Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 11, 2026

Bryan Voltaggio

Bryan Voltaggio is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author. He is a Top Chef television series alum; and he was a semi-finalist for the James Beard award. His brother is celebrity chef Michael Voltaggio. He resides in Frederick, Maryland and is known for Mid-Atlantic cuisine.

Last revised
Jun 11, 2026
Read time
≈ 5 min
Length
1,119 w
Citations
40
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Bryan Voltaggio
Born1976 (age 49–50)
Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
EducationCulinary Institute of America
SpouseJennifer Covell2
Culinary career
Cooking styleModern American
Current restaurants
    • Wye Oak, Frederick, MD (2024),
    • Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse, National Harbor, MD (2016),
    • Showroom, Frederick, MD (2020)
Previous restaurants
    • VOLT, Frederick, MD (2008–2020),
    • Aggio, Baltimore, MD (2014–2018),
    • Family Meal, Frederick, MD (2013–2020),
    • STRFSH, Santa Monica, CA (2017–2021),
    • Estuary, Washington, DC (2019–2022),
    • Thacher & Rye, Frederick, MD (2020–2024),1
Television shows

Bryan Voltaggio (born 1976)3 is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author. He is a Top Chef television series alum; and he was a semi-finalist for the James Beard award.45 His brother is celebrity chef Michael Voltaggio.567 He resides in Frederick, Maryland and is known for Mid-Atlantic cuisine.

Early life and education

Bryan Voltaggio was the oldest of three children, born to Sharon and John Voltaggio.8 At age 7, his parents divorced and the children initially lived with their mother, and later moved to their father's house.8 Starting in childhood, brothers Bryan and Michael were very close.8 He attended Governor Thomas Johnson High School.2 He is married to Jennifer Covell, whom he met in high school; and together they have three children.2

His first job was as a busboy at a Holiday Inn in Frederick, Maryland.8 He took a vocational culinary program at Frederick Community College while attending Governor Thomas Johnson High School and by age 15, he was given the role of cook.8

Voltaggio received an AOS degree in culinary arts in 1999 from The Culinary Institute of America.8 He was mentored by chef Charlie Palmer and Gerry Hayden, while working at restaurant Aureole.8910

Restaurant career

In 2003, Voltaggio worked as the head chef at Charlie Palmer Steak.8

Bryan, along with brother Michael, opened STRFSH, a fast-casual fish sandwich shop in Santa Monica, open from October 2017 to 2021.11 The Voltaggio brothers had co-owned Estuary in Washington D.C., which operated under their leadership from 2019 until March 2022.12

Restaurants

Active

  • Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill (December 2016–present)13
  • Showroom, Frederick (2020–present)
  • Wye Oak Tavern at Visitation Hotel, Frederick (2024–present)14

Closed

  • Thacher & Rye, Frederick (2020–2024)15
  • VOLT, Frederick (2008–2020)16
  • Aggio, Baltimore (2014–2018)17
  • Family Meal, Baltimore (2015–August 2016)17
  • STRFSH, Santa Monica (2017–2021)18
  • Estuary, Washington D.C. (2019–March 2022)12
  • Lunchbox, Frederick, MD

Television appearances

Voltaggio was the runner-up of the sixth season of Top Chef, Bravo's cooking competition show, placing second to his brother, Michael Voltaggio;19 subsequently he was also the runner-up on the fifth season of Top Chef Masters, and again runner-up to Melissa King on the seventeenth season of Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.20 He was the first chef to compete on both Top Chef and Top Chef Masters.21

In 2022, both Voltaggio brothers appeared on season three of Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions on Food Network.2223

In April 2024, Voltaggio and his brother were guest judges in the first season of the Food Network show 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing.24 He returned as a contestant in the second season in April 2025,25 finishing as the runner-up.

In December 2025, Voltaggio and his brother competed as a team in the first season of the Food Network show Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas and won.

In April 2026, Bryan Voltaggio became the first male chef to win ‘’Tournament of Champions” in its seventh season.

