VIP Treatment is standard at OCEAN PRIME.
We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service. Our team members are “great people delivering genuine hospitality,” and it’s no accident that we put “people” first in our company motto. Heartfelt hospitality is our key to the consistently exceptional service you can expect at OCEAN PRIME. Our team will do everything possible to ensure our guests have a truly amazing experience.
Executive Chef
Eugenio Reyes
Peering through the dishwashing station just weeks after moving to Ohio from Mexico City without knowing a word of English, Eugenio Reyes dreamed of one day being able to prepare meals for restaurant guests. During his time as a dishwasher at Mitchell’s Steakhouse, he never imagined that he would rise through the ranks and one day become executive chef of a fine-dining restaurant in Midtown Manhattan.
After eight months as a dishwasher, Reyes moved to the salad station, then gained his first leadership experience as a kitchen supervisor. He worked his way up to sous chef at Mitchell’s Ocean Club in Columbus, Ohio, and received Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ Sous Chef of the Year award in 2010. He then spent time as executive sous chef at Ocean Prime Dallas and climbed the ranks to become executive chef in Dallas thereafter. After successfully opening Ocean Prime Beverly Hills in 2014, he was named the company’s Executive Chef of the Year.
Chef Reyes credits his nearly two-decade career with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants for helping him discover his passion, and he loves working for a company that truly cares about its associates. Staying true to this philosophy, Reyes has been an integral part of employee development across the country, traveling to Michigan, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Dallas to lead kitchen training.
Although he moved to the United States in 1996, Reyes continues to celebrate his Mexican heritage and enjoys combining traditional Mexican flavors with American twists. Even when he is not in the Ocean Prime kitchen, he enhances his cooking skills by reading cookbooks, experimenting in the kitchen and watching the Food Network.
General Manager
Besfort Shala
After moving to Yonkers, NY from his hometown of Peja, Kosovo, Besfort Shala found his way to Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) in 2015. Besfort credits his love for the restaurant industry to his childhood and home. Growing up, it was always about taking care of people and treating everyone with love and respect.
Besfort received his degree in Economics from Hunter College in New York. Outside of work, you can always catch Besfort on the field playing soccer or spending time with his family. His advice to anyone interested in a career in the hospitality field is to always give 100% effort to deliver the ultimate experience to every guest that walks through the door. When asked about his favorite part of working for CMR, Besfort easily called out his favorite culture pillar – Attitude, Attitude, Attitude. Attitude is a choice, and we should always choose to be happy.
Sales & Event Manager
Carmen Vazquez
A New York native, Carmen has been with Ocean Prime New York since 2019 and earned Rookie of the Year her first year. Before joining us at Ocean Prime, Carmen received her advertising and Public Relations degree from SUNY Plattsburgh. With a family that is passionate about spirits and food, Carmen has had years of experience in the restaurant industry and has worked in many different positions. Carmen loves Ocean Prime for our Associates come first culture and making our Associates our top priority. When not at the restaurant, Carmen enjoys playing volleyball and tennis, trying new restaurants and spending quality time with her family.