Rob Rubba

Rob Rubba
Occupation	Chef
Known for	Founding Hazel and Oyster Oyster; Michelin star recipient; James Beard Award winner

Rob Rubba is a chef from the United States who started his culinary journey in the pastry section at the Mohegan Sun resort and casino located in Connecticut. Throughout his career, he worked alongside renowned culinary figures such as Todd English, Gordon Ramsay, Charlie Trotter, and Guy Savoy before establishing his own dining venue, Hazel, in Washington, D.C. in 2016.

Hazel quickly gained acclaim, receiving the New Restaurant of the Year award from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington in 2017 and earning a place on the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand roster in 2018. Rubba left Hazel in June 2018 after transitioning to a plant-based diet.

In 2020, Rubba launched Oyster Oyster in Washington, D.C., a restaurant emphasizing sustainable ingredients such as oyster mushrooms and true oysters—the sole animal-derived element featured on the menu. Oyster Oyster was recognized by Esquire as one of America’s top new dining establishments and was awarded a Michelin star in 2022.

Among Rubba's professional honors are being named Chef of the Year in 2022 by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington and inclusion on Food & Wine’s list of Best New Chefs. In 2023, he earned the distinguished James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef.