Tony Maws facts for kids

Maws at the James Beard Foundation Awards 2011

Tony Maws was born in 1970. He is an American chef and a restaurateur. A restaurateur is someone who owns and manages restaurants. Maws used to be the chef and owner of a well-known restaurant called Craigie on Main. This restaurant was located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was first known as Craigie Street Bistrot.

Tony Maws' Early Life

Tony Maws grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. He went to the Belmont Hill School and finished in 1988. After high school, he studied Psychology at the University of Michigan.

After college, Tony wasn't sure what he wanted to do. He decided to travel around Europe for a year. When he came back to New England, he quickly found a job. He started working as a waiter in Martha's Vineyard.

While working as a waiter, Tony Maws wrote letters to different chefs across the United States. He was hired by a chef named Chris Schlesinger. Tony began working at the first East Coast Grill restaurant. This was an important step in his cooking career.

Craigie on Main Restaurant

In 2003, Tony Maws opened his own restaurant. It was called Craigie Street Bistrot and was located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The restaurant quickly became very popular. It won several awards and was recognized for its great food.

In late 2008, Tony Maws moved his restaurant to a bigger place. The new spot was on Main Street in Cambridge. He added a bar area and an open kitchen. This meant customers could watch the chefs cook! He also changed the name of the restaurant to Craigie on Main.

Craigie on Main was a very successful restaurant for many years. However, it closed its doors in the fall of 2021.

Awards and Recognitions

Tony Maws and his restaurants received many important awards. These awards show how talented he is as a chef.

• James Beard Foundation Award - Best Chef Northeast, May 2011
• James Beard Award Finalist - Best Chef Northeast, March 2010
• James Beard Award Finalist - Best Chef Northeast, March 2009
• “Best Chef,” Boston Magazine (Best of Boston), 2008
• “Best New Chefs Hall of Fame,” Food & Wine Magazine, 2008
• “Best Chef,” “Best French Restaurant,” and “Best Pasta Dream Meal” (Gnocchi Parisienne), Boston Magazine (Best of Boston), 2006
• “One of America’s 10 Best New Chefs” (Tony Maws), Food & Wine, 2005
• Boston’s "top rising chef” (Tony Maws), Stuff@Night, 2004
• "Best up-and-coming chef,” Boston Magazine (Best of Boston), 2003