Portrait of Maia Acquaviva
i. Biography
Maia Acquaviva is the chef and owner of Oda House in Manhattan's East Village, New York City. Born and raised in Georgia, she studied medicine at the Medical University of Tbilisi before moving into New York hospitality as co-founder and executive chef of Oda House.
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Coming Up
Medical training at the Medical University of Tbilisi gave Maia Acquaviva a formal start before she moved into practice as a plastic surgeon in Georgia. That same discipline later carried into restaurant work, where Acquaviva took on the roles of co-founder and executive chef, and chef and owner, at Oda House in New York since 2013.
Where They Are Now
Since 2013, Acquaviva has held the co-founder and executive chef post at Oda House in New York City. The East Village restaurant also lists her as chef and owner, a dual role that places her on both the build side and the day-to-day side of the operation.
Signature
The menu markers tied to Maia Acquaviva are khachapuri, khinkali, and chakapuli. Those dishes anchor Oda House’s Georgian remit and point back to the foods most closely associated with her work.
Honors
No awards are cited for Maia Acquaviva.
FAQ
Asked of Maia
What is Maia Acquaviva's current role?
As of 2026, Maia Acquaviva is Chef and Owner.
Where did Maia Acquaviva train or study?
Maia Acquaviva trained at Medical University of Tbilisi.
The Sunday email
Read about chefs like Maia Acquaviva in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.