Michael Schlow

Michael Schlow (born c. 1964,[1] Brooklyn[2]) is an American chef and restaurateur. Partnered with restaurateur Christopher Myers, the pair launched Boston restaurants Radius, Via Matta, and Tico.[3][4][5] He was a master contestant on the first episode of Top Chef Masters.[6] In 2018, his roster of restaurants was reported as 12 establishments, largely located Boston and Washington, D.C.[7]

Life

Schlow was born in Brooklyn, then was raised in Somerville, New Jersey, where he graduated from high school.[8] His parents are Ned and Judy Cohn.[9] He gave up a baseball scholarship to attend the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College in New Jersey.[10]

In 2012 he married Andover restaurateur Adrienne Pappadopoulos in May 2012.[9]

Career

Schlow began his career in New York City, and then Long Island, before moving to Boston.[11] He relocated to Boston in 1995 to re-open Boston restaurateur Christopher Myers' Café Louis.[12] Three years later, he and Myers opened Radius, followed by Via Matta, then Tico,[3][4][5] now defunct.[13] After 13 years, Schlow replaced Via Matta with the Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar.[4] He has also helmed six Washington, DC-area restaurants, now defunct.[14]

Schlow has appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America,[4] Today, CBS This Morning, Nightline, the Rachael Ray Show, and Food Network.[2]

He opened Pine at the Hanover Inn, overlooking the Dartmouth College Green, in New Hampshire, in 2013.[15] In Washington, DC, Schlow opened a second Tico's in 2014,[16] launched The Riggsby at the Carlyle Hotel, in 2015,[17] then Alta Strada trattoria, in March 2016,[18] and So Casolare Italian restaurant, that May, at the Glover Park Hotel.[19] By 2019, Schlow had opened a second Alta Strada and the Nama sushi restaurant in DC.[20]

In partnership with Clint Mansour and hotelier Kenny Koza; Schlow opened Japanese-inspired Adachi restaurant at the Ford-Peabody Mansion in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham, in August 2018.[7] He launched Pan-Asian family restaurant Zao Jun, in neighboring Bloomfield, in May 2019.[21] That year, Schlow also opened his first fast-casual Italian eatery, Prima, in Bethseda, Maryland.[20]

In 2024, he opened Seamark Seafood & Cocktails at the Encore Boston Harbor with partner, Sean Christie's Las Vegas-based Carver Road Hospitality.[22] Schlow departed the restaurant in August of 2025, and in February of the following year employees voted to unionize.[23]

In early 2026, he committed to opening a new restaurant at the Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle hotel.[24]

Bibliography

  • It’s About Time, Great Recipes for Everyday Life (2005)[2][25]

Awards and honors

  • James Beard Foundation Award,[6] Best Chef, Northeast, 2000
  • Radius was named “Best New Restaurant” by Food & Wine[6]
  • Radius ranked “Best Restaurant” and “Best Power Lunch” by Boston Magazine
  • Radius named one of the “25 Best American Restaurants” by Gourmet[25]
  • Via Matta was named one of the “Best New Restaurants in America by Gourmet and Esquire magazines[25]
  • Great Bay opened in 2003 and that same year was voted “Best Seafood Restaurant in Boston” by Boston Magazine, with co-owner Schlow as executive chef[25]

References

  1. ^ Rosenberg, Sarah. "From Washing Dishes to Running Restaurants". ABC News. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Michael Schlow – MetroCooking DC". Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  3. ^ a b "Michael Schlow". Boston Chefs. 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  4. ^ a b c d "What An Iconic Boston Chef Has Cooked Up Now". Forbes Travel Guide Stories. 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  5. ^ a b "christopher myers". Lovin Spoonfuls a food rescue. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Michael Schlow". Top Chef Masters. Bravo. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b Kurlyandchik, Mark. "Q&A: Celebrity Chef Michael Schlow will open another suburban Detroit restaurant". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  8. ^ Hayes, Laura (March 29, 2016). "Chefs Michael Schlow and Michael Friedman Talk Pizza". Washingtonian Magazine. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Adrienne Pappadopoulos Marries". The Boston Globe. 2012-09-02. pp. B7. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  10. ^ Featured Alumnus: Michael Schlow, Atlantic Cape Community College. Accessed January 31, 2018.
  11. ^ "Chef Michael Schlow's Biography on StarChefs". StarChefs. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  12. ^ Riccardi, Victoria Abbott (January 18, 2011). "Michael Schlow Talks Tico And Tacos". Boston Common. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  13. ^ Shanahan, Mark (May 21, 2012). "Friends and foodies at Schlow's wedding". Boston Globe. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  14. ^ Sietsema, Tom (August 7, 2017). "At the heart of every restaurant". The Washington Post. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  15. ^ Olmstead, Larry (2013-05-21). "Ivy League Town Gets First Celebrity Chef Restaurant, Luxe Lodging". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  16. ^ "With Tico, chef Michael Schlow makes trek from Boston to D.C." The Washington Post. 2014-09-10. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  17. ^ admin (2015-07-20). "Michael Schlow Opens Nostalgic "The Riggsby" in Carlyle Hotel". K Street Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  18. ^ Mitchell, Travis (2016-03-22). "Inside Michael Schlow's New DC Trattoria: Alta Strada - Washingtonian". Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  19. ^ "Michael Schlow to open second Italian restaurant in Glover Park". The Washington Post. 2016-05-26. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  20. ^ a b Hiatt, Gabe (2019-05-29). "Beard Award Winner Michael Schlow Opens His First Fast-Casual Restaurant". Eater DC. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  21. ^ "The Team Behind Adachi Opens New Restaurant in Bloomfield Township". Hour Detroit Magazine. 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  22. ^ Blumenthal, Rachel Leah (2024-02-28). "Michael Schlow's New Project Is a Seafood Restaurant at Encore". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  23. ^ Cifarelli, David (2026-03-12). "56 workers laid off as Boston-area seafood spot closes". masslive. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  24. ^ "Michael Schlow inks deal for new Dupont Circle restaurant". Washington Business Journal. 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  25. ^ a b c d "It's About Time". Steerforth Press. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
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