Owner
Sara Stayer
Restaurateur
- Discipline
- Owner
- Based in
- Houston, Texas, United States
- Venue
- nobie's · Restaurant
i. Biography
Coming Up
Sara Stayer’s work was built through the slow accumulation that shapes service before a dining room looks settled from the outside. The Court of Master Sommeliers gave her a technical base in wine and in the language used to present it. On the floor at Gilt Bar in Chicago, that foundation moved from study to service as she worked as a server. The next steps widened her operational range: a corporate trainer role at restaurant group in California, then a return to Gilt Bar in Chicago as general manager, where prior floor experience fed into management. She later joined the opening team at Au Cheval, a position that demanded both precision and endurance. Those roles now split across two operating lanes. At Nobie’s, Sara Stayer serves as sommelier and general manager. At The Toasted Coconut, she is director of operations and co-owner.
Where They Are Now
At Nobie’s, Sara Stayer handles wine as both specialty and service tool. Her list-building favors unusual varietals from around the world at prices that stay within reach, which makes discovery part of the transaction rather than a separate occasion. The result is a wine program that leads with specificity but keeps the door open. At The Toasted Coconut in Houston, Sara Stayer works as director of operations and co-owner. The restaurant’s tropical direction is carried by tiki-inspired drinks and inventive American/Hawaiian bites, giving the menu a clear point of view. The concept is built to feel buoyant and transportive without leaving the city. That neighborhood relationship was also part of the financing structure. On the NextSeed partnership, Sara Stayer said, “We're very excited to partner up with NextSeed, because it allows our community, and neighbors around us, to support us even further, invest in us, and show that they believe in us.” The statement frames The Toasted Coconut as a project designed with local buy-in from the start.
Signature
Sara's signature dishes include The Toasted Coconut.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Sara
Where did Sara Stayer train or study?
Sara Stayer trained at The Court of Master Sommeliers.
What is Sara Stayer known for?
wine.
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