Our Team

Heather Gleason & Dave Garry

When Heather Gleason opened Good Dog Bar back in 2003, after a five year stint in executive recruiting and several years in the restaurant business, she was just 28 years old, and doing everything from running the business to bartending at her new place. She needed a bartender, and she had one in mind—Dave Garry, bartender extraordinaire at The Standard Tap in Northern Liberties. Not only did Dave agree to join Heather at Good Dog, the two tied the knot in Vegas just a few short months later. Almost twenty one years later, the two are proprietors of Good Dog Bar in Philadelphia and Atlantic City. And they still like each other.

Greta, one of their dogs

Greta is a six-year-old lab/hound mix who, like her brother, loves snacks. While she’s willing to eat just about everything—from biscuits and bones to sweet potatoes and peanut butter—Greta’s very favorite snack is bananas. When she isn’t snacking, Greta loves to fetch, especially in the ocean. This girl is mad for water. Dog parents: Heather & Dave.

Tito, their other dog

Tito is a four-year-old pitbull/hound mix whose favorite space is the couch—any couch, inside or out—and his activity of choice is snuggling on said couch. In between snuggling sessions, Tito is super into snacking—it’s his second favorite pastime. Tito loves jerky, carrots, tomatoes, yogurt and watermelon, but his absolute favorite snack is a juicy pineapple. Dog parents: Heather & Dave.

Gabriel Aronow

Executive Chef

Gabe Aronow, the unofficial Mayor of Philadelphia, is the executive chef at Good Dog Bar, where he started as a sous chef in 2018. His employment at Good Dog was kismet—he helped his now-boss Heather Gleason open up Hard Rock Café in Philadelphia way back when he was a 17-year-old busboy, and later worked with Dave Garry at Standard Tap. If that weren’t enough, he worked with Good Dog's former Chef for over 25 years. When he’s not whipping up delicious grub, you might find him drinking tequila (Cazadores is his favorite), recommending the Good Dog Burger to hungry customers, or chilling with his dog, Cliff Lee.

Cliff Lee, Gabe’s dog

Cliff Lee, named after a former Phillies pitcher of the same name, is a German Shorthaired Pointer/Bluetick mix, who was rescued from Tennessee eleven years ago. An Aquarius, Cliff loves celebrating his January 21st birthday with long hikes in the woods, chasing squirrels, road trips and sleeping the day away. He’s also not averse to snacks. His favorites are street treats (anything found edible in the city) and the last bite of anything his Dog Dad is eating. He is not a fan of fireworks, gunshots or rain, so those will never be part of his birthday celebrations. Dog dad: Gabe Aranow

Jason Cornelius

Sous Chef

Meet Jason Cornelius, the skilled sous chef in the kitchen at Good Dog Bar Philadelphia. Born in a small town in Nebraska, Jason started working at age seven on a farm, doing everything from driving tractors to raising hogs. He briefly studied philosophy and political science at the University of Nebraska Lincoln but found motorcycles and whiskey more interesting than academia.

Jason’s culinary journey began in a biker bar and took him through bars, restaurants, and bakeries in Nebraska, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

With a self-taught, make-it-work attitude, Jason loves the innovative and evolving menu at Good Dog. He’s all about dishes that require finesse, believing presentation is key because we eat with our eyes first. During the pandemic, he explored global cuisine and fell in love with Asian street food, particularly larb and satay.

As for drinks, Jason has his favorites for each bar, from a highlife and blackberry brandy shot to a Manhattan or Negroni. And sometimes, he lets the bartender surprise him.

When not at Good Dog, Jason enjoys printmaking, writing music and short stories, building plastic model kits, hiking, reading, and the occasional doctor visit. Though he doesn't have a dog now, he fondly remembers a stray named Dog from his farm days.

Jeff Kile

General Manager
As General Manager of Good Dog Bar Philadelphia, Jeff Kile is a busy guy. Whether he’s opening the restaurant, walking to the bank, or chatting with customers, he’s almost always handling multiple things simultaneously, and keeping it pretty friendly. Not only has Jeff been at Good Dog Bar since 2008, doing everything from tending bar to running the beer program, he even met his wife Jenny Kile there. Jeff likes lots of things about Good Dog, particularly Fat Head Brewing Company Head Hunter (a West Coast IPA that’s almost always on tap at Good Dog), a Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the quinoa salad and poke bowl, which he eats on the regular. In his off time, Jeff likes hanging with Jenny cooking, eating, reading and movies, and drinking by large bodies of water (preferably the ocean but the Schuylkill will do in a pinch) and fixing things. It’s a little Zen and the Art of Restaurant Maintenance.

Harlan Joseph

Bar Manager
As the Good Dog Bar Manager responsible for the beer program, Harlan Joseph, who’s been at Good Dog since 2013, likes different beers during different seasons. In summer, he’s a big fan of Pilsners and IPAs, and is particularly digging *Tonewood Fuego, an IPA out of New Jersey, as well as Shacksbury Cider out of Vermont. And while Harlan likes Good Dog’s empanadas and poke bowl, he always recommends Chef's seafood specials whenever they’re available. A trained graphic designer, you can see his expertise in the Good Dog menus and promo posters. And when he’s not working or designing, he’s hanging with his wife, daughter and their cat, Clove.

Paul Rodella

Bar Manager

Hailing from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Paul joined the workforce early and has been in management roles for nearly 15 years. Before moving to Philadelphia, he managed an Art Deco Performing Arts Center in his hometown for eight years. Paul moved to Philadelphia with his paramour, Lauren Menn, as she embarked on a new career. After working various jobs around the city, he was grateful to join Good Dog Bar, thanks to owner Heather and GM Jeff.

Paul is about to celebrate his first-year anniversary at Good Dog in August. He loves the bar's chill neighborhood feel paired with insanely delicious upscale comfort food. Each floor of Good Dog offers a unique vibe, so there’s always something for everyone.

What does Paul rave about? The wings—hands down his favorite dish. When it comes to drinks, an Old Fashioned made by Zach hits the spot. At other bars, Paul usually orders a Hazy IPA and a shot of Irish Whiskey or Reposado, depending on his mood. He’s all about the talented and kind crew at Good Dog and lives for live music and time with his darling Lauren when he’s off duty.

And let's not forget Reginald, his super social furry friend with all-black fur who looks like a little shadow. Reginald loves making new friends and being the most adorable and sweet pet ever. Oh, and surprise, Reginald is a cat.