Other
Mia Van de Water
Master Sommelier
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
She also serves as partner and head of Beverage Operations at Cote Korean Steakhouse, where beverage work is treated as a discipline of timing, judgment, and floor-level precision. The role sits at the center of a career built on reading service in real time and keeping hospitality exact without losing pace.
Coming Up
At Union Square Cafe and North End Grill, Union Square Hospitality Group (2008–2017), sommelier work became the base of Mia Van de Water’s practice: table guidance, bottle selection, and the discipline of matching service to the room. Over those years, the work was shaped by the daily mechanics of the floor—quick decisions, steady composure, and the kind of calibration that turns wine knowledge into usable service language. At Eleven Madison Park (2017–2020), that same sommelier work moved into a tighter operating register. The demands of the room required a sharper command of beverage service, and the role added another layer to a career already defined by range and rigor. Across 2017–2020, the work there deepened the habits formed earlier: attention, control, and care under pressure. Since 2020, head of Beverage Operations at Cote Korean Steakhouse has given Mia Van de Water a broader remit. Beverage direction and restaurant identity now move together in the role, with leadership extending beyond the dining room and into the larger structure of service. That responsibility also sits alongside directing Beverage Operations and education for Gracious Hospitality Management, linking practical execution to the way beverage knowledge is organized and carried forward.
Where They Are Now
At Cote Korean Steakhouse, Beverage Operations are led by Mia Van de Water, with the work tied closely to the restaurant’s larger service identity. That position now sits alongside directing Beverage Operations and education for Gracious Hospitality Management, a pairing that places her between floor leadership and the systems that support it. The result is a practice that operates in public and behind the scenes at once.
Honors
Food & Wine Sommeliers of the Year (2016), CMS Advanced Exam highest score (2014), the Rudd Scholarship, and the Johnston Medal mark a career that has been recognized at several points for technical strength and consistency. Mia Van de Water’s honors chart a path through exam performance, peer recognition, and named support, each one tied to sustained work rather than a single peak.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Mia
What is Mia Van de Water's current role?
As of 2026, Mia Van de Water is Director of Beverage Operations and Education.
Where did Mia Van de Water work before?
Mia Van de Water's earlier career included Union Square Cafe and North End Grill, Union Square Hospitality Group and Eleven Madison Park.
What recognition has Mia Van de Water received?
Food & Wine Sommeliers of the Year (2016).
