Larry Herz of OCN Eats
In this month’s CULTURED, we feature Larry Herz of OCN Eats. Larry shares his journey through the restaurant world, and his top 10 dishes of 2020. Larry was photographed on set during the filming of his show What’s For Lunch.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
Cherry Creek Fashion: Larry, let’s start from the beginning! You are a New Yorker and started working in the restaurant business in the city after graduating from George Washington University with a BA in Marketing. What attracted you to the industry?
Larry Herz: I always knew I wanted to own a business and I ate out a lot as a kid on Long Island. When I graduated college, I had a friend who worked at Tavern On The Green, and at the time it was the largest and busiest restaurant in the world. He said he could get me a job there and I thought that this would be a great way to start my resume.
“My daughter was having an issue and I said to her why didn’t you come to me and she said, “you’re never home”. My rent was 14k monthly and I was spending 30k on labor. I was making less than my waiters and I thought to myself I’m relatively smart and I’m hardworking, there has to be something else I could be doing.”
CCF: You moved to Denver when you were 27 years old and in the years that followed you opened several restaurants including Carmine’s on Penn, A-Bar, Indigo, Go Fish Grill, and 730 South. Describe your life back then.
LH: I was a hands-on restaurant owner. I worked 6 days a week for 29 years. Working nights and weekends. Dishwasher doesn’t show up, I’m doing dishes. Cook doesn’t show up, I’m on the line. The toilet is stuffed, that’s my job.
CCF: In 2017, you closed down your last restaurant, 730 South, and exited the industry. Why did you want to leave the restaurant business?
LH: My daughter was having an issue and I said to her why didn’t you come to me and she said: “you’re never home”. My rent was 14k monthly and I was spending 30k on labor. I was making less than my waiters and I thought to myself I’m relatively smart and I’m hardworking, there has to be something else I could be doing.
CCF: You now work in marketing, helping promote other restaurants. Describe the transition from restaurant life to an office.
LH: It’s very scary reinventing yourself at any age and I was 51, had never worked in an office, never had a laptop, never went to happy hour, never went out to lunch, and marketing had changed a little since I went to college. Luckily my coworkers were very patient when I asked them questions.
CCF: You also launched your very popular brand, OCN Eats which includes an Instagram page and YouTube channel. Tell us more about OCN Eats and why you started it.
LH: So many companies in my career promised to help my restaurant and nothing ever really worked. I was and still am determined to change that. I’m fortunate that the CEO of the company that I work for, Joe Oltman, fully supports me. He said if you’re not failing, you’re not trying so I keep creating assets to put butts in restaurant seats.
LARRY’S TOP TEN DISHES FOR 2020
Restaurant // Dish
Safta // Lamb Hummus
Cart Driver // The Cart Driver Pizza
Lea Jane’s // Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
Uchi // 72 Hour Sous Vide Short Rib Sushi
Crush Pizza // Lemon Ricotta Sicilian Pizza
Piper Inn // Asian Hot Wings
Hank’s Texas Bbq // Beef Rib
Konro Popup Restaurant // A5 Wagyu
Bagel Deli // Corned Beef Reuben
Los Dos Potrillos // Molcajete
Larry Herz: @larryherz
OCN Eats: @ocn_eats