03 Jan Chef Robbie Wilson

Originally from Texas, Robbie has spent his career cultivating his culinary voice after early years under the tutelage of Michel Troisgros in Roanne, France; Tom Colicchio in New York City; Thomas Keller in Napa Valley; and Nobu Matsuhisa in Aspen, Colorado. In 2010, Robbie was the creative culinary force behind M Street Entertainment as it trailblazed an early existence in Nashville’s inventive culinary scene.

Two years later, Robbie and his wife Emily Perry Wilson relocated to California to refurbish Mattei’s Tavern, a landmark in Santa Barbara wine country, which received national attention under their direction. In 2015, the Wilsons opened BIRD DOG in Palo Alto, which garnered international recognition including the prestigious World’s 50 Best Discovery nod and numerous best new restaurant lists, while Robbie was named by Zagat as one of the “10 Superheroes of the S.F./Bay Area Dining Scene.” Most recently, BIRD DOG was named by Forbes as the only “not to be missed” dining destinations in Silicon Valley, and included in Eater’s 2023 List of Essential Restaurants.

Robbie’s recent endeavor was Le Fantastique in San Francisco’s tony Hayes Valley, which celebrated Robbie’s love of raw fish, French wine, warm bread and vinyl records. In 2022, Le Fantastique was named one of 50 Best New Restaurants in America by Esquire Magazine.

In 2023, Robbie was a James Beard Foundation Semi-Finalist for Best Chef: California.

As had long been in the pipeline, Robbie excitedly returned to Nashville in summer 2024 to create a restaurant group primarily focused on welcoming and serving Nashvillians. The first concepts of the group will open in Sylvan Park in 2025: SuperNormal, a brand-forward fast casual spot for burgers, hot dogs and ice cream, and Lion’s Share, a luxe tavern highlighting Wilson’s signature approach to food, aesthetic, and atmosphere, the balance of comfort + adventure.

Beyond restaurants, Robbie is passionate about music, travel—particularly to Tokyo—and his family: his wife and business partner, Emily, and their two young sons, Colt and Maverick.

Accolades and highlight press phrases at-a-glance:

• 2023 James Beard Foundation Semi-Finalist for Best Chef: California
• Chef/Owner Robbie Wilson’s Le Fantastique named a 2023 Best New Restaurant in America by Esquire Magazine
• Eater San Francisco: “Le Fantastique has finally opened, and it’s dazzling.”
• Zagat names Chef Robbie Wilson “1 of 10 Superheroes of the Bay Area Dining Scene”
• BIRD DOG included in prestigious World’s 50 Best Discovery list
• Modern Luxury Silicon Valley names BIRD DOG the “Most Exciting New Restaurant”
• Palo Alto News names BIRD DOG “The Most Exciting Opening of the Year”
• Zagat names BIRD DOG “Hottest New Restaurant Opening” in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Departures: “The most ambitious new restaurant in Palo Alto may also be its best.”
• Michael Bauer, longtime San Francisco Chronicle critic, calls BIRD DOG “One of the brightest
  spots”

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