Join Our Team View Open Positions

History of Cohn Restaurant Group

What do the Corvette Diner, BO-beau kitchen + bar, Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, The Prado at Balboa Park, Indigo Grill, Gaslamp Strip Club, La Jolla Strip Club, 333 Pacific, Island Prime, and Pineapple Grill all have in common? Aside from each of their eclectic, unique atmospheres and award-winning cuisine are incredible entrepreneurs whose vision has brought San Diego dining to a new level.

David and Lesley Cohn opened the Corvette Diner, in 1986. With the success of this 50's style diner, they set their sights on the fine dining market. Now, almost 25 years later, the Cohn's have successfully established the Cohn Restaurant Group – a family of award winning restaurants.  With over 1,000 employees, David and Lesley strive to create a healthy and safe work environment for their dedicated team. Getting personally involved in every aspect of their restaurants allows them to develop strong rapports with their employees and managers. David and Lesley pride their company on being family owned and operated, along with the help of their daughter, Jessica and son Jeremy.

The Cohns' aspirations continue to fuel new and bigger endeavors. Believing in the importance of giving back to the community, David and Lesley continuously involve themselves and their establishments in community events and charity fund-raisers. David is currently a board member of the SDSU Hospitality and Tourism Management Program, California Restaurant Association, Gaslamp Quarter Association, past president for The San Diego Restaurant Association, and past Chairman of the Board for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Excellence throughout all of their restaurants has gained recognition in the form of restaurant awards in the San Diego area. All of their restaurants have earned recognition, including the San Diego Gold Medallion Awards, Gaslamp Quarter Association Lamplighter Awards, and other awards from local publications. David and Lesley have also been recognized for their strong community and industry support, including the Gaslamp Quarter Historic Association "Vision Award", the San Diego Press Club's "Entrepreneurs of the Year" Award, the San Diego City Schools for exemplary Support and Commitment to Partnerships in Education and most recently the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Market Place Ethics.

A team of two, David and Lesley have created a family of restaurants that serve award winning cuisine, excellent service and an atmosphere that keeps locals and visitors coming back. Hard work and dedication from the management team, chefs and employees of the Cohn Restaurant Group have enabled David and Lesley to grace San Diego with their unique talents and tastes of fine family dining.