Matt Whitney
Sunny's Steakhouse | Miami, FL
May 2025
Matt Whitney has been hanging out in restaurants since he was a kid, happily spending time with his mom while she was at work. In those restaurants, while killing time before and after hockey practice, Whitney was exposed to the ins and outs of hospitality, he just didn’t know he’d make a career out of it. In college, Whitney started working at a fine dining restaurant in Wellesley, Massachusetts before moving to Boston’s Craigie on Main. Later, he joined the team at Eastern Standard, where he developed an interest in the wine program while working as a bartender. Over the next few years, he switched paths and eventually grew into the role of wine director, managing the list for the rest of his time at the acclaimed bar and restaurant.
In 2017, Whitney took a trip to New York to compete in a wine competition. There, he met Sommelier Michaël Engelmann, who offered him a job at The Modern. After eight formative months at the Danny Meyer restaurant, Whitney joined the opening team of Manhatta, where he directed the wine program, oversaw the bar, and learned to manage a large team. After moving into a more operational role at the restaurant, Whitney left once the pandemic hit. He helped reopen Wine Spectator’s WS New York in Hudson Yards before moving back to Boston.
Soon after, Whitney started talking to his pal, Rising Stars alum Will Thompson, about Thompson’s upcoming project in Miami. Whitney, inspired by Thompson’s vision and the opportunity to collaborate with an old friend, joined the opening team of Sunny’s Steakhouse. Now, at the new, 220-seat restaurant, Whitney is running a wine program that is built around value and approachability, and providing ample opportunities for staff education and training. With a list that features a wide array of regions and varietals, the goal is finding the right bottle for everyone, no matter the occasion.
