Chief Restaurant Advisor
The Chief Restaurant Advisor role, now in its third year, ensures the perspectives of independent restaurant owners are heard and honored.
Why we created the Chief Restaurant Advisor role
Champion the restaurant perspective
Ensure that DoorDash has more visibility into the opportunities and challenges facing real-world restaurant operators.
Serve as a voice of the industry
Bridge potential gaps by participating in conversations with DoorDash leaders, employees, and local restaurateurs.
Provide valuable insights and feedback
Host industry roundtables, attend strategy meetings, and share feedback on DoorDash products and services.
Meet Michael Solomonov, our current Chief Restaurant Advisor
Michael Solomonov is a beloved champion of Israel's extraordinarily diverse culinary landscape and is widely recognized for bringing Israeli cuisine to diners across the US and around the world. He is co-owner of CookNSolo Restaurants with hospitality entrepreneur Steve Cook, and they own Philadelphia’s esteemed Zahav — the trailblazing restaurant opened in 2008 where Solomonov is Chef.
Solomonov is the recipient of the five James Beard Foundation Awards, including "Outstanding Restaurant" for Zahav, and is the co-author of three cookbooks.
In addition to Zahav, Solomonov oversees Federal Donuts, Dizengoff, Goldie, K’Far, and Laser Wolf across Philadelphia and New York City.
Meet our previous Chief Restaurant Advisors
Stephanie Izard
Stephanie Izard, James Beard "Best Chef: Great Lakes" recipient 2013, and 2011 Food & Wine "Best New Chef," is the Executive Chef and Owner of five Chicago restaurants: Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat, Cabra, and Sugargoat, along with Girl & the Goat and Cabra in Los Angeles. Izard also won the coveted title of "Iron Chef" in 2017 and was the first woman to win Bravo’s "Top Chef" in 2008.
Known for her nose-to-tail whole-animal cuisine, Stephanie is the author of two books: "Girl in the Kitchen" and "Gather & Graze."
Pinky Cole
Pinky Cole is a Jamaican-American restaurateur and founder of Slutty Vegan, a plant-based burger restaurant chain that has revolutionized the Black vegan food world and gained an almost cult-like following in Georgia, Alabama, and New York.
She also founded the Pinky Cole Foundation, which seeks to empower generations of color to win in life, financially, and in the pursuit of their entrepreneurial goals. In 2022, Cole released a cookbook, “Eat Plants, B*tch," which reimagines traditional comfort foods and gives them a plant-based makeover.
Dive into the stories of Chief Restaurant Advisors, past and present
How Slutty Vegan Gained a Cult Following
Learn how Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan won over the hearts of its customers with PInky Cole at the helm.
How Stephanie Izard Built a Positive Work Culture
Girl & the Goat Chef and Owner Stephanie Izard discusses creating a restaurant culture that empowers her team.
Pinky Cole is the Plant-Based Queen
The Slutty Vegan founder, now at the helm of a $100 million empire, is a former Dasher who keeps putting her unique spin on vegan food.
Stephanie Izard is the GOAT
Girl & the Goat’s star chef, known for her love of meats you don’t frequently find on menus, reveals her top spots for ordering in.
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Access opportunity, capital, and community
We’ve developed a number of initiatives to support you, your business, and the causes you care about.
Healthcare, Hiring, and Training Benefits
We’ve teamed up with companies like 7shifts, and EdApp to offer custom discounts on valuable services.
Chief Restaurant Advisor
The Chief Restaurant Advisor regularly meets with DoorDash leaders, employees, and local restaurateurs hosting industry roundtables, attending strategy meetings, and providing feedback on products and services.
Disaster Relief Fund
We aim to reduce the financial burden on small businesses following a natural disaster with access to $10,000 grants, helping keep their doors open.
DashRoots
We are elevating the voices of Dashers, merchants, and consumers to reach lawmakers who are shaping policies regarding their ability to earn and succeed.
Accelerator for Local Restaurants
The Accelerator improves access to technical assistance, restaurant education, and grants, with resources, speakers, and content most relevant to restaurants owned by women, immigrants, and people of color.
Secret Menu Magazine
We're celebrating local restaurant cultures by elevating the often untold stories of restaurateurs, chefs, entrepreneurs, and the communities they’ve created.
Restaurant Referral Program
Refer a small business restaurant (75 stores or fewer) and get a $1,000 referral bonus when they sign up and complete 15 orders in 60 days.
Entrepreneurship & Access
We're providing opportunities for businesses owned by women, immigrants, and people of color to access resources such as low-interest capital, technical assistance and education, and increased visibility on DoorDash.
Restaurant Advisory Council
The Restaurant Advisory Council advises DoorDash on key initiatives on a monthly basis and provides critical feedback so we can build deeper partnerships with restaurants.
