ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DINING GROUP
The Neighborhood Dining Group (NDG) is a restaurant management company with three operations in Charleston, SC, one in Nashville, TN, and one in Atlanta, GA that range from nationally award-winning, fine dining destinations to family-friendly restaurants.
"The strength of our company comes from our fine staff of over 250 talented individuals that inspire me on a daily basis. They are loyal, professional, long-serving, enthusiastic, and hard working," says David Howard, NDG's president.
An industry veteran, Howard has been committed to the best in hospitality throughout his career and enjoys an expanding role in Charleston and in the restaurant community of the south.
"Through expansion, we have not only been able to create jobs in the restaurants, but in our communities where we operate. This expansion also provides deserved growth for those within our organization," says Howard.
The group currently operates McCrady's, Husk, and the Queen Anne's Revenge restaurants in Charleston, SC; Chicago's Steak and Seafood in Roswell, GA; and in spring of 2013, will open a Husk restaurant in Nashville, TN.
ABOUT DAVID HOWARD
Born in the same house as Admiral Lord Nelson in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, England, it's easy to understand the sense of travel and adventure David Howard has enjoyed throughout his life, found through combing his passion for the hospitality industry, its people, and the culinary arts.
His culinary interests began young, and at the age of eight he locked himself in the kitchen at his home on the family farm in rural England and baked cookies for his family. Howard's sense of creativity, passion for cooking, and work ethic took him to culinary school at the early age of 16. An invitation to serve his culinary apprenticeship soon came at the age of 18 at the world-renowned Claridge's of London.
His journey through the hospitality and fine dining industry has covered six European countries and Bermuda, and many prestigious properties. In 1972, David fulfilled his dream to come to America, "the land of opportunity".
Once in the United States, David spent time cooking and working in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, South Carolina, New Jersey. At the The Manor Restaurant in West Orange, he worked with renowned restaurateurs, The Knowles family, for whom he holds in the highest regard because they helped pave the way to his US citizenship.
Since 1991, Howard has transitioned out of the kitchen and owned five restaurants in the Atlanta suburbs. In the summer of 2013, the original Chicago's Steak and Seafood, located in Roswell, GA, will celebrate its 22nd year of successful operation.
In 2001, Howard formed the Neighborhood Dining Group (NDG), a restaurant management company, to develop a concept and open a restaurant on Daniel Island, a new community near Charleston, SC for a local investment group. In 2006, that successful partnership led to the acquisition of the highly acclaimed McCrady's restaurant downtown Charleston.
In early 2010, the partnership acquired two historic buildings in downtown Charleston and set about a remarkable renovation. Through the restoration efforts on Queen street, NDG received the Carolopolis Award from the Preservation Society of Charleston, in addition to a prestigious award from the Historic Charleston Foundation. They opened Husk Restaurant in November 2010 and, in 2011, Husk was recognized by Bon Appétit magazine with the cover and title of The Best New Restaurant in America.
Neighborhood Dining Group oversees the restaurants in Charleston, Nashville and Atlanta, and is responsible for concept, design, development, construction, recruitment, management, and day-to-day operations. Currently the team is preparing to open the just announced Husk Nashville in the spring of 2013.