Our Staff - Proprietor

Gabriel Viti

Proprietor Gabriel Viti, of Gabriel's, Miramar Bistro and Gabe's Backstage Lounge is credited with transforming the culture of Highwood, Illinois and catapulting its dining scene to that of a major city. Gabriel's remarkable career in the hospitality field began in high school when he worked for famed restaurateur Arnie Morton. Realizing his passion and talent, Gabriel graduated from the esteemed Culinary Institute of America in 1986 and spent six years training in Europe under some of the century's greatest culinary minds. After working at La Pyramide, Joel Robuchon and Taillevant in France, and Freddy Giradet at Hotel de Ville in Switzerland, Gabriel ended his European tour working with Michel Guerard and at San Domenico in Italy.

After returning to the United States, Gabriel became one of the Corporate Executive Chefs for Rich Melman's Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant group. He left to work as Sous Chef for Roland Liccioni at Carlos' in Highwood, eventually taking over as Executive Chef when Roland left to join Le Francais. While working at Carlos', Gabriel was named one of Food and Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs of 1991. He opened his first restaurant, Gabriel's, in Highwood, Illinois 1993.

In addition to being a successful restaurateur, Gabriel has a wine cellar construction business and has acquired and restored property all over Highwood. He is a spokesman for The March of Dimes and is the loving father of two boys. Having completed the Ironman Brazil Triathalon in 2007 and running a marathon on the Great Wall of China in 2008, Gabriel turned his attention to climbing mountains. In the last two years he has summated Cotopaxi in Ecuador, Mount Rainier and Mount Baker in Washington, and numerous peaks in the Alps namely The Eiger, the Matterhorn, and the infamous Mount Blanc. Gabriel is currently training for the Ironman Florida and preparing for an expedition to climb Mount Everest in 2010.

Gabriel's Restaurant, now open for over 16 years, serves French and Italian cuisine in an elegant dining room of white linen, mahogany, and etched glass. A European-style open kitchen puts chefs in full view of on looking diners who are treated to a nightly performance of culinary artistry. Meanwhile an experienced wait staff stands ready to offer the finest in traditional Continental service. Gabriel's is located at 310 Greenbay Rd. in Highwood and is open for dinner at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.