Colton Hays
CHEF DE CUISINE
Colton Hays brings more than 25 years of culinary experience to his role as chef de cuisine at EPIC Steak. With a wealth of culinary knowledge and experience, Hays works alongside Executive Chef Parke Ulrich to design exceptional menus utilizing fresh and sustainable ingredients.
Growing up in Hawaii, Hays spent his formative years exposed to a variety of spices, foods, and flavors, and his family’s affinity for natural farming created a curiosity towards sourcing fresh ingredients. Craving a change of pace from island life, Hays moved to San Francisco in 2001 and immersed himself in the local restaurant scene. He spent the next few years working at Aperto Restaurant in Potrero Hill, learning new culinary techniques, and after 1 year he was promoted to sous chef. After his time at Aperto, he was hired by Chef Mark Sullivan as Chef de Partie at Spruce restaurant in Pac Heights. Hays was with Spruce when they won their first coveted Michelin Star in 2009. In 2010, Hays assisted in the opening of Cafe des Amis in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow district. As a sous chef at the French inspired restaurant, he learned classic French technique, and how to translate that technique into creative new dishes.
Hays then went on to work as senior sous chef at Michael Chiarello’s Coqueta on the Embarcadero, focusing on Spanish cuisine. This experience proved transformational as he was afforded the opportunity to travel to Spain to research the cuisine, work with many great Spanish chefs, and also learn the business side of running a restaurant. In 2018 Hays was promoted to chef de cuisine of Coqueta restaurant for both San Francisco and Napa locations.
In 2021, he was hired by Tyler Florence to be part of the opening team for Miller & Lux, a new American steakhouse in San Francisco. Serving as executive chef, he curated the menu and executed a successful and celebrated opening of the acclaimed restaurant at Chase Arena.
Hays currently lives in San Francisco and in his free time he enjoys sailing as well as creating delicious meals for his friends and family.