‘When I was 17, I took over the reigns of my mother’s restaurant in the heart of Brussels while she was on vacation. By the time she came back, I knew that this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life’

Yves Jadot left his native Brussels in 1985 at the age of 18 to chase a dream across the Atlantic. He began his journey in the United States at La Crémaillère, one of upstate New York’s renowned fine-dining restaurants. With dedication, curiosity and an unstoppable work ethic, he quickly rose through the ranks before making his way to Manhattan.

After years of learning the business and managing some of New York City’s busiest establishments, Yves decided it was time to create something of his own. His first venture was Petite Abeille, which grew from a single neighborhood restaurant into a successful chain and became a staple of the New York City dining scene.

That first leap of faith laid the foundation for what would eventually become YJR Group — a hospitality company built on passion, instinct, hard work and a simple philosophy: create places where people genuinely want to be.

Today, YJR Group operates seven distinctive venues across two continents: three Dear Irving locations and two Raines Law Room locations in New York City, Confessions in Brussels, and SOAN in Ghent.

More than four decades after first stepping behind the bar and into the dining room, Yves remains driven by the same thing that captured him at 16: the energy of hospitality, the people behind it, and the pleasure of making every guest feel welcome.