Urban Italia, a well-known destination for authentic Italian dining and premium hospitality in Dallas, has announced the appointment of Naveen Kandhol as its new Food and Beverage Manager.

With over a decade of experience across luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and leading beverage companies in India, Naveen brings strong expertise in food and beverage operations, beverage programme development, guest engagement, team leadership, and revenue optimisation.

In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing restaurant and bar operations, managing departmental budgets, driving profitability, curating innovative beverage menus, strengthening inventory and cost controls, and leading staff training initiatives to enhance overall guest experience. He will also collaborate closely with the culinary team to design curated food and beverage pairings that elevate Urban Italia’s dining offerings.

Speaking on his appointment, Naveen Kandhol said,“I am excited to join Urban Italia and contribute to its commitment to delivering exceptional dining experiences. I look forward to creating innovative beverage programs, strengthening operational excellence, and building memorable experiences for our guests.”

Prior to this role, Naveen served as Key Accounts Manager at Piccadily Agro Industries Limited, where he handled the Indri Indian Single Malt and Camikara Rum portfolios across Delhi and Haryana. His work included cocktail innovation using Indian ingredients, bartender training programmes, research and development initiatives, and brand collaborations to strengthen market engagement.

His career journey also includes leadership roles at Townhall New Delhi as Food and Beverage Manager, where he successfully increased beverage sales through contemporary cocktail innovation and strategic premium brand partnerships. He has also held key positions at Novelle Shangri-La New Delhi, Whisky Samba Gurugram, and The Fatty Bao New Delhi.

Known for his creativity in beverage development, strong operational discipline, and leadership capabilities, Naveen has consistently contributed to improving guest satisfaction, enhancing operational efficiency, and building high-performing hospitality teams.

Urban Italia stated that Naveen’s extensive industry experience and passion for hospitality will play a key role in strengthening the restaurant’s position as one of Dallas’ preferred dining destinations.