Tim Goodell | President

Liza Goodell | Vice President

Named “one of the country’s most talented husband-and-wife teams” by Gourmet, restaurateurs Tim and Liza Goodell have parlayed their extraordinary talent, resolute work ethic and unrelenting dedication to quality into Domaine Restaurants, a restaurant group that has been turning out successful dining concepts since 1994.

Tim and Liza’s partnership began in 1991 while working at the celebrated Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco. Tim, an honors graduate of the California Culinary Academy, was an apprentice pastry chef with the famed Gary Danko. Liza was also working under Mr. Danko for her degree from the New England Culinary Institute; Danko’s kitchen was perhaps the most important ingredient in the recipe of their burgeoning relationship. The pair would soon begin developing the concept behind their first venture, a California-French gem in Newport Beach called Aubergine. The restaurant opened in 1994, the same year as the Goodell’s wedding.

Their next triumph would come in the form of Troquet, a French-Californian bistro that thrilled visitors to South Coast Plaza. Launched in 1997, the restaurant’s astronomic success confirmed for the Goodells the merit of their culinary ventures. The restaurant closed in 2006 but not before inspiring another of the Goodell’s ventures, Village Bakery. Opened in 1998, the bakery was inspired by the popularity of the breads served at Aubergine and Troquet and continues to provide bread for local consumers and all Domaine restaurants. The Lodge in Costa Mesa came next, followed by Whist at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica and Citron at the Viceroy in Palm Springs. The duo then turned their attention to Red Pearl Kitchen—a sexy Southeast Asian eatery in Huntington Beach. In 2005, the Goodells sold Aubergine and The Lodge and left their post at the Viceroy to focus on new projects.

Over the next two years, the Goodells opened Meson G and returned to hotels, opening two restaurants at the newly remodeled Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Dakota, a modern steakhouse and 25 Degrees, a burger and wine joint, have quickly become Hollywood staples. In 2006, the Goodells opened their second and third outpost of Red Pearl Kitchen, one in the Historic Gas Lamp District of San Diego and the other in Hollywood.

As a team, the Goodells have mastered everything from bakery to steakhouse, Asian to French and haute cuisine to hamburgers. They have been awarded critical accolades, including a nod from Food & Wine naming Tim one of the “Best Chefs in America” and consistent praise from publications like the Los Angeles Times. As demand mounts for the Goodells to expand their empire, the pair remains committed to a marriage of expertise, entrepreneurship and elegance. Tim and Liza currently reside in Orange County with their daughter, Madeleine, and son, Oscar.