Greg Casten
Greg has been in the fish and food Industry for over 40 years. With partner Ron Goodman, Greg helped create, develop, implement, design and build Ivy City Smokehouse and tavern. Greg has extensive experience with restaurant and fish operations and has been in Ivy City for 35 years. With a few stints on lobster boats, his work includes Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place, Nick’s Riverside Grill, The Point DC and Profish, Washington DC’s largest fresh seafood wholesaler.
David Stein
Born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Chef David Stein is a graduate of the Baltimore International Culinary College. Chef Stein spent four years as executive sous chef at the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels’ Maryland. Later he moved on to be the owner and executive Chef of Bistro St. Michaels for 16 years. Living and cooking on the water has created a style that makes his ingredients the star.
Dave Pera
Dave is a partner at The Point DC & Ivy City Smokehouse. He is the man behind the photos and the marketing director of the restaurant group. Rarely seen without a ball cap on his head and a camera around his neck, you will know he has been there by the trail of half empty vodka sodas winding through the building. His brain fires at a mile a minute, coming up with and discarding ideas as rapidly as he can say them, until he strikes on one that sticks…and it is usually a doozy. Don’t take his energy or ideas for granted, talk to him while you can, because you will never see him leave, he is the king of the Irish Goodbye.
Erica Stevens
Born and raised in the DMV, Erica has been a part of the DC hospitality scene since 2006 when she first started waiting tables to pay for school. After graduating from Frostburg State with a Bachelors of Science degree she started bartending and quickly fell in love with people. This led to discovering her niche in event planning. She loves being a part of the unforgettable memories that are created with each event, and enjoys each new connection she has a chance to make.
Mayi Castillo-Palafox
Mayi brings over 25 years of restaurant experience and has been a key part of Ivy City Smokehouse’s success for more than a decade. She became a manager at Ivy City Smokehouse in 2016 and today serves as General Manager, overseeing the restaurant and music venue and helping make Ivy City Smokehouse one of DC’s premier dining destinations. Known for her warmth and hands-on style, Mayi treats every guest like family and is committed to creating a great experience for both customers and her team.
Dennis Shea
With over 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Dennis Shea is an accomplished beverage director known for his leadership and expertise in all aspects of beverage management. For the past 15 years, Dennis has been responsible for overseeing the purchasing and inventory management of all alcoholic beverages for the five restaurants within the Fish and Fire Food Group. His strong leadership, enthusiasm, and efficiency have driven his professional growth, culminating in his current role, where he also plays a key part in the design and build-out of new restaurant locations.