Conversations with Tony Laquatra

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Laquatra

Tony, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Dinner Rush wasn’t born in a boardroom, and it wasn’t born out of some grand marketing scheme. It came from where all great things do—necessity and experience. My name’s Tony LaQuatra, and Dinner Rush is my way of bringing two parts of my life together: the restaurant industry and design.

I didn’t plan on becoming a cook. I spent years in the design world—working with bands, creating merch, and running a design business with some friends. But when the pandemic hit, it took a lot of things down, including my design gig. Suddenly, I found myself working in restaurants, putting my hands to use in a different way—on the line, under the heat, slinging plates. It wasn’t a completely foreign world to me. My father was a chef, and my mom was a server. They met working in the Bond Court Hotel back in Cleveland. The restaurant business was in my blood, whether I knew it or not.

When I started working in kitchens, something clicked. I felt that rush, that relentless grind that keeps pulling you back. It’s the same rush I used to get designing late into the night, trying to capture that perfect idea. There’s something raw and real about the restaurant world—the chaos, the creativity, the energy. And it started making me think… How can I bring my love for design into this new world I found myself in?

That’s where Dinner Rush came from. I thought, “Why not merge the two things I love—design and the restaurant industry?” So, I started with some t-shirts, thinking maybe it would just be a side hustle. But what I didn’t expect was how quickly it took off. People got it. They saw what I was trying to do: represent the realness of this industry, the struggle, the beauty, and the grind.

This brand is a space for the misfits, the artists, the ones who don’t fit into the typical mold. The people who find creativity in chaos and beauty in the rush. It’s for those who are up at 2 a.m. cleaning down the kitchen, those who get through a rough shift and still come back the next day. It’s for the ones who understand that the industry isn’t just a job—it’s a lifestyle.

What really makes Dinner Rush special is the community we’ve built. Shortly after launching the brand, I started our restaurant & bar industry-only Discord server. Think of it like an after-hours bar where the doors never close. It’s a place for restaurant workers to come together, share stories, recipes, struggles, and support. We’ve got channels for everything—from recipes and sobriety checks to spaces where people can just vent about a brutal shift. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s where the industry comes to connect. You can check that out here: https://discord.gg/pJqYyAW3Jh

We’re more than a clothing brand. We’re a place for people who understand the grind, who live it, and who have each other’s backs. We take care of each other here, because out there, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself.

At the end of the day, Dinner Rush is my way of giving back to an industry that’s given me so much. I get to design again, but now it’s with a purpose. I’m doing it for my dad, for the people I’ve met in kitchens, for the ones who feel like they don’t have a voice. I’m doing it for my dad & my mom. For my son Gavin, and for my friend, Chef Kellen Smith, who passed away. Dinner Rush is my way of bringing together the lessons I’ve learned in life and giving something back to the community I love.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building Dinner Rush came with its fair share of struggles, both personal and professional. Like many in the industry, I’ve had to navigate life’s curveballs while trying to stay on my feet. My design business, which I had built with friends, fell apart when the pandemic hit. That loss wasn’t just financial—it was personal. It was something I had poured years into, only to watch it disappear practically overnight. So, when I started working in kitchens, it wasn’t exactly by choice. It was survival.

On top of that, I’ve faced personal battles—getting sober, becoming a father, and working through personal hurdles. Each one of those things shaped me and the brand in ways I didn’t expect. There were times when it felt like too much, like the weight of everything was going to sink me. But Dinner Rush came out of those struggles. It became a way to channel all of it—my love for design, my connection to the restaurant industry, my need to build something lasting.

Balancing the creative side of the brand while working full-time as a line cook hasn’t been easy either. I’m the guy behind everything—design, marketing, logistics, community building. Running Dinner Rush is a one-man operation, and there are days when that grind gets to me. But it’s also what keeps me going along with the support from my girlfriend Lydia and my friends and family. The struggles have shaped the brand into something real—something that reflects the grit and resilience of the people I made it for.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m the founder and creative director of Dinner Rush, a streetwear brand and online community made for the restaurant industry. It’s more than just clothing—it’s gear that reflects the real, gritty life of chefs, servers, bartenders, and line cooks. I design everything with the chaos and creativity of the kitchen in mind, from shirts that say “Punish Bad Tippers” to ones that capture the feeling of being “In the Weeds.” What I’m most proud of is how this brand has become a community, especially with our industry-only Discord server where people can connect, share stories, and support each other. What sets us apart is that I’m living it too—working as a line cook while building this brand, and that experience is what keeps it authentic and real.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The COVID-19 crisis taught me a lot about resilience and adaptability. Losing my design business during the pandemic was a tough blow, but it pushed me to pivot and find a new path. That’s how I ended up in the restaurant industry, working as a line cook. It reminded me how quickly things can change and how important it is to stay flexible and open to new opportunities, even when they come from unexpected places. The biggest lesson was realizing the importance of community. During those hard times, people in the industry came together to support each other in ways that went beyond just work. That sense of connection and solidarity became the foundation for Dinner Rush—a brand and community that’s about lifting each other up, especially when things get tough.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dontburnthefood.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopdinnerrush