Café Gratitude parent names Dan Evon president

A former Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc. executive has been named president of the Los Angeles-based parent of the growing Café Gratitude and sister brands.

Dan Evon, who spent the past 13 years as a partner at Chicago-based LEYE, joins the Love Serve Remember restaurant group in the newly created position.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Dan to the LSR family as we plan out the future of Café Gratitude, Gracias Madre and Gratitude,” said Lisa Bonbright, CEO of the group, which operates seven plant-based restaurants. “Our restaurants are so much more than a place to eat, they are truly a lifestyle and it was important that the person we brought on be able to embrace what we have created over the past seven years. We are lucky to have Dan as part of our leadership team, someone who not only offers the highest level of operational expertise, but also understands our brand through and through.”

Gracias Madre

At LEYE, Evon was responsible for restaurants that included Mon Ami Gabi in Las Vegas, as well as co-creating M Street Kitchen in Santa Monica, Calif., as well as Stella Barra Pizzeria in California, Illinois and Maryland; El Segundo Sol and Stripburger in Nevada; and Summerhouse Santa Monica in Illinois and Maryland.

Before LEYE, Evon was a partner with Paul Fleming in Z’tejas Southwestern Grill, and he worked previously with the Morton Restaurant Group as managing partner for Bertolini’s Authentic Trattoria.

Originally founded in 2004, Café Gratitude includes three locations in Los Angeles and one in San Diego. Two upscale variations with a full bar, called Gratitude, are located in Newport Beach and Beverly Hills, Calif.

A Mexican version called Gracias Madre is located in West Hollywood, Calif.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected] 

Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout