Partners: Founders of Cafe Chloe Alison McGrath and John Clute

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John is a lifelong career professional in the hospitality industry and

a veteran restaurant owner. His journey in hospitality and customer

service began as a young man in his home town of San Diego when

he fell in love with the energy of service and the pursuit of excellence

on the dining room floor. John quickly rose in the ranks and

realized the possibility of an exciting future in restaurants.

John’s decades-long career took him to two of the country’s great

restaurant cities, Manhattan and San Francisco, where he held the

highest positions in service, from wine director to general manager.

Under John’s guidance, two of San Fransisco’s most renowned

establishments, Jardiniere and The Fifth Floor, received the highest

possible Four Star ratings.

In 2003, John returned to his home town of San Diego to raise a

family and pursue his dream of opening a business of his own. The

following year, Cafe Chloe opened its doors in downtown’s East

Village. Considered one of the most influential restaurants of its

time, the intimate neighborhood cafe went on to receive numerous

culinary and service awards including a recognition of excellence

for John’s finely articulated wine list. Cafe Chloe went on to become

one of the city’s most beloved bistros. John and his wife Alison

would go on to open two more businesses, the cutting edge event

space Oliver & Rose and charming creperie, Minou.

John is a life-long surfer, a devoted student of philosophy and a

lover of art, music, literature and design. He is a consummate host

and possesses what he calls ‘A Service Heart’.

Over the past 30 years, restaurateur and founder of Cafe Chloe Alison McGrath has enjoyed an incredibly happy, successful career in the hospitality industry. After starting out as a banquet server in her late teens, she worked on the front lines of service as a hostess, a server and a general manager at celebrated restaurants in San Diego and San Francisco, most notably at Oritalia and Chaya Brasserie. Upon returning to San Diego in 2003, she helped create the Food and Beverage outlets at the hotly-anticipated W Hotel, where she oversaw everything from the design of uniforms to the hiring and training of staff. In late 2004, she and her husband John Clute realized their longtime dream of bringing a European-style cafe to San Diego and opened the award-winning French Bistro Cafe Chloe. Named for their young daughter, it quickly became a local institution and was credited with kick-starting a revolutionary trend of soulful, intimate restaurants in the city. The pair later created the event space Oliver & Rose which curated events as diverse as Moroccan-themed baby showers and a traditional Victorian Christmas dinner, as well as the tiny, classic neighborhood creperie, Minou. Alison’s passion for hospitality is embodied by her warmth, graciousness and ability to connect with people. Her talent for cultivating a team with a deep understanding of these values has been instrumental in garnering recognition from her community such as the “Best Service Award” received by Cafe Chloe from San Diego Magazine. She loves to nurture and mentor staff; to help them reach their potential and to pass on the lost art of “Old School” gracious hospitality that includes everyone and makes them feel welcomed, nurtured and embraced. She believes that kind, generous, sincere service is the magic ingredient, the “Je ne sais quois” of a transcendent restaurant experience. 
In 2019, Alison developed a bespoke food and wine tour in downtown San Diego which told the city’s story through a culinary and cultural lens.

Currently, Alison serves as the Director of Membership for The Reading Club, where she helps curate a membership of interesting people, develops a program of Masterclasses and maintains a diverse evolving library.
In her free time, you will probably find her in her happy place, the library, surrounded by an unruly stack of books on art, poetry, food, design and biographies of inspirational people.