Jeff Benjamin
Jeff Benjamin has developed an encyclopedic knowledge of regional Italian wines and ingredients. He reads wine books like novels. He travels widely in Italy, and he is expert at matching just the right wine to the individual taste of each guest at Vetri. As the restaurant’s host, Jeff excels at creating a relaxed sense of comfort and a calm, refined atmosphere. “A great night is when we can gain the trust of a guest,” says Jeff, “When they let us do the cooking, wine selection, and hospitality—just as you would when going to someone’s house for dinner.”Jeff began his restaurant career with a love of the finer things in life and a degree in Hospitality from the University of Massachusetts. He developed his skills in management and customer service at Aramark Corporation as Director of Food Service for the multi-million-dollar Citibank. After eight years of corporate dining administration at Aramark and at Restaurant Associates Corporation, Jeff decided to scale back. He wanted a more direct connection to his customers.
In 1998, Jeff joined Marc Vetri as General Manager and then, two years later, as partner at the small, intimate Vetri restaurant in Philadelphia. In those two years, Jeff’s impeccable standards of quality and service helped to transform Vetri into what the Philadelphia Inquirer calls “a sublime dining experience.” Jeff and his small team of efficient servers now orchestrate outstanding meals with an individual consideration that would be impossible in larger restaurants. Jeff has also expanded Vetri’s wine cellar from a 60-bottle starter list to its current stable of more than 500 labels and 5,000 bottles.