Testimonials
Levi's years of working in restaurants have given him a unique perspective, including an understanding of how all aspects of the business should flow. He also knows the high level of construction required to make things that last and the finishing work necessary to deliver the look you want to achieve.
Cookline is truly a partner in realizing our dreams and growth. Their investment in doing the job well is very reassuring during what is typically a stressful time. The entire team brings vast experience, critical thinking, fairness, and great care to each project. Those qualities combined with their love for, and generosity within, our community is why we wouldn't dream of working with anyone else.
- Stuart Brioza, Nicole Krasinski, & Elizabeth DePalmer, Owners, State Bird Provisions, The Progress, and The Anchovy Bar
The value of having a team that is capable of executing on the big picture goals cannot be understated. And on top of that, the Cookline team is an absolute pleasure to work with. They are good, hard-working people. They are sharp, respectful, organized and attentive.
- Ben Moore, Co-Founder, Mamahuhu
Working with Cookline on our recent project stands out as the single best construction experience I have ever had, having been involved in developing a half dozen new restaurants. They are a really sophisticated outfit, great communicators and deliver on their commitments around timing and cost. Outside of the quality of their work, the team are extremely personable and easy to work with. The quality of the work provided by their subs was also excellent. Finally, I really appreciated how Levi handled a few issues that came up through the process, as they always do, he was very measured and fair, and we easily got to a place where everyone felt good. I can't imagine working with a different company on any future projects we have in San Francisco.
- David White, Owner, Yellow Moto Pizzeria
Of the many restaurant contractors we've worked with over the years, Cookline is far and away our favorite. They deliver in spades on what, to us, are the four key points of a successful working relationship: sense of urgency, attention to detail, communication and follow through. They also excel at collaboration and problem solving since, as we know, things never go exactly as expected. We felt supported and listened to and received honest feedback in turn.
I truly enjoyed my interactions with every member of the Cookline team who, in many cases, went above and beyond, exceeding our expectations. These are restaurant contractors with the same ethos of hospitality that we practice in our own business day in and day out.
-Craig Stoll, Chef and Owner, Delfina
Cookline brings a special care and intention to projects that goes beyond the call of just "building a restaurant." What originally drew us to work with them was a synergy and drive to show up as a purpose driven company that stands behind its employees. It was apparent from day one that at the core of their organization was a sense of elevating individuals and teams to bring their clients' dreams to life. They care and it shows. They bring a unique blend of confidence and collaboration. That translates to listening to us and working with us to achieve our goals, and are not afraid to speak up in order to make sure the job is getting done right. We appreciate the different skill sets that each member has brought to our projects: eagerness, transparency, level-headedness, creativity, and collaboration.
- Thomas McNaughton, CEO & Founding Partner, Flour + Water Hospitality Group
It was such a pleasure working with all of you from Cookline. I really admire what you all are doing in providing a fair, quality, predictable service. Others always refer to you as "the good guys," and having dealt with our fair share of builders we definitely agree. There's a lot of sleaze and bloat out there, and for restaurants where income is so slim, keeping startup costs in control is paramount.
- David Lau, Owner, Asha Tea House
Our architecture and interiors firm, Studio BBA, has been collaborating with Cookline on multiple restaurants, cafes and bars over the past 5 years. I say “collaborate” intentionally – unlike many GC firms, Cookline brings a thoughtful, ego-free approach to working with architects and clients. We see this expressed when tricky site details or permit hang-ups come up – the Cookline team often pools their resources to find solutions that create project success. When it comes to art-forward interiors, robust food production facilities, and iconic neighborhood destinations, Cookline is one of our go-to GC firms. I’d recommend them for consideration for every passion-filled project.
-Anand Sheth, Studio Anand Sheth
We've designed over 100 restaurant and food retail projects, and have worked with many general contractors over the years, with many varied results. Working with Cookline starts before we even begin designing because we don't want to take on a project unless we know that Cookline is involved.
Their thorough and thoughtful early guidance helps every aspect of our own efforts to deliver a beautiful space to an engaged client. Sure, there are always unforeseens and curveballs, but every member of the Cookline team has deep dedication and experience that brings our projects to fruition and helps our entire team, client - contractor - architect, navigate the inevitable hurdles with real expectations about project delivery and cost.
-Keith Morris, Principal, Studio KDA
Working with Cookline was great! This was our first project with them, and they proved their value from the very start. Their team worked well with us and the other key players on the project, bringing their restaurant build expertise, organization, strong communication, and solution-oriented approaches. We look forward to working with Cookline again in the future.
-Tony Marcell, General Manager/Partner, Wayfare Tavern
Levi Hunt and his partner, Chris Brown focus on restaurant build-outs in the Bay Area. They both have a slew of related experience, managing restaurants, working for GCs, and working for a restaurant group in facilities, which included managing new restaurant build-outs. They have a great perspective from both sides. It’s their super power and it packs the biggest punch of them all.
-Emily Day, Owner, Flour & Co.
From an architect's perspective, working with Cookline was a wonderful experience. The team is organized, great at communication, and collaborative - it was a pleasure to work with everyone. They did a great job at managing client expectations and the construction schedule. I appreciate how they are proactive problem solvers who flag issues early on, and brainstorm thoughtful solutions. I hope to continue working with them on future projects!
- Parvathy Nair, Architect