A world-traveled chef pairs fine-dining acumen with a laid-back atmosphere in one of By Landmark’s signature new restaurant concepts.

BY ERIK SCHONING • PHOTOS BY ALEX BARRETO

Many chefs talk about global influences in their cooking; few, however, can back it up with the experience of Chef Johny Johnson. The executive chef of By Landmark’s Maddy Rose in New Hope has traveled many culinary roads. At Maddy Rose, Chef Johnson is serving up world-class flavors in relaxed, riverside digs.

Chef Johnson got his culinary education in one of the world’s true foodie capitals: Dubai. After a couple part-time restaurant jobs in his native India, the young chef decided to get serious about cooking and moved to Dubai. A graduate of Emirates Academy, one of the world’s top culinary schools, he got his start at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, the iconic sail-shaped hotel and cornerstone of the City of Gold skyline, where he worked in a French kitchen. After landing stateside in 2019, he sharpened his chef’s knife at some of New Jersey’s premier dining destinations, including Harvest Group’s Roots Steakhouse and 1776 by David Burke.

Chef Johnson was brought on by the Landmark team to open Maddy Rose, a signature waterfront dining experience near and dear to Landmark founders Jeanne and Frank Cretella; the restaurant is named after their daughter. Both Maddy Rose locations, in New Hope and Jersey City, aim for a communal, warm dining experience with spectacular water views.
It’s a long way from Dubai, but Chef Johnson brings a fine-dining rigor to every dish he creates. The vision was clear from the outset: a fresh, balanced menu with locally sourced produce, top-tier seafood, and a few exciting surprises along the way.
“We mix the menu with a little bit of Asian, Mediterranean, and American cuisine,” said the chef. “We get a lot of regular customers, people coming in three to four times a month. People always want to try something new, different flavors. That’s why we have everything on the menu.”

Chef Johnson’s menu is varied yet concise, drawing inspiration from Australian café culture, classic Italian trattoria cuisine (cavatelli Bolognese, the fan-favorite whipped burrata with peach, duck prosciutto, arugula, and focaccia), the New York steakhouse (prime rib, baby iceberg wedge), Mediterranean mezze spreads, and Japanese fish preparations.
The secret, as with so many great chefs, is simplicity. Chef Johnson prioritizes quality ingredients, working with his suppliers to ensure only the freshest fish is brought in daily. In fact, Chef Johnson’s daily specials have become a secondary menu in their own right, giving the chef the opportunity to showcase fish like Australian wild sea bass and Alaskan sockeye salmon in raw or grilled preparations. One of Chef Johnson’s standout introductions, the citrus grilled shrimp, pairs jumbo shrimp with lemon butter, capers, and parsley.

“We have our riverside patio, so we’re focusing a little more on seafood,” Chef Johnson said. “The preparations are very simple because for me, there’s flavor in the fish. We grill the fish with just salt and pepper, and we add a touch of something to match the fish, like a sauce or a vegetable. That’s what people like, and we sell a lot.”

Fish in all its forms adorn the menu, from yellowfin tuna steak with chili ponzu sauce to Alaskan cod fish and chips. Chef Johnson also partners with local farms to bring fresh produce to the table. With summer in full bloom, that includes peak tomatoes, microgreens, and lots of baby vegetables, whose delicate flavors and tenderness pair perfectly with freshly grilled fish.
But as any seasoned chef knows, the menu is only part of the story. Since joining the By Landmark empire last year, Chef Johnson has invested in his relationships with staff to help bring his vision for Maddy Rose to life.

“It was very important for me to build a good team,” Chef Johnson said. “My line cooks are flexible; they come to the restaurant with different cuisine styles and learn when I teach. The front of house is important because they are the ones connecting with the customer. We are all team players, and it’s going very well.”

Maddy Rose in New Hope was always meant to feel like home. Since opening, the restaurant has established a strong following in the community as an all-occasion drop-in spot, a sort of riverside retreat in the heart of town. For Chef Johnson, it’s been a long and circuitous route to Maddy Rose. Whatever might come next, he’s excited to grow in his role and in the By Landmark family, perhaps even opening a breakfast/lunch concept of his own one day.

“I joined By Landmark because it’s a great hospitality group to grow your career,” Chef Johnson said. “You feel like you’re working for your own family here. It’s not just a job. The community is very strong.”

From Dubai to New Hope, Chef Johnson has picked up valuable skills and perspectives at every stop along the way. From four-star hotels in the Middle East to some of New Jersey’s premier restaurant groups, he brings an incredible wealth of experience and knowledge to Maddy Rose. Don’t let the casual ambiance and the sleepy flow of the Delaware River fool you: this is world-class dining with global pedigree.

Maddy Rose — 22 N Main Street, New Hope, PA • 76 Audrey Zapp Dr Fl 1, Jersey City
bylandmark.com/restaurants/maddy-rose