Drew Nieporent, Owner, Myriad Restaurant Group
Thursday, April 9, 2026
About the Speaker
Drew Nieporent, one of America’s most respected and celebrated restaurateurs, is the founder of Myriad Restaurant Group, which operates acclaimed venues including Tribeca Grill, Nobu New York City, Nobu Fifty Seven, Nobu London, Bâtard, and Crush Wine & Spirits. Over the past 30 years, Myriad has opened and operated more than 39 restaurants worldwide.
Nieporent's first restaurant, the groundbreaking Montrachet (1985), earned three stars from The New York Times and kept that rating for 21 years. In 2008, the restaurant reopened as Corton, maintaining its three New York Times stars and receiving two Michelin stars with chef-partner Paul Liebrandt at the helm. In May of 2014, Nieporent reopened the space as Bâtard with the help of chef- partner Markus Glocker and partner John Winterman. Earning three stars from The New York Times, New York Magazine, and a coveted Michelin star, the restaurant opened to critical acclaim. As 2014 came to an end, Bâtard landed at the top of several end-of-year lists, including the number one spot on The New York Times' list of "The 10 Best New Restaurants of 2014". In May of 2015, the restaurant won the James Beard award for “Best New Restaurant”.
Tribeca Grill (1990), co-founded with Robert De Niro, remains a New York landmark. In 1994, Nieporent partnered with De Niro and Nobu Matsuhisa to launch Nobu New York City, which achieved global success and helped expand the Nobu brand worldwide.
Nieporent graduated in 1973 from Stuyvesant High School and in 1977 from Cornell University with a degree from the School of Hotel Management. He also donates his time to dozens of charities. He is on the board of Madison Square Garden's Garden of Dreams Foundation, Citymeals-on-Wheels, and DIFFA, an Honorary Chair of the City Harvest Food Council and Culinary Director of the Jackson Hole Wine Auction.
Professor Michael E. Hurst
Professor Hurst was a founding faculty member of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. In 1996, combining his business acumen and a vision for sharing industry leaders’ successes with future industry leaders, he created the Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Lecture Series. As a tribute to Professor Hurst, this endowed lecture series, named in his honor, continues to provide an occasion to create a bridge between the school and the hospitality industry.
Learn more about Professor Hurst
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