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— Our Story
Built from scratch. Every single time.
Founded2014 | FoundersChef Jesse Schenker | Concepts8 Active Restaurants | RecognitionJames Beard · Forbes 30 Under 30 |
Chef Jesse Schenker — Co-Founder & Culinary Director
About Chef Jesse Schenker
The philosophy that built everything.
Chef Jesse Schenker built his reputation in Manhattan's most demanding kitchens — training at Gordon Ramsay at The London, Per Se, and Jean Georges — before opening Recette in the West Village in January 2010 to immediate critical acclaim.
A twice-nominated James Beard Award semi-finalist, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and Iron Chef America champion, Schenker brought his philosophy — contemporary technique applied to familiar American touchstones — from New York to Oyster Bay, and never looked back.
Today, Lush Life Hospitality Group is the product of over a decade of disciplined, intentional building — from a single American Brasserie to eight distinct concepts, each one a world of its own.
Read His Memoir - All or NothingClaudia Taglich — Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Claudia Taglich
The instinct behind the vision.
Co-founder of Lush Life Hospitality Group, Claudia is the creative force behind the brand’s concept development, design direction, and overall vision. She shapes each project from the ground up, defining the identity, atmosphere, and guest experience across the group’s portfolio. Her work blends aesthetic intuition with strategic thinking, ensuring every concept feels distinct, intentional, and cohesive within the Lush Life universe.
The Timeline
How we got here.
2014 | It all started with a visionClaudia Taglich & her family relocate to Oyster Bay from Sag Harbor. She falls in love with the quaint seaside town and boldly identifies a unique building in the heart of Oyster Bay which would make the perfect restaurant. |
2018 | 2 Spring Opens — Oyster Bay, Long IslandSchenker and Taglich bring the Lush Life vision to Long Island's North Shore with a mid-century American Brasserie that becomes the anchor of downtown Oyster Bay's dining scene. |
2021 | The Chef's Counter at FourFOUR, a 10-seat chef's counter in a restored shingle cottage, expands the Lush Life portfolio. |
2023 | Gimme Burger & GIOIA OpenLush Life expands into fast-casual with fresh, never processed burger concept and an Emilia-Romagna-inspired trattoria built around handmade pasta. |
2024 | Provisions Bread & Cheese OpensA wholesale artisan bakery producing handcrafted breads, fresh pasta, and baked goods daily for the portfolio and other businesses. |
2025 | Provisions Market OpensA wholesale artisan bakery producing handcrafted breads, fresh pasta, and baked goods daily for the portfolio and other businesses. |
2026 | The Comet Club OpensLush Life Hospitality partners with The Beechwood Organization to launch The Comet Club, reflecting a shared commitment to craftsmanship, community, and elevated everyday experiences. |
2026 | Bull Moose OpensLush Life launches the first of it's kind on Long Island, a members-only speakeasy. |
Today | Still BuildingLush Life Hospitality Group continues to develop new concepts and partnership opportunities across Long Island and beyond. |
What We Believe
The principles behind every decision we make.
Same standard. Every concept.In-house production is not a selling point — it's a baseline. Every concept in this portfolio is held to the same standard regardless of price point or format. That doesn't change. | The concept has to earn its place.We don't open restaurants to grow a number. Every concept exists because it had something genuine to offer — a distinct identity, a real gap in the market, a reason to exist beyond the obvious. If it doesn't clear that bar, it doesn't open. | This is home.Long Island is not a proving ground. Oyster Bay is where we live and where we have chosen to put everything we have. We build restaurants meant to become part of the community — the kind of place a neighborhood builds a habit around. |
What They're Saying
"Schenker brings a level of culinary intelligence rarely seen outside of Manhattan." The New York Times | "One of Long Island's most important dining voices — and one of its most consistent." Eater NY | "Lush Life has quietly built something remarkable on the North Shore." Food & Wine |