Awards, nominations and accolades

Personal life

Voltaggio lives in Maryland with his wife Jennifer and their three children.27

Publications

  • Voltaggio, Bryan; Voltaggio, Michael (2011). VOLT ink.: Recipes, Stories, Brothers. Ed Anderson (photographer), Charlie Palmer (foreword). Weldon Owen. ISBN 978-1616281618.
  • Voltaggio, Bryan (2015). Home: Recipes to Cook with Family and Friends. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0316323888.
  • D'Agostino, Ryan, ed. (2015). The Eat Like a Man Guide to Feeding a Crowd: How to Cook for Family, Friends, and Spontaneous Parties. David Granger (introduction), Bryan Voltaggio (foreword), Mario Batali (foreword). Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-1452131849.
References

References

  1. Marshall, Ryan (2024-06-30). "Frederick's Thacher & Rye closes; new restaurant coming Friday". The Frederick News-Post.
  2. "Family Style". Baltimore Style. February 23, 2015. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  3. "Voltaggio, Bryan 1976-". OCLC WorldCat Identities.
  4. "One Top Chef Contestant Has Been Runner-Up Three Times - But Never Won". CBR. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  5. Holl, Joel (November 20, 2014). "Life of Bryan". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  6. "'Top Chef' favorites the Voltaggio brothers battle it out in new cooking competition". The Mercury News. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. "'Top Chef' favorites the Voltaggio brothers battle it out in new cooking competition". Daily News. 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  8. "Bryan Voltaggio: From a teenager 'amok' to 'Top Chef Masters'". Washington Post. July 23, 2013.
  9. "Top Chef - Bios - Bryan Voltaggio | Bravo TV Official Site". Bravo. Archived from the original on 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
  10. Ulla, Gabe (2011-07-05). "Bryan Voltaggio on the Importance of Balance in Cooking". Eater. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  11. Kang, Matthew (2017-10-31). "Michael and Bryan Voltaggio's STRFSH grills fish sandwiches in Santa Monica starting today". Eater LA. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  12. Plumb, Tierney (2022-03-22). "Estuary Returns With New Mid-Atlantic Delicacies — and No More Voltaggio Brothers". Eater DC. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  13. Sietsema, Tom (April 12, 2017). "Voltaggio Brothers Steak House Review". Washington Post.
  14. "Visitation Hotel".
  15. "Chef Bryan Voltaggio's Frederick restaurant Thacher & Rye to close; will become The Ordinary Hen". Baltimore Sun. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  16. "Bryan Voltaggio's Frederick restaurant Volt reopens as Thacher & Rye". Baltimore Sun. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  17. Yeager, Amanda (December 20, 2018). "Court rules Bryan Voltaggio owes Cordish $3.1M over shuttered Baltimore restaurants". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  18. Saria, Lauren (2022-11-01). "The Voltaggio Brothers Are Opening an Italian Restaurant at This Upscale California Ski Resort". Eater SF. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  19. "'Top Chef' Winners: Where Are They Now?". Us Weekly. 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  20. "Who Won Top Chef All Stars: L.A.?". E! Online. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  21. Canavan, Hillary Dixler (2013-09-26). "Douglas Keane: Winner of Top Chef Masters Season 5". Eater. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  22. "Tournament of Champions III: Battle Recap – Week 6". Guilty Eats. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  23. Del Rosario, Alexandra (2022-01-18). "Guy Fieri's 'Tournament Of Champions' Renewed For Season 3 At Food Network". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  24. Maas, Jennifer (2024-02-29). "Food Network Sets 24-Hours-Straight Cooking Competition 'Last Chef Standing' Hosted by Michael Symon and Esther Choi (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  25. Maas, Jennifer (2025-03-12). "'24 in 24: Last Chef Standing' Sets Season 2 Premiere at Food Network as New A-List Chef Contestants Revealed (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  26. "James Beard Foundation search for Volt". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 17 October 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  27. "It's a Girl For Bryan Voltaggio and Wife!". Bravo. 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
External links