Chef Michael Kornick, founder of mk, The Restaurant and co-founder of DMK Restaurants is a nationally recognized leader in the culinary arts. Kornick is also the principal at Michael Kornick Consulting, Inc. where he advises restaurant and hospitality clients. As a Chef/Consultant, Kornick works with the freshest seasonal ingredients and stays true to classical cooking techniques. It is his belief that the freshest ingredients are best cooked simply.

Kornick graduated in 1982 from the Culinary Institute of America and went on to work with some of the most influential chefs and restaurant operators in the United States.

Kornick, at the age of 28, in 1991 was appointed the Executive Chef position at Boston’s Four Seasons Hotel. He was one of the youngest executive chefs hired by the Four Seasons Hotel Company.

As a managing partner Kornick developed two successful restaurants, Marché and Red Light in 1993 & 1997.. Both restaurants received critical national acclaim and Red Light was included in John Mariani’s annual survey, “Best New Restaurants of the Year,” in Esquire Magazine. In 1998, Kornick, together with his wife Lisa, opened mk, the restaurant. Condé Nast Traveler selected mk as one of the “Hottest Restaurants in the World,” and Esquire chose mk as one of the “Top Restaurants to Open in 1999.” Kornick was nominated five consecutive years as Best Chef, Midwest by the James Beard Foundation.

He opened and oversaw 3 N9ne Steakhouses, 3 Italian steakhouses as well as the Pool at the Palms Hotel in Chicago, Las Vegas, Palm Springs and Dallas. In Las Vegas N9ne Group managed over 65,000 sq. ft. of entertainment venues all with full service catering. 

In November of 2009, Kornick launched DMK Burger Bar in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood with his partner David Morton. DMK serves grass-fed beef burgers along with hand-cut fries and craft beer. Since then the company has launched Fish Bar, Ada St. County Barbeque, Henry’s, Rec Room, and four additional DMK Burger Bars in Lombard, Soldier Field, and Navy Pier.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Kornick is very active in the community. He has raised awareness and money annually for Share our Strength, the Chicago Food Depository, Healthy Schools Campaign, Steppenwolf Theater, Perspectives Charter School, Sweet Water Foundation, Children’s Oncology services Inc., and many other worthy organizations. Recently, Kornick has relocated to Golden CO where he is consulting, skiing and golfing.

Work History

Restaurants and Hotels

DMK Restaurants, Chicago
Executive Chef/Owner 2009-2020
DMK Burger Bar, Fish Bar, Ada St., County Barbeque, Marshall’s Landing

N9ne Group, Chicago/Las Vegas
Consulting Chef/Partner 2000-2014
N9ne Steakhouse, Chicago, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Dallas
Nove Italiano, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Dallas
Ghostbar, Rain In The Desert, The Pool, Moon & The Playboy Club Las Vegas, Palm Springs

mk the restaurant, Chicago
Executive Chef/Owner 1998-2017
Conde Naste Traveler “50 Hottest Restaurants in The World” 1999.
5 consecutive finalist nominations for the James Beard Foundation Best Chef Midwest 1999-2003

Vivo, Marche & Red Light
Executive Chef/Managing Partner 1993-1998
Vivo, Italian Trattoria
Marche, French Brasserie. Marche was featured in Conde Naste Travelers “50 Hottest Restaurants in The World” 1994.
Red Light, South East Asian street food. Red Light was featured in Esquire Magazine’s “Best New Restaurants 1997.

The Four Season Hotel Boston
Executive Chef, AAA Five Diamond Restaurant Aujord ‘Hui 1991-93
Top 10 Hotels, Conde Naste Traveler

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Chicago
Executive Chef Eccentric 1987-1990

Gordon Chicago
Executive Chef 1985-1987
Ivy Award 1986

Windsor Court Hotel, Aujourd’ Hui, New Orleans
Sous Chef, The Grill Room AAA Five DiamondAward 1984-1985

The Quilted Giraffe, N.Y.C.
4 stars N.Y.Times 1983-1984