Patina Restaurant Group names Wolfe presidentPatina Restaurant Group names Wolfe president

Lisa Jennings

LOS ANGELES Industry veteran Fred Wolfe has been named president of the bi-coastal Patina Restaurant Group, officials said Wednesday.

Wolfe previously was chief executive of Real Mex Restaurants, the parent to the Chevys Fresh Mex, El Torito and Acapulco chains. He replaces Patina's former president, Richard Stockinger, who left the company in May 2008 and last year was named chief executive of Benihana Inc.

At Patina Restaurant Group, Wolfe, who will be based in Los Angeles, is charged with focusing on restaurant expansion and growth, working closely with chief executive Nick Valenti and chef and founder Joachim Splichal.

Patina Restaurant Group was formed in 2006 after elements of Restaurant Associates, based in New York, merged with Los Angeles-based Patina Group, splitting from former parent Compass Group PLC.

The group’s portfolio includes restaurants such as Rock Center Cafe, The Sea Grill, Brasserie 8, and Cafe Centro in New York. The company's West Coast restaurants include the flagship Patina in Los Angeles, as well as Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse, Cafe Pinot, Pinot Bistro and Zucca Ristorante. The company also specializes in catering and foodservice in museums and cultural centers throughout California.

Wolfe resigned from Real Mex in December 2008 after private-equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and two hedge funds took control of that company in November.

After spending the bulk of his career with the Acapulco chain, Wolfe became chief operating officer of California Pizza Kitchen before returning to Real Mex in 2002 as president and CEO. Wolfe aided the integration of the El Torito and Chevys Mexican Restaurants, which Real Mex later acquired, creating the largest full-service Mexican restaurant company in the country.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].