Brad Greenhill
Spiedo and Takoi | Detroit, MI
July 2025
From engineering student, to design firm founder, to celebrated restaurateur, Brad Greenhill's journey into the kitchen is one of labyrinthine twists and turns. Born in Cleveland and raised in Columbus, his first brush with the industry was working under Chef Myles Anton at Trattoria Stella in Traverse City, Michigan where he worked his way up to sous chef. Greenhill's proceeding venture to help Chef Michael Berardino run Carmen’s in Boston ignited a deep seated love for food. This passion led to pop-up dinners, which served as a proving ground for Greenhill’s food literacy. In 2013, Greenhill fully embraced the nomadic dining scene in Detroit, a pivotal decision that would shape the future of his career. Drawing inspiration from Southern Europe to the American South and Southeast Asia, he launched the Katoi food truck in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, quickly gaining a devoted following. The popularity of Katoi paved the way for its transformation into a permanent brick-and mortar restaurant of the same name, a significant milestone for which Greenhill won a StarChefs Rising Stars Award in 2016. After a fire and subsequent closure the following year, Greenhill and his team reopened the restaurant as Takoi six months later.
Over a decade since his first restaurant opened its doors, Greenhill stands as a beacon of hospitality in Detroit. Along the way, he’s opened and closed the restaurant Magnet, established the sustainable HiO urban farm, and launched a casual Mediterranean concept, Spiedo. Greenhill's philosophy as a chef and mentor remains rooted in the principles of scratch-made cooking, the utilization of seasonal ingredients sourced at their peak, and a constant drive fueled by curiosity and innovation. Looking to the future, Greenhill intends to continue pushing boundaries while also dedicating himself to mentoring the next generation of chefs and doubling down on Detroit as a major American culinary destination.
2016 StarChefs Rust Belt Rising Stars Award Winner
2025 StarChefs Rust Belt Rising Stars Mentor Chef Winner
