Marisa Miller

Bar Director

The term “foodie” was first named in print in the early 1980s, and a very young Marisa may have been among the earliest to have this designation, as she would regularly insist on ordering from the same menu as the adults, to the delight and surprise of the restaurant staff. It was a family tradition to go out to eat on Thursday nights, and a steakhouse with a peacock habitat was the favorite destination, as long as there were “no children’s menus!” 

Growing up in Vallejo, California, the family would take frequent trips to the wine country as a pastime. Marisa developed a fond appreciation for the Napa Valley at a young age, as there was an abundance of happy memories, shared meals, shopping trips, and time in the sunshine. 

Marisa moved to San Francisco in 2004 to attend San Francisco State University. She was pursuing a degree in Chemistry when she got a job at The Cheesecake Factory to help pay her way through college. It was here that she discovered her passion for bartending, and although she did finish her Bachelor of Science degree, a different type of chemistry was definitely in her future. 

Prior to becoming Bar Director at Rich Table, Marisa spent many years at The Future Bars group, in management positions at downtown cocktail bars, Local Edition and Pagan Idol. It was at these venues that she really honed her talent for creating cocktails, continuously contributing to the menus, while winning various cocktail competitions, and even earning a publication. 

When the opportunity arose at Rich Table for Marisa to create a constantly changing drinks menu, using only locally sourced seasonal ingredients, it seemed like a daunting challenge, and a no-brainer all at the same time. As a result, Marisa has been on a path of exponential growth as her menu continues to evolve, with a dash of ingenuity and a generous pour of passion.