Click Here To Listen Nashville Business 100 Leading Persons In Hospitality Monte Silva
Monte grew up in the Hospitality and Food & Beverage industry. As a teenager and through his twenties he worked every hourly restaurant position starting as a dishwasher and moving through the other kitchen positions including prep and line cook. In his late teens and twenties he moved to the front of house where he worked as a busser, server, and bartender. Monte’s family also owns a vineyard in the California wine country.
After a year and a half in the Caribbean and a stop in New Orleans Monte began his management career in Los Angeles. Here he started as a bar manager. In just two years he rose through the ranks at this first company as assistant kitchen manager, service manager, and finally running a kitchen as head kitchen manager. He also was on the opening team of two new company restaurants. His Regional Manager left that company and recruited Monte and in less than six months Monte was promoted to General Manager.
After a very successful two years Monte was hired by Wolfgang Puck. He worked for Wolfgang Puck in the LA area for two years. During this time he was featured in David Steadman’s book Beverage Biz is Show Biz. The chapter focused on him was titled Hospitality Plus. He then moved to Las Vegas to work for Wolfgang at Postrio in the Venetian Hotel. Monte’s time with Wolfgang really honed his hospitality craft as well as gave him a true passion for making food look sexy.
Ten years into Monte’s management career he moved to Nashville Tennessee. He was the service manager at Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar. During this time Flemings was recognized in best of categories of service and steakhouse. In addition to his responsibilities for service and hospitality, he also taught all staff wine training classes and led many wine dinners. In one of these dinners, Nashville Wine Press Magazine referred to Monte as the Barry White of fine dining. This notoriety got the attention of Watermark where he became the Beverage Director. During this time Watermark won best of awards in wine list and service.
In 2010, Monte became the General Manager of Bound’ry. In the time of economic chaos, he changed the concept from a bar with really good pizza to one of the top upscale restaurants in the city. After changing the wine list, beverage program, menu, and the service and hospitality his success was again recognized in best of wine list and service categories. During this time Monte worked with the Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Mayor Karl Dean’s office to really focus on the Hospitality Industry in Nashville. Also, during this time Monte’s wine list was featured in Restaurant Business Magazine (an industry National publication).
In 2012, Monte went to work for Ben and Max Goldberg as the General Manager of Merchants. Working at Strategic Hospitality was an awesome experience. The Goldberg’s were at the top of the game in Nashville and working for them was a great opportunity and this is where he learned to manage a multi-floor restaurant with different experiences on each floor. His success continued here as Merchant’s won Best Service category. Monte moved to Cincinnati to be closer to his wife’s family in 2014 and worked for Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment. He quickly realized that Nashville was home and in eighteen months moved back to open the Jeff Ruby Steakhouse in Nashville as General Manager.
Six months after the opening, Monte was offered a great opportunity to work for the Nashville Rock Star Tom Morales as the General Manager of his mega-restaurant Acme Feed & Seed. Acme is the 31st highest grossing restaurant in the country. Once again under Monte’s leadership Acme has been noted in Best of categories for Sushi, beer list, patio, and food awards. In addition to his General Manager role Monte is also the corporate beverage director for TomKats and is involved in all four of TomKats restaurants. During his time here he was recognized in Nashville Scene and also in the National publication, The Tasting Panel for Acme’s beverage program.
Monte’s experience working with the restaurant Icons Wolfgang Puck, Ben and Max Goldberg, and Tom Morales have allowed him to impact millions of dining experiences and Monte’s commitment to excellence in product and focus on hospitality has greatly impacted the Nashville Scene for over a decade. Monte is honored to be serving the great people of Nashville and for the opportunity to work with such great hospitality minded people.