Reserve
Our staff
Meet the people in the kitchen, behind the bar and at your table who make Queen City Bistro feel like home.
Our people
In the kitchen, behind the bar, and at your table: the people who make a night at Queen City Bistro feel like home.
In the kitchen
Chef
Tom brings the creativity behind our Southern and Italian menu to every plate, helping shape the flavors that make Queen City Bistro our own.
Founder & host at heart
John’s years in Charlottesville’s restaurant community grew into a dream he shared with Arianna: a place where a memorable meal begins with a sincere welcome. At Queen City Bistro, he brings that love of hospitality to the dining room, with family at the heart of it all.
Co-founder
Arianna helped turn the family’s vision into a restaurant while raising their children alongside John. She shaped the renovations and decorations that give the bistro its warmth. Her creativity and work behind the scenes remain part of every evening spent here.
Co-founder · Events & Floor Manager
The matchmaker who brought John and Arianna together is now family and a partner in their shared dream. Anna helped renovate the restaurant before opening and continues to shape its life every day. As Events & Floor Manager, she brings care to celebrations, the dining room, and the people who make it all happen.
Host & Chef’s Table hospitality
Dianna, Chef Tom’s wife, embodies the spirit of Xenia with a welcome that makes guests feel at home. She serves our Chef’s Table events, caring for guests throughout these special evenings. Behind the scenes, she helps shape the decorations and ambiance that give the bistro its warmth.
Dining room · Administration & marketing
Will brings a sharp wit, a hilarious sense of humor, and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of pop culture references to the dining room. An Emilio’s alumnus, he also helps with administration, marketing, and the procedures that keep the restaurant running smoothly. He pairs that practical care with plenty of personality.
Dining room · Sommelier
Ashley has some of the deepest ties to this building, having served as a manager at Emilio’s. As a sommelier, she brings a deep knowledge of wine and a gift for helping guests find their perfect bottle or glass. Her connection to the restaurant’s history and her thoughtful guidance make every recommendation personal.
Dining room
Cary brings a laser focus to hospitality and the mechanics of service. His sincere aim is a seamless evening, with each course, conversation, and detail arriving at just the right moment. An Emilio’s alumnus, he carries that care into every guest’s experience at Queen City Bistro.
Master mixologist
Trip is our master mixologist, always exploring creative and delicious cocktail combinations. She puts particular care into making cocktail ingredients and preparations in-house, building each drink from a foundation of quality. Her curiosity and craftsmanship keep the cocktail menu full of reasons to try something new.
Behind the bar · Whiskey & beer
Justice loves welcoming guests and helping them settle in for a good evening. His main focus is our whiskey and beer programs, bringing that enthusiasm to every conversation at the bar. He also worked here during the building’s time as Slyde @ 23, making him another familiar link in its story.
Host & server
Drew is a new addition to the team and studies theatre and Shakespeare at Mary Baldwin. Though early in his career, he grew up in the restaurant industry and brings experience as both a host and a server. His energetic welcome and love of connecting with people make him a natural part of the dining room.
Front of house
Bethany brings years of experience in Staunton’s restaurant scene to her work as a server, bartender, host, and support team member. She focuses on excellent customer service wherever the evening needs her. Just as important is her commitment to a workplace that values its employees, helping us care for one another as well as our guests.
Line cook
Ron brings years of experience in Staunton’s restaurant scene to the line. A dedicated cook with a deep respect for the craft, his passion does not end when the shift does—he is just as at home cooking for the people he loves. That experience and commitment make him a dependable presence in our kitchen.
Prep cook
Ian has been a steadfast friend of Queen City Bistro since he stepped off a train from the West Coast two years ago. Before he even arrived, he heard we needed cheese knives for an event that evening and whittled two beautiful wooden ones on the train—both still in use today. He now helps prepare the ingredients and details that set the kitchen up for the night ahead.
Kitchen team
Chris is a hardworking and loyal member of the team whose steady presence can be counted on night after night. No matter how busy service becomes, he remains calm, polite, and ready to help wherever he is needed. His devotion to the restaurant and the people around him makes him an essential part of our kitchen.
Line cook · Baker
Heather is intelligent, quick, and an exceptional baker. After studying the culinary arts years ago, she is once again honing those skills in the Queen City Bistro kitchen and bringing care and curiosity to everything she makes. Away from the line, her creativity continues through the fabulous pieces she knits.
Line cook
Oscar came to us from Charlottesville’s restaurant scene, bringing experience and skill to every plate that leaves the kitchen. He works with focus, consistency, and a sharp eye for the details that make a dish memorable. If your salmon arrived with the perfect sear, there is a good chance Oscar was behind it.
Dishwasher
RayRay brings positivity and exuberant joy to every shift from the moment he walks through the door. Dependable, hardworking, and a veteran of restaurants throughout Staunton, he keeps the kitchen moving while lifting the spirits of everyone around him. Around nine o’clock, you may even hear his familiar call from the dining room: “Shut her down!”
Our family
Read how our family’s shared love of hospitality became Queen City Bistro.
Read our family’s story →