Originally from Long Island, New York, Dave Bonner spent his early part of his career as a butcher. At the shop, Dave started dabbling in alchemy: turning affordable cuts into products that would disappear in hours from the case. He continued exploring this concept with his introduction to fire; his first love, which ultimately led to him falling in love with barbecue next.

Working out of a butcher shop he started his own barbecue catering company “Body by BBQ.” Ready for bigger things, Dave moved to Chicago to become the head chef at Green Street Smoked Meats in 2017. Green Street Smoked Meats is located down a brick paved alley in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. The nationally acclaimed Green Street Smoked Meats beckons guests with rock music and house smoked, Central Texas-inspired BBQ served at the counter in a warehouse-style restaurant.

Dave’s dedication to his craft, passion for the BBQ community and desire to bring Green Street into the national BBQ conversation, he was then promoted to partner for Green Street in 2020. Dave continues to hone in on his craft along with his dedicated team. In 2022, he won the “Culinary Innovator of year award” from Certified Angus Beef along with becoming a brand ambassador. In 2024, Green Street was recognized as one of the Top 50 Texas-Style BBQ Joints Outside the Lone Star State.