From Dishwasher to Executive Chef: Julio Cisneros Elevates Downtown Houston Dining
Houston’s downtown dining scene is brighter thanks to Executive Chef Julio Cisneros, the culinary force behind The Downtown Club at The Met. For years, he’s been creating inspired dishes for members, drawing on an international background and a personal story that started far from Houston.
Originally from Nicaragua, Cisneros moved to Houston more than 40 years ago. He has spent decades building a career with Invited Clubs, working in some of the city’s most respected private clubs and restaurants. His journey from dishwasher to executive chef is a powerful reminder of what hard work, mentorship, and passion can do.
“Ever since I was growing up, I used to help mom at home,” he recalls. “I used to get in the kitchen and try to help her to make lunch for dad or dinner for everybody.”
Those early moments in his mother’s kitchen lit a spark that would eventually shape his life in Houston.
A Chance Opportunity That Changed Everything
Cisneros did not arrive in Houston planning to be a chef. He came from a family of watchmakers and landed here without speaking English, with no culinary career in mind.
In 1983, a friend helped him get a dishwashing job at the Heritage Club. That’s where everything shifted.
His work ethic caught the attention of a German Master Chef who became his mentor.
“He told me, ‘You go to school and learn English, I will give you a dollar every time you bring me a certificate and I’ll change you to a different position,’” Cisneros says.
That simple deal launched his climb through the kitchen ranks. Over the next nine years, he trained under his mentor and learned the foundations of French, Italian, German, American, Caribbean, and Asian cuisines.
Today, he proudly calls himself an international chef.
“I like to call myself an international chef. I cook food from all over the world,” he says.
Cooking for the Eyes First
One of the most important lessons Cisneros picked up early on is that great food isn’t just about flavor.
“People don’t eat with their mouth. People eat with their eyes first,” he explains.
That philosophy guides everything from how he builds a menu to how he plates a single entrée. Consistency matters just as much as creativity.
“If I make 100 plates, 100 plates will look exactly the same. Every piece of something will be positioned the same way as the other,” he says.
For Cisneros, the plate is his canvas.
“I love creating dishes and putting them on a plate. They make it look like a beautiful flower, a beautiful picture,” he adds.
This balance of precision and artistry is what members at The Downtown Club at The Met experience every day.
Leading Kitchens Across Houston
Over the decades, Cisneros’s career has taken him through several iconic Houston locations within the Invited Clubs family. He worked at the Plaza Club, which later became the Houston Club, serving as executive chef there for 12 years starting in the early 2000s.
He’s also stepped in to support other properties as needed, including country clubs and additional city clubs, even helping keep operations running during the pandemic.
But The Downtown Club keeps calling him back.
“I’ve been at that club as a chef three times. They keep bringing me back,” he laughs.
At The Downtown Club, General Manager Thomas Westbrook gave him the freedom to truly showcase his skills.
“I kept telling them, you know, we can do better. Just let me do what I want to do,” Cisneros says.
That trust led to daily specials that regularly sell out and raised the bar for the club’s dining experience.
Teaching the Next Generation of Chefs
Ask Cisneros what he’s most proud of, and he doesn’t start with awards or titles—he talks about his team.
He has built a loyal kitchen crew, including a sous chef who has worked with him for 25 years and a pantry cook who, like him, started as a dishwasher.
“I like teaching. I want to pay forward. A lot of people helped me on my way up,” he says.
Although he never attended culinary school, he invested in his own education. He bought cookbooks with every paycheck and studied on his own time. His dedication eventually earned him the title of Executive Chef through ClubCorp of America (now Invited).
“I didn’t go to culinary school, but I have taught so many chefs that came out of culinary school,” he says with pride.
For young cooks who want to follow in his footsteps, his advice is honest and direct:
“It’s hard work. It’s not easy. Sometimes you get overwhelmed, but if you do it from your heart, you will understand why I’m so picky,” he shares.
Feeding Houston’s Heart, One Plate at a Time
What keeps Cisneros going after all these years? The people he cooks for.
“It just fills my heart with happiness when they tell me, ‘This is the best fish or the best paella I’ve ever had,’” he says.
At The Downtown Club at The Met in downtown Houston, Chef Julio Cisneros continues to push standards higher, blending global flavors with Houston’s vibrant energy. Chef Cisneros leads the culinary program with the same passion and precision that have defined his four-decade career. Located in the heart of downtown Houston, the club is where Cisneros creates his signature international dishes, mentors the next generation of chefs, and connects with members who return again and again for his unforgettable flavors. Whether he’s crafting a sold-out daily special or guiding his team through a busy service, this is the place where his artistry truly comes to life.
He started by helping his mother cook simple meals for his family. Today, he leads a kitchen that serves business leaders, athletes, and community members from across the city—still cooking from the heart, still focused on excellence, and still inspiring the next generation.
His journey from a Nicaraguan kid in his mom’s kitchen to a respected Houston executive chef is more than a success story. It’s a full-circle reminder that passion, humility, and persistence can change a life—and a city’s culinary scene—one plate at a time.
Learn more about the club and its amenities at the official Houston City Beat page: https://houstoncitybeat.com/the-downtown-club-at-the-met/. For membership inquiries or additional information, you can call 713.652.0700, or visit www.invitedclubs.com.
