While an Aunt and Uncle who owned a tavern may have inspired his interest in the restaurant business, Rick Roman’s first foray into the industry was a busboy position when he was a high school freshman. That first job in hospitality inspired a lifelong interest, and though he entered college with the intention of establishing a career in medicine, he eventually realized that his true passion was the restaurant industry. He received his degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Throughout his career, Rick performed and perfected his proficiency in almost every role of food and beverage operations. In 1984, a fortuitous job arrived when he was recruited by ARAMARK to work at the restaurant he would one day own. The 95th was then a very formal, upscale French restaurant that was a training ground for some of the most outstanding culinary talent in America. He assumed the duties of Dining Room Manager with responsibilities in new business development during an exciting culinary period during which Chef Michael Foley introduced the New American cuisine movement.
When ARAMARK declined management renewal in the early 90s, Rick and business associate, Nick Pyknis, decided to buy the destination with the goal of establishing it as a worldclass landmark restaurant. Since then, the team, the inspired contemporary American cuisine and the award-winning wine list have earned favorable critic reviews. Local newspaper reader polls have named this one of Chicago’s most romantic restaurants and most popular weekend brunch destinations.
An active community and industry advocate, Rick served as chairman of the prestigious Greater North Michigan Avenue Association and is a board member of the National Restaurant Association and Le Cordon Bleu Chicago. A past chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association, Rick was named “Illinois Restaurateur of the Year” in 1999 by the organization. Rick thrives on traveling the globe in search of exciting new culinary adventures. He resides in Chicago and in Reno, Nevada.