CHICAGO, November 10, 2025 — Two past Silver Plate winners will need to find space on their trophy shelves for some additional hardware. Both Dick Rivera and Phil Hickey have been named winners of their respective state restaurant association’s lifetime achievement award.
Rivera was chosen for the honor by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, while Hickey was selected by the Georgia Restaurant Association.
Both had won Silver Plates in the Chain Full-service category. Rivera was honored with the award in 1994 while leading LongHorn Steakhouse. Hickey was selected in 2020 as Chairman of Miller’s Ale House.
The affiliation of each at the time of their selection was only one facet of the long careers they’ve logged in casual dining.
Rivera chose a restaurant career over law school after working at Steak and Ale, an early entrant in the casual field. He would go on to hold senior executive positions at several full-service chains, including Red Lobster, TGI Friday’s, Chart House, Applebee’s, and El Chico. As president of Darden Restaurants, he also oversaw Olive Garden.
He remains active in the business, heading a company that owns and operates 26 restaurants nationwide. The concern, Rubicon Enterprises, has an affiliation with Corner Bar, parent of the Marlow’s Tavern chain, and Metz Enterprises, a management company. Both Corner Bar and Metz are ventures of the Metz family, whose members have collectively won three Silver Plates and a Gold.
In addition to Miller’s, which is now owned by Roark Capital, Hickey has served as CEO of Rare Hospitality, the multi-chain operator that was acquired by Darden Restaurants in 2007 for $1.4 billion. Its brands included The Capital Grille and LongHorn Steakhouse.
Both men have served as chairman of the National Restaurant Association, Rivera in 2007 and Hickey in 2013.
Both remain active in their state restaurant associations.
As Managing Editor for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Romeo is responsible for generating the group's news and feature content. He brings more than 40 years of experience in covering restaurants to the position.