


DINNER and CONVERSATION with ROBERT'S PIZZA CO-FOUNDERS
The Princeton Club of Chicago welcomes you to dinner and conversation with Dana Hokin K62 and Robert Garvey, the co-founders of Robert's Pizza and Dough Company. Robert's is an award-winning full-service Chicago pizzeria recognized as one of the Top 50 Pizzas in the USA and Top 100 in the World by 50 Top Italy, and consistently named among the best pizzas in Chicago by critics such as Steve Dolinsky and publications including Eater, Time Out, and USA Today’s 10Best. The restaurant is known for its handcrafted thin-crust artisan pizzas made with fresh, distinctive ingredients and its signature crust, “Za Dough,” a Garvey family recipe perfected over more than 20 years. Located along the Ogden Slip on the Chicago River in Streeterville, Robert's features an expansive patio and dock with scenic skyline views.. For more information, visit www.RobertsPizza.com or on Facebook & Instagram @robertspizzaco.
Event Details
Contact Yung Bong Lim '87 P24 P25 at yungblim@alumni.princeton.edu or (312) 909-2199.
Dana Hokin K62 and Robert Garvey are the co-founders of Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company, the acclaimed Chicago pizzeria known for its artisan sourdough crust and guiding ethos, “Love Dough Responsibly.” Opened just months before the pandemic, Robert’s has grown into an internationally recognized, award-winning independent restaurant.
Hokin serves as CEO, leading the restaurant’s brand, operational culture, and business strategy. With more than two decades of experience building hospitality-driven ventures, she previously grew the Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda, BVI, from a family retreat into an iconic international destination. Her work at Robert’s reflects a deep commitment to workforce development, hospitality leadership, and community engagement.
Garvey is President of Za Works LLC, the managing arm of Robert’s, and the architect of its distinctive dough program. A certified pizzaiolo, he brings an uncommon blend of disciplines to pizza making: he is a marine engineer by training and holds an MFA in playwriting from Carnegie Mellon. His analytical and creative background shapes Robert’s Pizza's signature approach to dough production, menu creation, and the operational systems that deliver consistency in a high-volume restaurant environment.
Married partners in life and business, Hokin and Garvey began developing their pizza at home, experimenting with dough for fun and sharing it with friends around their dining room table. Years of experimentation ultimately led to the opening of Robert’s, now widely recognized as one of Chicago’s leading pizzerias.
