MENIFEE – Menifee announced “Savage Chef Bar & Grill” as the city’s January Business Spotlight, a program that is a part of the Economic Development Department’s B3 Building Better Businesses program.
Savage Chef Bar & Grill, which opened in spring 2022, is a family-owned establishment, under the direction of Chef Dylan Soro; his partner, mixologist and wife Nikki Soro and Chef Mario Amaral. Dylan Soro is no stranger to the family-owned restaurant business industry. In addition to Savage Chef, he operates Soro’s Grill in Temecula alongside his family. The idea for Savage Chef Bar & Grill was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic as a meal prep service and catering delivery service. As they brainstormed ways to keep the grill sizzling, he realized that his fresh concepts and innovative ideas exceeded what he originally planned.
Soro said he wasn’t going to embark on this epic journey alone; he needed a partner who could whip up new fresh culinary concepts with him. Enter Chef Mario Amaral, who had worked with him at Spago Las Vegas and said he was ready to take on a new opportunity. With their talents combined, the award-winning duo was ready to take the Menifee culinary world by storm, opening Savage Chef Bar & Grill in spring 2022.
The name “Savage” comes from Soro’s determination to succeed through adversity and his ability to execute and provide an unmatched experience, he said. Through his journey in the culinary world, which began when he was nine years old, he developed a love for food. His father introduced him to cooking by providing him with a sauté pan as he cooked alongside him. Later he graduated from the Culinary Arts Institute of America.
Amaral, who grew up in Southern California, also discovered his passion for food and cooking at a young age. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard for four years, he pursued his culinary dreams and attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. Upon graduation, he worked at the Red Rock Resort and at Olives inside Bellagio Hotel, where he caught the attention of Chef Todd English. As a result, he was invited to assist in launching various restaurants across the United States.
Savage Chef Bar and Grill also has a heart for the community, supporting the local Boys & Girls Club, Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Menifee Rotary Club, Lake Menifee Women’s Club, Taste of Menifee Showcase and the Oak Grove Center, a nonprofit that gives hope and a helping hand to at-risk and special needs youth.
In 2021, Soro won the Judges Pinnacle Award, which is the highest accolade awarded at the Oak Grove Center So Cal Chef Open Competition, and The People’s Choice award, which is selected by their attendees. In 2022 and 2023, Amaral became the first chef to win the Judges Pinnacle Award two years in a row. The event takes place annually, featuring the region’s top culinary experts who engage in a friendly competition, showcasing their culinary prowess and presenting their finest dishes.
“Savage Chef and Grill is a remarkable addition to Menifee’s growing culinary landscape,” Councilmember Lesa Sobek said. “Savage Chef’s commitment to giving back to the community and their exceptional service distinguishes them in our community as going above and beyond the call of business.”
For more information about Savage Chef Bar and Grill, visit http://www.savagechef.com. To view their Business Spotlight video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDbULm65ipw.
The Menifee Business Spotlight is part of the Economic Development Department’s B3 Building Better Businesses program, which aims to showcase local businesses that go above and beyond the call of business, foster pride in Menifee’s business community and promote diversity in Menifee’s local economy.
Chosen applicants, who are nominated by the community, are honored during a special presentation at a city council meeting and receive a free 30-second professional video developed by the Economic Development Department showcased on the city’s business website at http://www.menifeebusiness.com.
Nominations are encouraged to recognize businesses in Menifee that contribute to the betterment of the Menifee community. To apply, visit http://www.cityofmenifee.us/BusinessSpotlight.
For more information on the Business Spotlight program, or other resources available to Menifee businesses, contact the Economic Development Department at econdev@cityofmenifee.us.
Submitted by city of Menifee.
