Donna Lennard Of il Buco Restaurant On 90s Nostalgia, Thoughtful Expansion, And Hard-Earned Success

Radio Cherry Bombe

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Restaurants, 591312, Business, Arts, Food Radio, Interviews, Kerry Diamond, Female Chefs, Radio Cherry Bombe, Entrepreneurs, Society & Culture, Women, Careers, Women In Food, Food, Cherry Bombe Magazine, Talk Radio, Chefs, Restaurateurs

4.6 • 592 Ratings

🗓️ 6 April 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

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Summary

Today’s guest is Donna Lennard, the founder of il Buco and one of the defining figures of downtown New York dining. Since opening il Buco in 1994, Donna has slowly and thoughtfully built a hospitality group founded on passion, great ingredients, and welcoming vibes. The business includes il Buco Alimentari in NYC, il Buco outposts in Amagansett and Ibiza, il Buco Vita shops, and a line of il Buco pantry staples. She joins host Kerry Diamond to share the story of how il Buco came to be, and the personal journey that led her from a career in film to hospitality. She reflects on hiring and leadership, why doing what you love is her guiding principle, the dish that’s never leaving the menu (hello, kale salad), and the food world legend she’d want with her on a desert island. This interview was recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center. Cherry Bombe on Substack Our new Mom’s the Bombe issue Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, tickets to upcoming events, and more. More on Donna: Instagram, il Buco, il Buco Vita More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, everybody. You're listening to Radio Cherry Bomb, and I'm your host, Carrie Diamond,
0:09.9	coming to you from my apartment in Brooklyn, New York. Today's guest is Donna Leonard,
0:15.0	the founder of Ilbuco, one of the restaurants that define New York's downtown scene in the 1990s and that remains popular to this day.
0:24.0	Donna joins me to share how Il Bucco came to be, what she learned from her time at legendary New York restaurants like Chantarell,
0:31.2	and how she slowly built her restaurant group over time.
0:35.0	We chat about the amazing chef she's worked with, including Jody Williams
0:38.3	and Sarah Jenkins, her thoughtful approach to hospitality and hiring and how she's finally
0:43.4	able to enjoy some of her success. Donna's story, it turns out, is anything but straightforward.
0:49.7	She started out in film, having studied at NYU, went through profound personal loss at a young age,
0:55.7	and ultimately found her way into the restaurant world, almost by accident.
1:00.0	Today, her hospitality group includes the original Il Bucco and Ilbuco Alimentari in New York City,
1:06.5	spin-offs in Amagansett and Abiza, and an Il-Bucco product line featuring olive oils, vinegars, and other pantry
1:13.8	staples. Our interview was recorded at Newsdance Studios at Rockefeller Center. Stay tuned for my chat with
1:20.2	Donna Leonard. Our Jubilee conference is less than three weeks away. I cannot believe it. If you bought a
1:27.0	ticket, be sure to check your inbox for an
1:28.8	email from us with information about the breakout sessions, how to access your QR code for admission,
1:34.2	the attendee form, and more. If you haven't bought your ticket, don't delay. Jubilee is taking place
1:39.6	on Saturday, April 25th at the Glass House in New York City. We'll be sharing the talent lineup,
1:45.0	the menu, and the book signing schedule very soon. Also, if you're a Jubilee newbie or you want a
1:51.3	refresher, don't miss the Jubilee pregame on Wednesday, April 15th at 3 p.m. on Zoom.
1:57.8	Donnie N and I will once again be hosting. If you've been to one of our past pre-games,
2:02.1	you know it's a good time and very informative. We go over everything you need to know about Jubilee
	...

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