Michael Lomonaco

Michael Lomonaco (born January 2, 1955) is an American chef, restaurateur, and television personality. He is best known as the chef/director for Windows on the World, the restaurant located atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The restaurant was destroyed in the September 11th attacks, and all of the staff members who were working in the restaurant at the time of the attack died. Lomonaco survived because he was in the tower's lobby during the attacks and was then evacuated from the building. He has rebounded with the opening of Porter House, which was named by Esquire magazine one of America's Best New Restaurants in October 2006.

Lomonaco started his culinary education at New York City Technical College's Hotel and Restaurant Management program, graduating in 1984. He quickly rose to fame during the 1980s at New York's famed restaurant Le Cirque, working under renowned chefs Alain Sailhac and Daniel Boulud. Later that decade, Lomonaco moved on to another legendary New York institution, 21 Club. He revitalized the restaurant, known for its storied history as a Prohibition-era speakeasy and celebrity patrons, by revamping the menu by eliminating some old Continental standbys in favor of updated American fare. Lomonaco remained at 21 until 1996. While at the restaurant, he published a book of recipes from the restaurant.

In 1997, Lomonaco took on the task of Executive Chef/Director for Windows on the World, located on the 106th and 107th floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. Again, he updated the menu from traditional French to modern American cuisine with great success. In response, the restaurant became one of America's highest grossing restaurants three years in a row. As executive director, Lomonaco was responsible for the main dining room, as well as the smaller Wild Blue restaurant, and the bar called The Greatest Bar on Earth.