Larry Schepici Joins Jack’s Oyster House as Executive Chef

ALBANY, New York – Jack’s Oyster House, an Albany tradition since 1913, is pleased to announce the appointment of Larry Schepici as Executive Chef.  Chef Larry will oversee the entire culinary team for the dining rooms and banquets.

With over 25 years of culinary experience, Larry has showcased his talents throughout his career, garnering numerous awards on the way. In addition to winning Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals, he has been voted “Chef of the Year” by the American Culinary Federation. His travels led him to the Tavern at Sterup Square, located outside Troy, NY, where he won several awards, including earning the prestigious DiRonA Award of excellence for four consecutive years. 

Among the numerous other awards Chef Larry has earned, he also represented and brought home a Bronze Medal for the United States at the Hotelympia 2000 Salon Culinaire "Master Chefs Grand Prix." While executive chef of Sargo's at Saratoga National Golf Club, Larry was awarded a "Perfect Emphatic Four Star Rating" by Bill Dowd of the Times Union and he was the recipient of the Prestigious Four Diamond Award from AAA, making Sargo's one of the only restaurants in the Northeast to hold that status.

In 2006, Larry ventured out on his own, opening three different locations in downtown Troy: the casual Illium Café, the upscale restaurant Tosca and the gourmet market Tosca Etc. Schepici was not only an entrepreneur but extremely active in the Troy community.  

“We have a history of sharing the culinary creations of Upstate New York’s finest chefs with our guests, and we’re proud to add Larry to that storied list,” said third-generation owner Brad Rosenstein.  “He is the best kind of chef – one who honors the history of cuisine while at the same time looking forward with creativity and imagination of what its future can be.”

“I hold the highest standards for my team and my food,” Chef Larry said. “I needed to be at a place where the service was held to those same standards.  Jack’s Oyster House is the first restaurant in the Capital Region that comes to my mind when you talk about best-in-class service.”

Larry Schepici joined the Jack’s Oyster House team shortly after the previous head chef, Luc Pasquier, left to put more focused efforts on his growing culinary consulting business.

“It was a happy match of perfect timing,” Rosenstein said, “We’ve always had our eye on Larry, but never with an opening that coincided with his availability until now.”

Larry officially began his work at Jack’s on August 15.  An open house event will be held in September to officially introduce Larry to guests of Jack’s Oyster House.

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Opened in 1913 by Jack Rosenstein and located at 42 State Street in downtown Albany, Jack’s Oyster House has been continuously operated by the same family and is now under the direction of grandson, Brad.  As written by author Professor Dennis Reynolds of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, Brad Rosenstein “has redefined restaurant service to such an extent that his operation's reputation has achieved national acclaim.”