Chris Allen

Hospitality training at DePaul University gave Chris Allen a base before Chicago service taught pace, reading the room, and timing under pressure. That foundation led to Chicago's First Lady Cruises, where from 2010–2015 Allen worked as Tour Guide, deckhand, and bartender. The three roles pushed storytelling, movement, and bar work into the same shift, and the water sharpened the practical side of service: keeping the route moving while keeping the guest experience steady. Over five years, Allen built the control that makes service feel composed without looking forced. Since 2015, Zinc Cafe & Market has been the setting for that same discipline. The room asks for consistency rather than flourish, and Allen has kept the work anchored in daily hospitality. The pace is different from the boat, but the requirements are familiar: attention, composure, and the ability to keep service even from one shift to the next. Today At Zinc Cafe & Market, Chris Allen works as server and bartender, 2015–present. The dual role depends on clean transitions between floor and bar, with no room for drift. The craft here is in keeping service measured and responsive, holding pace without losing clarity. Allen's background supports that balance, bringing steadiness to a job that runs on detail, timing, and follow-through.