As Service Director of Restaurant DANIEL, Cherif Mbodji draws from his diverse upbringing and past experiences to bring energy and passion to Chef Daniel Boulud’s 25-year-old Upper East Side institution.
Originally from a place known as “Deukkou Terranga” – or “land of hospitality” – in Senegal, Cherif’s sense of hospitality has been engrained since childhood. Where he’s from, people pride themselves on being warm, generous and inviting. His father’s role as a politician paved the way for many travels, which exposed Cherif to different cultures and peaked his curiosity from a young age.
Upon receiving a soccer scholarship for Western Michigan University, Cherif headed to the Midwest. During his studies, he worked various restaurant jobs and immediately felt the pull of the industry. After graduating in 2004, he made the move to New York City and began working at China Grill Management as a busboy, immediately knowing he was destined for a career in service.
After varied stints at different New York City restaurants, Cherif returned to China Grill Management in 2009 to work in food & beverage operations for their restaurants, hotels and nightlife destinations. As Assistant Food & Beverage Director, he worked hard to open two hotels for the brand but soon realized he was missing the true nature of hospitality.
Cherif set his sights on Daniel Boulud’s restaurant group and joined the family in 2013 as Service Director of Café Boulud. Encouraged by its personality and history, he strived to maintain the consistency and standards of this neighborhood staple and in 2015, was promoted to General Manager. Recently, Cherif joined the team at Restaurant DANIEL as Service Director, where he finds joy in welcoming and serving guests, and takes pride in connecting with them.