Inspirational Career Timeline

As Chief Restaurant Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group, Sabato Sagaria ensures that USHG’s award-winning restaurant teams have the strongest possible tools to achieve continuous operational improvement and growth in alignment with USHG’s vision and culture of Enlightened Hospitality.

Over the past twenty years, Sabato has fulfilled many roles at nationally-acclaimed restaurants and hotels, serving as a cook, restaurant manager, sommelier, consultant, professor, food and beverage director, and even author. Upon graduating from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, Sabato went on to contribute to the success of some of the country’s top hotels, restaurants, and resorts. These have included The Greenbrier Hotel, The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, The Inn at Little Washington, and The Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, Colorado where he most recently oversaw the resort’s food and beverage operations.

Sabato played a pivotal role with the Little Nell’s parent company, Aspen Skiing, developing and refining four restaurant concepts, including Element 47, Ajax Tavern and The Oasis, the world’s first pop-up ski-in-ski-out Champagne bar. In 2012, Sabato was named the 119th member of the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers, a distinction held by fewer than 200 individuals in the United States.

Inspirational Career Timeline

Director of Wine and Restaurant Operations of Union Square Hospitality Group and a celebrated industry educator, has directed wine programs at acclaimed restaurants in Napa, San Francisco, and New York City, such as Campton Place and Eleven Madison Park, where he earned a James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service. In 2011, John became Wine Director for USHG, a role that allows him to develop and evolve the exceptional and distinctive wine programs at each USHG restaurant. In addition, John oversees internal beverage education, teaches classes for industry professionals and wine enthusiasts, and leads private wine events. Committed to organizing charitable involvement within the wine community, John has spearheaded initiatives to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief and community-based food programs.

Job Opportunities

Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) was founded by Danny Meyer and includes some of New York City's most beloved restaurants: Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke, Jazz Standard, Shake Shack, The Modern, Cafe 2 and Terrace 5 (located at the Museum of Modern Art), Maialino, Marta, Untitled at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and North End Grill. The company also includes Union Square Events, a catering, sports, and events business, and Hospitality Quotient, a learning business empowering companies to transform their business through the power of hospitality. Each USHG restaurant is lovingly hand crafted and distinctive, and each strives to distinguish itself for warm hospitality and consistent excellence. Danny, his restaurants and chefs have earned an unprecedented 25 James Beard Awards, including: Outstanding Restaurant of the Year; Outstanding Service; Outstanding Wine Service; Humanitarian of the Year; and Best Restaurant Design. Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern are perennially ranked on the top of the ‘Most Popular’ list in the Zagat Survey, with Union Square Cafe holding the #1 spot nine times.

USHG and its employees are committed to extending its enlightened hospitality beyond the walls of its restaurants. The company supports an array of hunger relief organizations including Share Our Strength and City Harvest, along with civic organizations such as NYC & Company, Union Square Partnership, and the Madison Square Park Conservancy.