DANA CIFONE
Hospitality Consultant
Meet Dana Cifone — a seasoned hospitality leader with extensive experience spanning corporate restaurants, hotels, and independently owned concepts she has personally conceptualized, designed, and operated. With a career built on opening properties, developing brands, leading teams, and overseeing every detail from operations to guest experience, she brings a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to build and sustain successful restaurants. Dana’s expertise includes concept development, operational systems, staff training, event programming, marketing strategy, and the seamless coordination required to bring a vision to life. She now applies this depth of knowledge to support hospitality businesses seeking clarity, structure, and elevated execution — offering the same high-level guidance and strategic direction that have defined her career.
Areas of Expertise
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concept & brand development
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marketing, sales & branding strategy
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events program & deck creation
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menu design & development
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point-of-sale & tech infrastructure
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website & digital presence
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photo & media production
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operations & HR set-up
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staffing & recruitment
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staff training & onboarding
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operational systems & readiness
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reservation & event platform
The hospitality world moves fast, and the people who thrive in it are the ones who understand what really happens behind the scenes — the pressure, the rhythm, the problem-solving, and the countless decisions that shape a guest’s experience long before the doors open. Restaurants need voices that have lived every side of the industry: the chefs balancing creativity with cost, the GMs running full-speed through service, the bartenders navigating controlled chaos, and the operators connecting it all into something seamless.
Vendors, consultants, and support teams rely on someone who can translate between the front-of-house energy and the back-of-house precision, someone who understands both the beauty of a flawless pre-shift and the reality of what’s happening in the back office. Newer professionals benefit from clear guidance rooted in real experience, not theory — the kind that helps them understand what they’ve stepped into and how to grow within it.
SHOP
Whether you’re deep in the weeds of the hospitality world or just obsessed with what goes on behind the scenes, The Hospitality Studio is your kind of shop. It’s for the lifers — the chefs, GMs, bartenders, and operators who’ve seen some sh*t and still show up.
Apparel
Coming Soon...
Home Goods
Coming Soon...
Stationery
Coming Soon...
PODCAST
Welcome to The Hospitality Studio Podcast — a podcast where hospitality takes center stage, but the “recipe” gets tossed out the window. Sure, we love a good origin story, but we’re not here to just ask, “So, how did you get started?” We’re here for the stories that don’t make it to the press release. The moments behind the curtain. The grit behind the glamour.
Hosted by Dana Cifone who lives and breathes the business, The Hospitality Studio digs into the real, raw, and often hilarious world of hospitality. From restaurant owners and hotel managers to consultants, vendors, and the unexpected characters who keep the industry alive, we’re talking to the people who’ve seen it all — and are willing to spill.
Expect conversations that go beyond career timelines. We’re diving into the chaos of Saturday night service, the beauty of a perfect guest interaction, the missteps, the pivots, the burnout, the breakthroughs — and everything in between. Whether you’re in the industry or just fascinated by the world behind your favorite meals, experiences, and spaces, this podcast is for you.
No fluff. No filters. Just hospitality, ‘in the weeds’.
EVENTS
Dana has become a trusted name in creating curated hospitality experiences — from elegant wine dinners and chef collaborations to thoughtfully produced private gatherings. Whether joining one of her signature events featuring top culinary talent and industry professionals or collaborating on a bespoke occasion designed to reflect your vision, every detail is approached with creativity, precision, and a deep understanding of what makes guests feel connected. Each experience blends exceptional food, atmosphere, and storytelling — turning moments into memorable events that feel effortless yet unforgettable.
Private Chef Experiences
Coming Soon...
Social & Corporate Events
Coming Soon...
Cooking Demostrations
Coming Soon...
EDITORIAL
Dana writes thoughtful editorials on the food and hospitality industry for lifestyle publications, offering an insider perspective on chefs, restaurants, trends, and the culture that shapes how we dine and gather.
Greenwich Lifestyle Magazine
Darien New Canaan Lifestyle Magazine
Upper Westchester Lifestyle Magazine
Contact Me
If you’d like to connect about consulting services, explore sponsorship opportunities for the podcast, or learn more about the shop, I’d love to continue the conversation. Please feel free to reach out anytime for details or next steps.
