Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Poor.
Mark, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My restaurant career began at a family owned restaurant here in Miami, The Captain’s Tavern, at the young age of 16. My beloved Aunt Mary Lou recommended me for a bussing position. After my first month, the Chef pulled me into the kitchen where I quickly fell in love with the nuance and finesse of preparing an exceptional meal.
I continued in the restaurant industry during college and took the next step with The Cheesecake Factory shortly after. I was a top performing GM there for over 7 years before I stepped into fine dining with the newly remodeled Rusty Pelican on Key Biscayne, followed by a regional role with Rosa Mexicano turning around underperforming restaurants.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s fair to say a career in restaurant operations is not an easy one, but I thrive on the challenges and teams I’ve been a part of. It’s ironic that on the professional side of operations moving and acquiring new teams and properties is one of the greatest catalysts for professional growth, while the most challenging personally. Spending too much time away from loved ones can take its toll on a person, but I’m fortunate to have married an amazing woman and found the right balance to keep our relationship in full stride.
Monty’s Raw Bar – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m the Director of Restaurant Operations with The Prime Marina Group. The group is building a portfolio of marinas on the east coast of the U.S. and I oversee any and all restaurant operations. Currently, my primary focus is Monty’s Raw Bar in Coconut Grove, an iconic waterfront restaurant. The property was a bit dated and in the past two years, we’ve begun updating both food and beverage menus and items, as well as service and execution. Renovations and upgrades are slated for next year after some damage from Hurricane Irma paired with our lease extension with the City of Miami.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
With The Prime Marina Group, I’m proud of the direction and quality that we deliver to our investors, teams, and clientele. We have the opportunity to do truly special projects and Monty’s is such a unique space.
I’m so fortunate to have a great team in place to make it a true Miami destination for casual dining and upscale events. We’ve had multiple weddings and receptions in addition to corporate events in our event space and both our catering manager Andrea Aguado and service team led by Juan Barretta have taken events and service to the next level.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2550 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33133
- Website: https://www.montysrawbar.com
- Phone: (305) 856-3992
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montysrawbarcoconutgrove/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Montys-Raw-Bar-115247958505117/
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