Welcome Rick Brook
Rick Brook grew up immersed in the restaurant business, beginning his journey at his grandparents' hot fish shop in Minnesota, where he started bussing tables at the age of 7 or 8. His professional career began in New York, transitioning from film production, where he worked on Pat Benatar and Cyndi Lauper MTV videos before moving into the restaurant scene. He started serving and bartending on the Upper West Side and later became the bar manager at Keens Steakhouse in Midtown, one of the oldest steakhouses in NYC and home to one of the largest scotch collections in the world.
Rick's career then took him to Boston, where he managed the bar program for United Distillers, and subsequently to San Francisco. In San Francisco, he reopened the famous Balboa Cafe, which remains one of the busiest bars in the country. Rick pursued higher education at Dartmouth, followed by one of his four sons, Sam, who also attended the prestigious college. There is a joke in his family, “Go to Ivy League just to get back into the business” which is a playful nod to how his four sons have all worked with him in restaurants over the years. Rick understands how working in restaurants teaches valuable lessons about empathy, hard work, and hospitality.
“Every young person should have the chance to work in the service industry in their working career because it teaches them how to think from other people's perspectives. They have to get inside the minds of others to enhance their dining experience, and that’s an important lesson.”
At Jettie's, Rick is thrilled to work with a mature, motivated staff where everyone is invested in providing exceptional hospitality. Over the past 10 years, he has opened three restaurants, and generally, he is tasked with coming in to fix a broken culture or to establish a new one. At Jettie Rae’s though, he’s been enjoying the existing culture and the values already instilled within the team.
“The luxury at Jettie Rae’s is that the culture is already in place. It functions at a very high level. It’s like a Swiss watch - It just works so well. Each day I come to work excited to come to work. I feel like I am at the right place at exactly the right time. My family and friends have noticed how happy I am. There are some great people here. It’s a great opportunity.”
Rick’s journey through the culinary world has been marked by an unwavering passion for hospitality. At Jettie Rae’s, Rick has found a home where he can thrive alongside a team that shares his dedication to excellence. With his leadership, Jettie Rae’s is poised to continue its tradition of exceptional service and unforgettable dining experiences.
