After opening more than 50 successful bars and restaurants over 30 years, James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Rob Katz has become one of the world’s foremost visionaries in the field of hospitality. As co-CEO and co-founder of Boka Restaurant Group, Rob has produced some of the country's most iconic restaurants by championing great chefs, enlightened hospitality, and inspired design.  

While Katz, a Vancouver, B.C. native, originally moved to Chicago in 1987 to work at the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, he quickly fell in love with the city’s exciting bar and nightclub scene. It was at this time that he developed not only a passion for hospitality and the power of bringing people together over a shared experience, but a knack for identifying and platforming incredible creative talent. As a live music pioneer on Chicago’s north side, his highly successful bars and nightclubs—Elbo Room, Katacomb, and Waterloo—hosted some of the 90’s most legendary musicians, including Dave Matthews Band, Stone Temple Pilots, The Samples, Big Head Todd and The Monsters, and The Smashing Pumpkins.  

Katz partnered with Kevin Boehm to launch Boka Restaurant Group in 2002. Over the course of 24 years, the pair have opened 46 establishments together, leveraging Katz’s keen eye for real estate to bring to life restaurants that are as rooted in superior design as they are outstanding food and hospitality. Boka Restaurant Group’s current portfolio includes Alla Vita, Boka, Cabra, Cira, Duck Duck Goat, Elliott Aster, GG’s Chicken Shop, Gingie, Girl & the Goat, Girl & the Goat Los Angeles, Itoko, Izakaya at Momotaro, Jaffa Cocktail & Raw Bar, K’Far Brooklyn, Laser Wolf Brooklyn, Lazy Bird, Little Goat Diner, Midōsuji, Momotaro, Swift & Sons, Swift Tavern, The Wellsley, Valley Goat, and Zarella, with plans for expansion in Denver and Nashville. Under Katz and Boehm’s leadership, Boka Restaurant Group has also expanded its signature hospitality services, recently taking over the food and beverage programs at iconic hotels including Chicago Athletic Association (Cindy’s Rooftop, Drawing Room, and Game Room).

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Boka Restaurant Group’s concepts have earned a tremendous number of awards and accolades, including 20 James Beard Award nominations, two Food & Wine Best New Chefs, 13 consecutive Michelin Stars for Boka, seven restaurants in Restaurant Magazine’s top 100 highest grossing restaurants in America, and 6 Boka Restaurant Group restaurants in the Chicago Tribune’s Top 50 list. With Boehm, Katz was named Restaurateur of the Year by Time Out Chicago in 2010, Chicago Tribune in 2011, and the Illinois Restaurant Association in 2017. Eater named them Empire Builders of the Year in 2012 and Newcity ranked them #1 in its 2017 list of the 50 most powerful influences on Chicago’s dining scene. The pair were Outstanding Restaurateur nominees at the James Beard Awards from 2016-2018, eventually taking home the coveted prize in 2019. Most recently, Katz was named to Robb Report’s 2024 list of the 50 Most Powerful People in American Fine Dining alongside Boehm.  

Katz lives in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood with his wife, Kathleen. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his adult children Jamieson and Shelby, exploring new real estate ventures, and traveling.