JF Restaurants

Restaurateur & Chef John Fraser made his mark on the culinary landscape by redefining the role of vegetables in American cuisine, from imaginative fine dining destinations to sentimental neighborhood restaurants. Born & raised in Los Angeles, Fraser still draws inspiration from the nostalgia of comfort food and neighborhood bars he grew up around in California. In 2007, he went from chef to restaurateur with a vision to create the entire hospitality experience founding his own collaborative and creative hospitality group, JF Restaurants, based in New York City.

Fraser is renown for his groundbreaking creativity, as seen in projects like the decade-old critically acclaimed Dovetail (2007), collaborative openings – including Narcissa (2014) and the Standard Café (2014), and Greenwich village establishments – Michelin-star vegetarian restaurant NIX (2016) and American tavern The Loyal (2017) – both paused due to COVID-19.

Current concepts in New York include The Terrace & Outdoor Gardens and 701 West, and two bars – The Lobby Bar and Paradise Club – inside The Times Square EDITION (2019). Fraser revitalized and reopened North Fork Table & Inn (2020), an East End institution on the North Fork of Long Island. Fraser and his team are behind IRIS (2021) – inspired by Fraser’s Greek heritage and admiration for Turkish cuisine and French brasserie La Marchande – at The Wall Street Hotel (2022). Most recently, Fraser took over the culinary program at Frances, a New American 30-seat rooftop
terrace inside Casa Cruz.

Beyond the tristate area, inside The Tampa EDITION (2022), Fraser opened the signature fine-dining Mediterranean restaurant Lilac in addition to three restaurants and bars. In partnership with Winthrop Center in Boston, Fraser opened The Vermilion Club (2024), a modern chophouse, and The Lineup (2024), a curated food hall. JF Restaurants also leads the exclusive dining program at The Residences at Winthrop Center. 

Fraser’s culinary accolades include three stars from the New York Times and a Michelin star for eight consecutive years of operations at Dovetail, as well as a Michelin star and two-star rating from the New York Times at NIX. IRIS has been awarded “critics’ choice” and the seventh best restaurant in NYC by the New York Times, as well as the thirteenth best restaurant in the United States by Esquire Magazine. Most recently, Ardor was cited as the number one best restaurant in West Hollywood by TimeOut Magazine.