Donnie Madia

Donnie Madia

Managing Partner/Owner, One Off Hospitality Group

Among the nation’s most acclaimed restaurateurs, Chicago-born Donnie Madia has mastered the art of collaboration in executing his instincts for style, atmosphere, and hospitality. His unique blend of visionary inspiration, attention to detail and sense of unlimited possibilities informs all he touches, as evidenced in the nine-time James Beard award-winning restaurant collective One Off Hospitality—founded by Madia in partnership with Edward Seitan, Paul Kahan, Peter Garfield, Terry Alexander and the late Rick Diarmit. The powerhouse team behind One Off Hospitality opened their first restaurant, the iconic Blackbird in December 1997 with minimal resources and means, but a collective passion to succeed. Blackbird would ultimately go on to forever shape the culinary landscape, both locally and nationally, receiving a Michelin rating for eight consecutive years.

Madia’s commitment to hospitality earned him James Beard nominations for Outstanding Restaurateur in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and his business acumen and gift for connecting talented individuals was recognized by the James Beard Foundation in 2015, when he was formally awarded with the honor. At his core, Madia is a family man, dividing his time between his One Off family, his wife Estelle and their son Bronson. Madia also had been actively involved with pediatric cancer research non-profit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, both on a national level and locally in Chicago.

After first-hand experience of the tragic consequences Covid-19 had on the hospitality industry, Madia settled into a new role as a founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition. The IRC provides a voice for independent restaurants and bars by advocating and fighting for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) amongst other important issues during these challenging times. Madia also sits on the Board of the Illinois Restaurant Association and takes pride in his ability to ignite change within the community.

One Off Hospitality’s existing family of restaurants consists of several of the most noted independently owned and operated restaurants in the U.S. including avec, The Publican, The Violet Hour, Big Star, Big Star Wrigleyville, Publican Quality Meats, Dove’s Luncheonette, Publican Quality Bread and Publican Tavern O’Hare, as well as the iconic Blackbird, which served diners for 20+ years before a final farewell in 2020.