Daren Hamilton – General Manager

Daren joins Nel Centro with a background in restaurant management which began at the Italian and Mediterranean restaurants Serratto, Mingo and Pazzo. It was at Pazzo that he crossed paths with David Machado and eventually the two launched the popular Portland sister restaurant duo – Lauro and Vindalho.

As general manager at Nel Centro, Hamilton wears many hats. His day starts with tasting wine, the books and schedules, and when the doors for dinner open, he is the greeter and all-around troubleshooter. Hamilton doesn't think of the restaurant world as a business, but rather a labor of love. He especially enjoys the atmosphere and style of Nel Centro and loves looking over the dining room and seeing a sea of familiar faces night after night.

The People