Josh Keeler
Executive Chef and Culinary Director of Oak Steakhouse
Josh Keeler is the Executive Chef and Culinary Director of Oak Steakhouse for The Indigo Road Hospitality Group.
Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and raised in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, Keeler discovered his passion for the kitchen early on. Drawn to cooking shows like Yan Can Cook and Martha Stewart Living, Keeler admired his sister who worked in professional kitchens, leaving a lasting impression on him. Finding his way to Vermont, Keeler enrolled at the New England Culinary Institute. Culinary school offered the structure and discipline he craved, and he quickly set his sights on building a meaningful career in hospitality.
After culinary school, Keeler honed his skills working at Stephen Starr’s acclaimed hospitality group, STARR Restaurants, in Philadelphia, where he experienced both the intense challenges and deep rewards of the industry and learning how to run a successful kitchen. In 2011, Keeler and his wife opened the former Two Boroughs Larder in Charleston, South Carolina, where he earned three James Beard Award nominations.
In his current role at Oak Steakhouse, Keeler honors the tradition of the steakhouse while giving it a fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced focus. To him, a steakhouse is more than a meal— it’s a quintessential American dining experience, where he aims to create a space where food, service, and atmosphere come together to bring people joy. Drawing from his own experience with bipolar disorder, Keeler is committed to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in the culinary industry by advocating for greater access to care, developing a support system within his team, and fostering a sense of community. As a mentor, Keeler is passionate about lifting his peers, leaving a lasting impact on their careers as chefs, and serving as a resource to help them achieve their goals.
In his free time, Keeler enjoys spending time with his wife Heather and their pet Shiba Inu, Georgie, exploring the woods or relaxing by the water.