Meet the Eater Young Guns Semi-Finalists: Brooks Reitz

As many chefs, restaurateurs, and food world types will attest, Brooks Reitz is one of the more familiar faces in the Charleston food scene right now. That's because he's the General Manager at one of 2013's hottest openings, The Ordinary, and ran the show at sister restaurant Fig for two years after working his way up as a server and bartender. Other highlights on his CV: he was just 24 when he became the GM of Proof on Main in Louisville and he founded and runs Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.

Chef Sean Brock thinks he has the ability to be a future Danny Meyer, saying, "You know when you meet someone and you just smile because you're like 'Holy shit you're going to do some things in your life.' You can just see it in his face. He's going to spend his life working his ass off." Read more on what Brock and other Charleston figures have to say about Brooks ahead.

Adam Nemirow, co-owner, The Ordinary and Fig:

Joey Ryan, co-owner, Xiao Bao Biscuit: "Brooks is a great addition, and now leader in the hospitality industry in Charleston not because of what he does, but why he does it. It's obvious after a few conversations with him about anything from decor to music, lighting, and of course the composition of an establishment's dishes and cocktails that he believes that a place communicates a story of what it is with every detail to every guest.

The professionalism he brings to The Ordinary is not only admirable, and would make any restaurant better, but carefully crafted in a way that fits that space, and allows people to leave whatever and where ever they came from behind at least for the time they are in that old bank building."

Sean Brock, chef/owner, McCrady's and Husk: "Brooks is incredibly mature for his age and to watch him work a dining room and entertain people and be a southern gentleman is great to see. He's going to be very, very, very dangerous when he gets 10 years under his belt. He's also extremely admired by his team, which is very uncommon these days. On top of that, he can make a damn good cocktail.

He's got that swagger and style and has a great taste in how he dresses and carries himself. You're born with a little bit of it and you have to work for the rest of it. He just likes to make people happy. And to watch people be very very happy. I love The Ordinary and I think it's one of the most brilliant restaurants in America. It's crazy razor sharp and it's super casual and relaxed but you can tell the people there are very serious."

· All Young Guns Coverage [~E~]
· All Coverage of the Ordinary [~ECHS~]
[Photo by Rémy Thurston]