The heart and soul of The Refuge are husband and wife team, Matt Levin and Melanie Roth along with Executive Chef, Michael Greuel. Matt and Michael met as sous chefs at the well known peninsula restaurant, Viognier. Later, Matt became Chef de Cuisine and Michael the Executive Chef at Viognier.  It was there that Matt and Michael conceived The Refuge.

      The combined experience and background of the two are unparalleled. Matt has extensive international experience. He worked in Paris, France for two years.

Working in the prestigious Michelin-starred kitchens such as Les Ambassadeurs at Hotel de Crillon, Taillevent, and Le Pre Catelan, the true French culture, Matt realized, revolved around a bold autonomy, constantly blooming from respected traditions. He carries this epiphany in his head to this very day.

      Like a perfectly scripted fairy tale, the genesis of the Refuge's name lies just adjacent to Matt and Melanie's old metro stop in Montmartre. It was an old wine bistrot called "Le Refuge."

      The greatest cooks (and true restaurant professionals), Matt believes, work within the spectre of ‘Tour de Main’, or ‘slight of hand’. These are the minute details and techniques that are not in the recipes or presentations. Rather, they are sublime expressions that elevate what is seemingly ordinary to the extraordinary, and show their face at the most unlikely times, in every level of cuisine.

     Overwhelmed with inspiration, Matt made up his mind that this was the type of restaurant he’d like to own and on March 4, 2008, opened the doors to the Refuge San Carlos. 5 years later, Refuge Menlo Park was born and in June 2021, Refuge San Mateo at the Hillsdale Shopping Center opened. Read More.