Our Team
Nuestro Equipo — the people who make Libertad the kind of neighborhood spot you come back to without an occasion.
Marcos Rivera
Chef/Owner
Marcos Rivera grew up, quite literally, in the restaurant business, working from a very young age at his father’s Las Palmas family of restaurants. After collegiate studies and work in several fields, he returned to the family business in 2002, to assist in the opening of the first downtown location of Las Palmas, in Chicago’s Wicker Park.
There he brought in Chefs and Mixologists and a new Las Palmas emerged, garnering awards and accolades as a Nuevo Latino hot spot. In 2011, Marcos stepped out, to open Libertad in his home town of Skokie. He and his wife Leo have been warmly welcoming both loyal guests and newcomers to the award-winning Libertad ever since. Having always sought out the brightest and best, he is so excited for the future with this creative team.
Brando Saenz
Executive Chef, Libertad Skokie
Israel Ruiz
Executive Chef, Libertad Sur
Ziyad Asrar
Mixologist
Libertad’s specialty cocktails are crafted by renowned mixologist Ziyad Asrar. His program leans on Latin and modern twists — mezcal, tequila and amaro alongside tamarind, guajillo and corn — and is built to wake up and shake up the senses.
Shebnem Ince
Sommelier
Our wine list is compiled by sommelier Shebnem Ince. Tightly defined rather than sprawling, it moves through Spain, Portugal, Greece, Mexico, Chile and the West Coast to offer a genuine taste of Latin America and the Old World it converses with.