Eduard Seitan

Managing Partner/Owner

In a determined fashion, co-owner Eduard Seitan has come to live the “American dream.” After emigrating from Romania, he quickly mastered English and built a strong resume as a waiter at some of Chicago’s most well-known and beloved restaurants.

Unique for a restaurant owner, Seitan acts as floor manager and head server at Blackbird and as manager at avec. The benefits of having an owner working the floor are apparent in his rapport with the customers. His day-to-day presence has created an atmosphere of trust, conviviality and professionalism that only an owner can offer his clientele.

Once avec opened, Seitan expanded his expertise, earning a Sommelier Certificate in order to expertly manage the beverage program. He is charged with selecting the wines, beer and distilled spirits for Blackbird, and even ministering to the exceptional coffee program. At avec, he built a list that quickly earned acclaim and the admiration of his peers for its focus on little-known wines from Portugal, Italy, France and Spain. His uncommon approach is credited with setting trends in the Chicago wine industry, and yet the list remains well-grounded in affordability. For The Publican, Seitan crafted a menu focusing on unique Belgian, French, German and American beers and boutique wines to coordinate with Paul Kahan and Brian Huston’s robust cuisine.