Meet Marc Del Pietro. As one of the owners and chefs at Cleaver & Cocktail, Marc makes his mark on St. Louis by creating delicious meals for all his patrons. He’s a creative soul with a taste for the finer things in life, which means you can only expect the best from him when you visit his restaurant.
For years, Marc has worked tirelessly to hone his craft and ensure that the people of St. Louis eat well. His love for cooking, friends, and family makes him the perfect host for any occasion.
Please keep reading to learn more about Marc and what makes him one of the best chefs in St. Louis.
The Q & A
Q: What’s your favorite food/menu item?
A: I prefer dry-aged ribeye because of the flavor and the complexity.
Q: What is it like to work with friends and family?
A: The best thing about working with my wife, sister, and brother-in-law is that no matter what happens, we always have each other’s backs. We can count on each other to be there, no matter what. We have a relationship where we can share opinions and maybe not always agree, but we work together to do what’s best for the company.
Q: What is the most gratifying aspect of owning a restaurant?
A: It’s excellent when diners are excited to have dinner at our restaurant, and they leave telling us what a wonderful experience it was. Then, the next day, someone comes in because the customer told them all about our restaurant from the day before. These are lasting memories we get to make for people. When someone celebrates a special occasion, that memory stays with them for the rest of their lives. And we get to be a part of their story. Pretty cool, right?
Q: What challenges do you face?
A: The most prevalent challenges we face are fluctuating pricing, staffing, and consistency.
Q: What do you like to do for fun outside of work?
A: I love spending time with my family. Any time we can travel together is even better. I enjoy bow hunting, mostly because I like the peacefulness, calm, and quiet of being in nature. If I had more time, I would do more woodworking. Like cooking, you start with a raw product or ingredient and enjoy something you made with your own hands in a creative process.
Q: What inspires you to cook?
A: The creativity of it and the joy I see in people’s faces when they love the taste of something I made.
Q: How do you cater to a variety of diners? What options do you provide for different tastes?
A: This one is easy because my wife and my sister are vegetarians. Many people think that food cannot possibly be as tasteful without some protein, but that is just not true. You can get creative with so many different ingredients and make just as delicious food, whether you are vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, or gluten-free.
Q: What is a funny story you can share about working in the restaurant biz/or working with family?
A: I worked with my dad when I was young (maybe 10). I balanced a tray of food for six people on the back of a man’s chair. The man sat back, and the entire tray crashed to the floor. I ran right out the front door and hid for the rest of the night.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I worked in my parents’ restaurant, Del Pietro’s on Hampton.
Q: What did you think you’d be doing when you were younger? This? Something else?
A: I thought I would be a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, following in the steps of Dan Marino.
Cleaver & Cocktail
Cleaver & Cocktail is so excited to be open and ready for business! We have worked hard to ensure that all our guests have the meal of a lifetime when they come in. To us, our restaurant isn’t just a place where food is made, but where life-long memories, relationships, and more are created through our dedicated service, welcoming ambiance, and the mentality that everyone who walks through our doors is just another family member.
Call us today at (314) 530-9700 any time after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday to book a reservation or come on by if you’re in the neighborhood. We can’t wait to see you!