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Articles on companies that have grown by building an impressive portfolio of restaurant concepts.

2017 RH 25: Alta Group

Chef Daniel Patterson began building a restaurant group with the debut of Coi in 2006, described as a “small, quirky, fine-dining restaurant” that made a mark in Northern California.

Lisa Jennings, Executive Editor

October 3, 2017

2 Min Read
Daniel Patterson
Daniel PattersonAlta Group

This year, Restaurant Hospitality collected the 25 most powerful multiconcept operators across the country, or what we call the RH 25. With this list, there is no ranking. All 25 are powerful, and all 25 are companies to watch. See all concepts >>

HQ: San Francisco

Leadership: Daniel Patterson, founder and principal; Joe White, director of operations; Gabriel Barba, director of learning and development

Concepts: Alta at Mid-Market, Alta at Minnesota Street Project, Plum Bar, Alfred’s

Group systemwide sales: Not disclosed

What’s new: Alta at The Grant in the Yotel hotel, and The Grant, a rooftop bar. In 2018, Alta at Jack London will replace Haven, and Alta will open in Los Angeles.

Fostering a supportive culture

Chef Daniel Patterson began building a restaurant group with the debut of Coi in 2006, described as a “small, quirky, fine-dining restaurant” that made a mark in Northern California.

Over a decade, Patterson opened six more restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area under what was called the Daniel Patterson Group, including Alta, Plum Bar and Alfred’s.

A few years ago, Patterson joined forces with Los Angeles chef and restaurateur Roy Choi to launch the quick-service concept LocoL, which is operated separately.

This year, however, Daniel Patterson Group morphed into Alta Group, and Patterson began growing the Alta brand by converting some existing restaurants and moving to new locations. With the move, Coi and Astor will be operated separately, although Patterson remains the owner.

alta-minnesota-st-project-Marija-Vidal_0.jpg

The new Alta at the Minnesota Street Project

But Alta won’t be a chain. Patterson’s goal is to recreate the restaurant to fit each community.

“I’m not a corporate guy,” he said. “Even if I tried my hardest, I couldn’t do the same thing over and over.”

Meanwhile, Patterson continues to rethink the way restaurants operate.

The group has partnered with Restaurant Opportunities Center, or ROC United, to pilot a racial equity program, with the aim of creating more equitable systems for hiring, training and advancement within the company.

Alta Group also moved to a hospitality-included model this year. The results have been positive.

“That’s the magic,” Patterson said. “When you get a group of people who love what they’re doing, love the people they work with, and they feel comfortable and supported, then I really think anything’s possible.”

Next: The Wolfgang Puck Group
Previous: Union Square Hospitality Group

About the Author

Lisa Jennings

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality

Lisa Jennings is executive editor of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She joined the NRN staff as West Coast editor in 2004 as a veteran journalist. Before joining NRN, she spent 11 years at The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis, Tenn., most recently as editor of the Food and Health & Wellness sections. Prior experience includes staff reporting for the Washington Business Journal and United Press International.

Lisa’s areas of expertise include coverage of both large public restaurant chains and small independents, the regulatory and legal landscapes impacting the industry overall, as well as helping operators find solutions to run their business better.

Lisa Jennings’ experience:

Executive editor, NRN (March 2020 to present)

Executive editor, Restaurant Hospitality (January 2018 to present)

Senior editor, NRN (September 2004 to March 2020)

Reporter/editor, The Commercial Appeal (1990-2001)

Reporter, Washington Business Journal (1985-1987)

Contact Lisa Jennings at:

[email protected]

@livetodineout

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-jennings-83202510/

 

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