Danny Grant

Chef/Managing Partner

A Long Island native, Chef Danny Grant began cooking at a young age with his family in New York. Currently, 41, he moved to Chicago in his early twenties and began cooking for 2003 food & wine best new chef, Bruce Sherman, at North Pond. After five years as the Chef de Cuisine at North Pond, Chef Grant left to cook abroad in Paris and Italy and to attend the French Pastry school to hone his skills. Chef Grant’s classic French training and forward-thinking vision work in concert to consistently turn out elegant dishes with sharply focused flavors.

Upon returning to Chicago, he served as sous chef for Nomi restaurant; but, his career took off in 2009, when he became executive chef for Ria and Balsan restaurants at the former Elysian Hotel. During his tenure there, his French bistro inspired menus earned him Food & Wine’s “2012 Best New Chef” award.

In 2011, and then again in 2012, Chef Grant earned two Michelin stars making him the youngest US chef (at the time) to be awarded this prestigious accolade. While at Ria, he also earned a perfect four-star review from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago magazine. After his tenure at Ria, Danny opened 1826 in Miami, earning the Best New Miami Restaurant in 2013.

Returning back to Chicago in 2015, Danny joined the predecessor to Maple Hospitality Group, as Chef and partner. His creative vision and operations expertise have created an award-winning portfolio of brands including Maple & Ash, Monarch, and Kessaku. In 2021, Monarch was hailed as Best New Restaurant by the Dallas Morning News. The growing hospitality company currently has the top performing restaurants in Chicago, Scottsdale, and Dallas.

Chef Grant always encourages a fun, lively atmosphere in both the kitchen and the dining room and is often found mingling with guests throughout dinner service.