How Many Restaurants Does Dana Cree Have?

Dana Cree Restaurants: Key Takeaways

Dana Cree currently owns one restaurant-themed venue worldwide, located in the United States.
She does not own any Michelin-starred restaurants but has extensive experience working at top Michelin-starred establishments.
Her primary business ownership is Pretty Cool Ice Cream, a specialty frozen novelties shop in Chicago.
The ice cream shop offers affordable frozen treats with a price range of $3–$6 per person.

Chef Dana Cree is renowned in the culinary world for her pastry expertise and her work in acclaimed fine dining restaurants globally. Although she primarily gained acclaim through her roles in various high-end kitchens, she currently owns one restaurant venture.

This article explores Dana Cree’s current restaurant ownership, focusing on her ice cream shop, Pretty Cool Ice Cream. We’ll cover her professional background, current business, and how her culinary influence translates to this unique concept.

Dana Cree Restaurants: Global Presence and Restaurant Count

Dana Cree’s restaurant ownership is currently limited to one venue, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, located in Chicago, Illinois. Her focus has been on a single specialty shop rather than a broad chain or multiple establishments.

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Unlike many celebrity chefs who run dozens of restaurants globally, Dana’s enterprise consists of an artisanal frozen novelties shop, reflecting her expertise as a pastry chef and dessert innovator.

Region	Approx. Number of Restaurants	Notable Examples
United States	1	Pretty Cool Ice Cream (Chicago, IL)

Note: Dana Cree’s business is private, with no franchising or licensing reported. The single location in Chicago serves as a flagship of her brand presence.

Michelin-Starred Flagship Restaurants

Although Dana Cree has worked extensively at Michelin-starred restaurants including Spago, The Fat Duck, Noma, Kadeau, Alinea, and others, she does not own any Michelin-starred restaurant herself.

Her career has been defined by pastry leadership roles at these prestigious venues, but her ownership focus lies elsewhere.

Therefore, there are no Michelin-starred flagship restaurants directly operated by Dana Cree to list.

For those interested in the details behind Michelin-starred establishments, check out restaurant Michelin stars statistics to understand their impact and prestige.

Notable Dana Cree Restaurant Concepts and Locations

Her primary concept under ownership is the innovative ice cream shop, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, which showcases her pastry creativity in a fast-casual setting.

Pretty Cool Ice Cream

Founded in 2018 in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, Pretty Cool Ice Cream specializes in artisanal frozen treats. The shop offers a unique menu featuring ice cream bars, popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, and push pops.

Dana Cree launched this concept in partnership with Michael Ciapciak, known for his work with Bang Bang Pie, blending expert pastry skills with outstanding frozen dessert craft.

The pricing is accessible, with treats typically ranging from $3 to $6 per person, making it a popular destination for casual customers seeking gourmet frozen novelties.

Pretty Cool Ice Cream exemplifies Dana Cree’s shift from fine dining pastry chef to creator of accessible, high-quality dessert experiences in a fun, neighborhood setting.

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Dana Cree Restaurant Empire: Conclusion

In conclusion, Dana Cree owns a focused culinary business centered on one ice cream shop in Chicago — Pretty Cool Ice Cream.

This venture translates her renowned pastry expertise into a single specialty venue rather than a widespread restaurant empire.

While she lacks Michelin-starred restaurants under her ownership, her extensive experience working at internationally acclaimed fine dining institutions underscores her culinary credentials.

Her ownership structure is straightforward, with no franchising or licensing involved, emphasizing artisanal quality over scale.

Dana Cree’s influence is evident in this unique offering, which has become a staple in its Chicago community and highlights her innovative frozen novelties approach.

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01. How involved is Dana Cree in day-to-day restaurant operations?

Dana Cree is actively involved in the creative direction and operations of Pretty Cool Ice Cream, her single ice cream shop located in Chicago.

As the owner and pastry expert, she oversees product development, recipe creation, and ingredient sourcing while collaborating with her team for daily service.

Given the shop’s relatively small size and focused concept, she maintains a hands-on role compared to chefs who manage large multi-location empires.

02. Are Dana Cree’s restaurants expensive—and which ones offer the best value?

With only one ice cream shop under her ownership, Dana Cree offers an accessible price point, ranging from $3 to $6 per frozen treat.

This makes Pretty Cool Ice Cream affordable and great value for customers seeking high-quality artisanal desserts without fine dining prices.

03. How does Dana Cree choose new cities or countries for expansion?

Currently, Dana Cree has not publicly announced plans for expansion beyond her single Chicago location.

Her approach appears focused on perfecting and growing her flagship shop rather than franchising or opening new venues in other cities.

04. Are Dana Cree restaurants sustainable or locally sourced?

While specific sustainability initiatives are not widely documented, Pretty Cool Ice Cream emphasizes quality ingredients and careful sourcing.

Given Dana Cree’s culinary background and artisan approach, it is likely there is attention to local and seasonal ingredients where possible, though large-scale certifications or sustainability programs are not publicly detailed.

05. Can you book Dana Cree’s restaurants online—and are there loyalty programs?

Pretty Cool Ice Cream operates as a casual walk-in ice cream shop without a formal reservation system.

Customers typically purchase treats directly in-store, and there is no known loyalty program associated with the shop.

Given the single-location and casual nature, online booking or loyalty membership is uncommon for this type of venue.