We are restaurants run by restaurant people. We’re driven, passionate, collaborative and competitive by nature, but embrace our leadership role in our neighborhood and the restaurant community.
David Silver
Founder & Partner
Working for iconic hotel brands like Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and Joie de Vivre with chefs like David Kinch and Thomas Keller, David led Human Resources for boutique and luxury hotel companies, including independents such as Campton Place and L’Ermitage Beverly Hills. David became Corporate Director of Human Resources for Joie de Vivre Hotels and Michael Mina’s Mina Group.
For the last 12 years, David has owned the boutique search firm D Silver Talent Acquisition, focused on F&B and Culinary placement at top restaurants, hotels and resorts across the country. Deep into the COVID-19 pandemic, he envisioned Community Restaurant Group creating the kind of restaurant people would want post-COVID and beyond: chef-driven, sophisticated but very approachable and neighborhood oriented. He brought together partners with subject matter expertise and shared positive values of integrity and quality. David currently lives on Kaua`i, for which he is grateful every day.
DAVID SILVER
Founder & Partner
Andrew Freeman
Partner & Driver of Butts in Seats
Named as one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, Andrew brings a combination of experience, passion, and creativity to every endeavor. Andrew learned the restaurant business by working through the ranks at several legendary New York venues including The Russian Tea Room, The Rainbow Room and Windows on the World. Andrew was also the Vice President of Public Relations and Strategic Partnerships for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants. He spent ten years with Kimpton, launching over 40 hotels and restaurants as well as the global brand.
In 2005, Andrew launched af&co. Andrew has grown his company into a highly respected lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality marketing, media relations firm. In 2020, he co-founded a partner company Carbonate which concentrates on brand consulting. A dedicated philanthropist, Andrew sits on the boards of CUESA, Dress for Success San Francisco and The Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation. Andrew is an avid Barry’s Bootcamp fan and resides in San Francisco with his darling maltipoo Dolly.
ANDREW FREEMAN
Partner & Driver of Butts in Seats
Michael DeGano
Consultant
During his tenure at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Michael was part of the leadership team that created, developed, and operated Kimpton at a level of service and hospitality that brought national attention. Michael was the General Manager of Kimpton’s Seattle restaurants Tulio Ristorante and Sazerac by chef Jan Birnbaum and Poste Brassiere in Washington, DC. Michael also led teams as Kimpton Director of Operations in the Northeast and Southeast, overseeing restaurants like Pacci in Savannah, Area 31 in Miami, KO Prime in Boston with Chef Ken Oringer and Bambara Restaurant in Cambridge. After many years with Kimpton, Michael joined Sage Restaurant Group as Food and Beverage Director of Kachina Cantina, Poka Lola Social Club, the Original Restaurant Milepost Zero located in Lower Downtown Denver as well as Vice President of Restaurant Operation for Sage Restaurant Group’s brands in Chicago, Colorado and Texas. Michael’s proudest moments have been the over 20 restaurant openings in his tenure. Assembling a team, leading them to success and then watching them grow to take on challenges of their own is his greatest pleasure.
MICHAEL DEGANO
Operations Consultant
John Priest
Partner & Head Bean Counter
John began restaurant work to pay for his B.S. in Business/Accounting and M.B.A.; he never stopped loving restaurants. Moving from Bakersfield to San Francisco, he was a server at Jeremiah Tower’s Stars Restaurant before moving into the back office; his passion for and knowledge of restaurant operations always separated John from other accountants and earned him great trust from the best restaurant operators in California.
John joined Ed Levine at innovative Vine Solutions, the leading restaurant accounting and financial consulting firm in California. During his 14 years, he grew to become Executive Vice President, building the company to 55 consultants in both Northern and Southern California. For the last six years, John has worked as a Director and CFO of two restaurant groups while also starting his own consulting firm. After 25 years, John still lives in San Francisco; he loves to travel, but there is nowhere else he would rather call home.
JOHN PRIEST
Partner & Head bean counter
David W Silver
Partner & Counsel
David is a commercial real estate and transactional attorney who has developed a niche in the hospitality industry. In the past several years, David has assisted with the successful launching of Hot Chocolate in Bucktown, Smyth and The Loyalist in the West Loop, Virtue in Hyde Park and most recently, Galit in Lincoln Park.
David has an accounting degree from Indiana University and a law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.
