Michael Symon

Coming Up

The early training is plain in the record: St. Edward High School and the Culinary Institute of America gave Michael Symon the structure, technique, and repetition that sit under the rest of the work. The first kitchen jobs at Geppetto's Pizza and Ribs in Warren Rd., North Olmsted, Ohio, and Player's in Lakewood, Ohio, put that training into service on the line. By the time he reached Piccolo Mondo (from 1993) and Caxton Cafe as chef, the style was already sharpening into something direct and forceful, built on control rather than decoration. The Cleveland years established the scale of the operation. As co-owner and chef at Lola in Cleveland, Ohio (1997–2020), Michael Symon helped define a restaurant that became part of the city’s dining identity. He carried that model into Lolita in Cleveland, Ohio (2005–2016), then into Parea in New York City, New York (2006–2007) and Roast in Detroit, Michigan (2008–2022). The expansion continued through Bar Symon in Avon Lake, Ohio (2009–2010), BSpot in Woodmere, Ohio (2009–2022), the BSpot outposts in Strongsville, Ohio (from 2011) and Westlake, Ohio (from 2011), and a menu consultant role for Cleveland Cavaliers / Aramark at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio (from 2009). The same approach carried into newer and more public-facing spaces. Michael Symon added owner and chef credits at BSpot in Horseshoe Casino Cleveland (2012–2017), Bar Symon in Pittsburgh International Airport-Airmall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (from 2012), Symon's Burger Joint in Austin, Texas (2015–2017), and Bar Symon in Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland, Ohio (from 2017). Across those rooms, the work stayed legible: bold flavors, clear intent, and a format that could hold in neighborhood dining rooms, casinos, arenas, and airports alike. Television widened the audience without changing the register. Michael Symon came through The Next Iron Chef in Food Network (2007) as contestant / winner, then moved to host at Dinner: Impossible in Food Network (2008), host at Food Feuds in Food Network (from 2010), host at Cook Like an Iron Chef in Cooking Channel (from 2010), and co-host at The Chew (from 2011). Later credits include host of Burgers, Brew and 'Que (since 2015), host of Throwdown! (since 2021), and co-host of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing (since 2024). The current portfolio remains grounded in restaurants, with Michael Symon as owner and chef of Mabel's BBQ (since 2016) and owner and chef of Angeline (since 2017).

Where They Are Now

Today, he is chef at Kitchen Works. On television, he co-hosted The Chew and is an Iron Chef on Food Network. Asked about the format that made him a household presence, he said, "Only Iron Chef is a chef being a chef and I think that's the magic of the show."

Signature

Michael Symon is known for boldly flavored food.

In Their Words “Only Iron Chef is a chef being a chef and I think that's the magic of the show.”

Honors

Michael's honors include James Beard Foundation Award, Best Chef Great Lakes (2009), Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host, Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival Best Burger Award, Best Local Chef, Iron Chef winner, and Cleveland's Hottest Chef.