Ilya Romanov
Bar Iris | San Francisco
november 2022
Ilya Romanov has been in the restaurant industry since he was sixteen years old. Originally from Russia, Romanov moved to the United States at seventeen and went on to attend culinary school at Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA. He staged around the Santa Cruz area, but didn’t feel a spark, so he dropped out of culinary school and tried his hand at barbacking.
Looking to move his career forward, Romanov relocated to San Francisco in 2014, hoping to gain inspiration and learn more about the craft of bartending. He landed a job as a bartender at The Battery before moving on to The Dorian, where he spent the next three years as bar manager expanding the restaurant’s cocktail menu and honing his voice. Romanov excelled amongst the well-rounded, supportive team, grew into his role, and learned how to be a leader. In 2018, he joined the team at Beehive, and a year later brought his knowledge and expertise to the bar program at Niku Steakhouse.
In late 2021, Romanov and Chef David Yoshimura of Nisei opened Bar Iris, a concept Romanov has put his heart and soul into. Drawing up some of the blueprints for the bar himself, he wanted the space to feel like an extension of his living room. Bar Iris is heavily inspired by Japanese culture and cuisine, featuring Japanese glassware and spirits. Romanov’s cocktails are intentional and detail-oriented, but simple in appearance, which highlights their quality ingredients, many of which are sourced from local foragers and the miniature garden on the bar’s roof.
2022 StarChefs San Francisco-Oakland Rising Stars Award Winner
