Tony Cournia Leaves Girl & the Goat to Partner With Matt Eversman at OON

Tony Cournia, the general manager of Girl & The Goat recently profiled by Eater has jumped ship and will join Matt Eversman as a partner at his new spot, OON, scheduled to open across the street from the Goat in August.

Cournia said he and Eversman have been chatting for about six weeks and that he has wanted to become a partner in a restaurant and to have more creative input. "I've been working for Lettuce Entertain You and the Boka Group, two big [restaurant] groups for the last decade, and I want to do something a little smaller with a young passionate chef and Matt certainly is that," Cournia said.

Eversman said he wanted to work with Cournia because "his experience is invaluable" and noted the high level of service at the Goat as well as L20, where Cournia has also worked, as reasons to bring him on board. "I may be a good cook, but I can't tell you how to take care of a customer the way Tony can," Eversman said. "I'm excited for what he'll bring to the operations of the restaurant. Our philosophies match up; we're very customer oriented. I'll take care of the back of the house and he'll take care of it from the front. I think the end product will be pretty incredible."

Chef Stephanie Izard, who owns Girl & the Goat with Boka partners Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz, said nothing had yet been determined for who would fill Cournia's role as general manager.
· GM Tony Cournia Talks About the Girl & The Goat [~EChi~]
· Matt Eversman Signs OON Lease on Randolph Street [~EChi~]