Elvir Dzananovic has been a member of the Daniel Boulud family for more than 20 years. Originally from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Elvir started as a Server Assistant at Restaurant DANIEL in 2000, and since, has risen to the positions of Service Director at DANIEL followed by General Manager at Bar Boulud, and now Regional Manager for the Upper West Side.
After leaving war-torn Bosnia, Elvir and his family had been living in the Czech Republic since he was fifteen years old. In an effort to support his family, Elvir worked at his uncle’s local bar and deli. Foreign to the Czech language, he worked behind the scenes, and quickly progressed to the front-of-house. Elvir and his family were not able to go back to Bosnia. Instead, Elvir moved to America through the International Rescue Committee, where he met Chef Daniel and got his first job. Over the years he learned the intricacies of fine-dining and steadily progressed, moving up to food runner, lounge server, assistant captain, captain, and eventually one of the floor maître d’s in 2010. During his eight years in that capacity, Elvir worked tirelessly with the team to ensure a polished and efficient service infused with a warm sense of hospitality at every turn.
In 2018, Chef Daniel asked Elvir to oversee the dining room staff at Café Boulud. He was a familiar face to the clientele there and was a mentor to the team. But his heart remained at DANIEL and he returned in July 2019 as the Service Director. “Elvir is family to me and the rest of the Dinex family,” says Daniel, “It has been my privilege to work with him and see him grow as a person, a husband and father, and my friend.”
In 2021, Elvir accepted the position of General Manager at Bar Boulud, Chef Daniel’s French brasserie, and eventually became the regional manager for the Upper West Side, overseeing Bar Boulud, Boulud Sud, and Épicerie Boulud. In his newest position, Elvir is very excited for the opportunity to guide the service team and partner up with the culinary team to ensure an excellent guest experience. On the daily, he reminds his team, “every guest that walks through the front door deserves to have that ‘home away from home meal experience.’” Ultimately, Elvir’s goal is to position the restaurant in the heart of the community – “I want Bar Boulud to reflect the essence and spirit of the Upper West Side through our staff, the physical product and the guest experience.”
When he is not leading the service team and the restaurant, Elvir can be found spending quality time with his wife and two young boys watching as much sports as possible.