a decade of experience in the Boston beverage scene, including management of beverage programs at Legal Seafoods and the Boston Harbor Hotel. He is currently pursuing the Master Sommeliers diploma through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas; Nick always seeks to improve his knowledge as well as the knowledge of team members.
You'll find Nick sourcing the best wine for our restaurants, working on the exciting new cocktail, and educating staff. Nick believes in the power of service and hospitality to better serve our guests day to day in all of our restaurants.