John Keller Takes the Helm at Cherry at Dream Downtown and Cherry Izakaya

John Keller Appointed Chef/Partner of Cherry Restaurants
John Keller Takes the Helm at Cherry at Dream Downtown and Cherry Izakaya

Cherry restaurants introduce a new face behind the Chelsea and Williamsburg hotspots. John Keller, who honed his craft training in great New York City kitchens such as the world-renowned Nobu, has been appointed Chef/Partner of Cherry restaurants (Cherry at Dream Downtown and Cherry Izakaya) effective as of March 11, 2015. As Keller’s first charge, he will lead Cherry Izakaya through an evolution, introducing his take on Izakaya-inspired gastropub fare alongside the restaurant’s beloved signatures.

“We’re excited for the possibilities with John as part of our team,” says Owner Eugene Morimoto. “His fun and fearless approach to food perfectly complements the Cherry brand, making him the ideal talent to lead our dedicated and talented kitchen team.”
Keller brings two decades of culinary experience to Cherry restaurants. Classically trained at the New York Restaurant School, Keller trained at the internationally-acclaimed Nobu and staged briefly at Le Bernadin to further hone his skills. He moved on to hold positions as Executive Chef at restaurants including Bruno Jamais (Upper East Side), Bryant Park’s Celsius and Hotel on Rivington’s CO-OP Food & Drink and Viktor & Spoils, among others. In these diverse kitchens, Keller perfected his skills across various cuisines, including French, Japanese, Mexican and New American.
In his new role, Keller will make his mark through the debut of dishes at Cherry Izakaya beginning mid-March, and with the introduction of brunch at the Williamsburg restaurant this spring. He will also put his stamp on the menu at Cherry at Dream Downtown in the coming months. Favorites like Cherry’s signature Tuna Tarts and Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice will remain untouched, and guests can expect the same high-quality small plates and sushi and sashimi they have come to know and love at Cherry and Cherry Izakaya.

Cherry is located at 355 West 16th Street at Dream Downtown, and opened January 2013. The restaurant serves dinner only, Monday through Saturday from 6:00pm-12:00am. Cherry Izakaya is located at 138 North 8th Street, between Bedford Avenue and Berry Street, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and opened in July 2014. Dinner is served on Sunday from 5:30-11:30pm and Monday-Saturday from 5:30pm-12:00am; the bar at Cherry Izakaya stays open Thursday-Saturday until 2:00am. Brunch hours will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information about Cherry at Dream Downtown, please visit www.cherrynyc.com or call 212-929-5800; for Cherry Izakaya, please visit www.cherryizakaya.com or call 347-889-6300.
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