I recently had the pleasure of welcoming Pete Sittnick as a co-host on the Restaurant Dealmaker Show.
Pete is one of San Francisco’s most respected restaurateurs, with more than 35 years of experience in the Bay Area restaurant industry. Since 2008, he has served as Managing Partner of Waterbar and EPIC Steak, two of San Francisco’s most iconic waterfront restaurants. Today, these restaurants are among the highest-grossing in the city and employ approximately 250 people.
Throughout his career, Pete has opened, operated, and supervised more than 20 restaurants in the Bay Area and across the country. His hospitality journey includes working alongside some of the most influential names in the restaurant business.
Pete first teamed with legendary restaurant designer Pat Kuleto in 1988, when he served as General Manager of Kuleto’s Italian Restaurant on Powell Street in Union Square. With Pete’s leadership and Pat Kuleto’s innovative design, Kuleto’s became recognized as one of San Francisco’s favorite Italian restaurants and one of the best-known dining destinations in the Bay Area.
Pete later spent 12 years with the Kimpton Group, where he helped the management team grow the company’s restaurant portfolio from four to 25 restaurants. He credits Bill Kimpton as one of his foremost mentors and motivators in the hospitality business.
In 2001, Pete joined Pat Kuleto Restaurants as Director of Project Development. In that role, he helped supervise several renowned Bay Area restaurants, including Boulevard, Farallon, and Jardinière. He also helped open Martini House in St. Helena.
Pete’s restaurant philosophy is grounded in balancing the needs of three key stakeholders: the guest, the employee, and the investor. That thoughtful approach has helped define his long-standing success as an operator, leader, and mentor in the hospitality community.
In 2016, Pete received the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, a fitting recognition of his lasting impact on San Francisco’s restaurant industry.
Originally from Michigan, Pete earned his business degree from the University of Michigan. He has served for 15 years on the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, including three years as Board President.
Pete currently serves on the boards of SF Travel, the Cancer Prevention Institute of California, and the California Hotel & Lodging Association. He is also an advisor to Sprouts Cooking School and remains active in numerous charitable endeavors, including Glide Memorial Church, Do It For The Love, and Guide Dogs for the Blind.
In addition, Pete volunteers his time teaching hospitality students at City College of San Francisco and the University of San Francisco, helping guide the next generation of restaurant and hospitality leaders.
We are grateful to Pete for joining the Restaurant Dealmaker Show and for sharing his insight, experience, and perspective. We wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.
