Chef
Jonathan Brooks
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
i. Biography
In Indianapolis, Indiana, season and market dictate the line of work at Beholder, and Jonathan Brooks has built the kitchen around that constraint. The cooking reads as ingredient-led from the start: local produce sets the frame, and restraint keeps it from being overworked. Game and offal are not accents here; they define the restaurant’s range and give the menu its edge.
Coming Up
Jonathan Brooks began shaping his career in 2014 as chef and co-owner at Milktooth, a role that marked the early rise of his reputation and introduced him as a presence worth watching. It was a formative chapter: one that helped establish the seriousness of his kitchen point of view and set the stage for the next, more distinctive turn in his trajectory. In 2018, he moved into his current chapter as chef and mystic of Beholder, where he remains today, carrying that earlier momentum into a restaurant identity that is both more expansive and more finely tuned.
Where They Are Now
Brooks is Chef & Mystic at Beholder in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. At Beholder, the menu is built from local produce and the season, organized through world-inspired small and large plates. The structure stays disciplined: ingredients lead, and the rest follows. Game and offal sit at the center of the cooking, shaping its identity rather than appearing as garnish. The approach favors care in handling, precision in placement, and a willingness to work with cuts and flavors that ask for attention. The result is a culinary vocabulary made from supply, timing, and whole-animal thinking. Local produce, seasonal change, world-inspired structure, and a clear use of game and offal give the kitchen its shape. Beholder’s cooking lands in that space between restraint and appetite, where the menu stays alert to what the day can offer.
Honors
Jonathan's honors include James Beard Awards Best Chef: Great Lakes nomination and Food & Wine Best New Chefs (2015).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Jonathan
What is Jonathan Brooks's current role?
As of 2026, Jonathan Brooks is Chef & Mystic.
Where did Jonathan Brooks work before?
Jonathan Brooks's earlier career included Milktooth.
What recognition has Jonathan Brooks received?
James Beard Awards Best Chef: Great Lakes nomination (2025).
