Palm Restaurant

Scott Young, General Manager
Scott Young brings more than 20 years of leadership in restaurant industry to the position of General Manager of The Palm Tribeca. He has worked towards this opportunity his entire career, through catering concepts, casual themes and fine dining steakhouses, honing his craft in both New York and Las Vegas. After opening & operating some of the most successful venues, he is prepared to take on the role of GM at The Palm Tribeca. His passion for the hospitality industry began at the age of 13, and continued when he needed to put himself through college. Upon graduation in 1984, Scott began in the kitchens of Restaurant Associates, working through several positions before moving to the front of the house at West End Cafe on Long Island, gaining experience that would help him return to Manhattan in 1985. Scott was hired as assistant general manager of The Cadillac Bar, Manhattan’s first authentic Tex-Mex restaurant. Four years of high volume fun at one of the city’s busiest establishments included the New York City inauguration party for President George Herbert Bush. Scott moved on to a World Financial Center operation to gain his first organizational experience. During this period, he met many movers and shakers of industry, one of whom eventually lead him away to become assistant general manager of New York’s Harley-Davidson Café in 1994. Ten weeks into the job he was made general manager and a year later, director of operations. He would go on to oversee the construction and opening of the Harley-Davidson Café Las Vegas. Six years later and working in both NY and Las Vegas, Scott opened BB King’s Blues Club in Times Square and the Blue Note in Las Vegas. When 9/11 struck, he returned home to Long Island. The changed landscape in New York compelled Scott to stay local and he was fortunate to connect with the fine Long Island and New York City operation of Rothmann’s Steakhouse in November 2001. Since that time, Scott helped that company expand and open two additional steakhouses in 2005 and 2006. But once again opportunity knocked and Scott had the chance to finally call a restaurant his own. Along with Chef Ron Gelish, who he worked with in the Rothmann’s Steakhouse group for 5 ½ years, Scott took over as the Operations Partner of Mac’s Steakhouse in Huntington, Long Island in November 2007. After getting rave reviews in the New York Times and Newsday the failing economy hit Mac’s Steakhouse hard and Scott had to leave. Mac’s loss is The Palm’s gain as Scott has found his home. His passion for the steakhouse segment and embracing everything that is The Palm is what Scott is all about. Scott has solidified an already great management team and looks forward to years of growth and development with The Palm.

Luis Nieto, Executive Chef
Luis Nieto was born with a passion for fine cuisine. At a young age, the Columbian native began to develop his culinary skills working at top dining establishments throughout Latin America. With career ambition in mind, he made his way to New York becoming a chef on the famed Italian cruise line, the Achille Lauro. Once in New York, he began his tenure at La Reserve where he paired his knowledge of Latin American fare with traditional French Cuisine. Most recently, Nieto worked as Corporate Chef at B.R Guest's celebrated Blue Water Grill Restaurant where he has spent the last 12 years perfecting the art of seafood. Having spent years in the industry honing in on his skills, Luis possesses a well rounded education and innate culinary sensibility that make him the perfect person to bring the Palm's classic menu to life. Luis is dedicated to maintaining the Palm's reputation for excellence while adding his own personal flare that is evident in every savory bite.

Nicole Lewis, Sales Manager
Nicole Lewis was raised in Long Beach, NY and currently resides on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Prior to joining the Palm family as a Sales Manager, Nicole was the Northeast Regional Events Planner for Legal Seafoods. Before Legal Seafoods, she held various positions in the hospitality industry including Operations and Training Manager at Chart House in Old Town, Virginia and Weehawken, NJ, Maître’d at Old Ebbitt Grille in Washington, DC, server at Clyde’s in Chevy Chase, MD and a stint at Starbucks. Nicole has a BA in Art History, minor in literature, and an MA in Communications from American University in Washington, DC. Nicole was married on October 31, 2009 to John-Paul Palmerio. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, reading and more reading, fashion, sewing and movies.