Owners
Eric "Bernie" Bernstrom (Director of Entertainment)
Eric Bernstrom is the co-founder of TONIC Restaurant and bar, an American bistro, serving comfort food in a neighborhood environment. At 32, Bernie has 21 years of experience in the food industry. At 11, he took his first job as a dishwasher in a small neighborhood restaurant on the coast of California and has worked every possible position since. To include; busboy, line cook, server, bartender, and manager. He has worked in many different types of settings as well. Everything from neighborhood bars, multi level nightclubs, costal vacation destinations, French bistro, to fine dining. From private to corporate, Bernie has done it all. He has been involved in the opening/ build out for several concepts. From the opening team at TGI Fridays (National Airport), to the Kimpton Groups Topaz, Rouge, and Helix lounges, to the opening of his second restaurant, RADIUS, a New York style pizzeria.
After graduating high school, Bernie joined the United States Marine Corps. Upon leaving the Marine Corps, he moved to the DC area in the ladder part of 1994. He holds a bachelors degree in Culinary Arts/ Restaurant Management from NOVA community college. Bernie's love for the service industry is incorporated into his private life. He has many gatherings at his own house and is well known for his "Misfits Holiday" where people from all over the country will come and celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas with their "Family". Bernie started this tradition over 10 years ago when many of his friends in the DC area could not afford to go home to visit their families. He bore the expense of all the main dishes and told everyone else to bring what they could. On that first Thanksgiving only 7 people arrived. The number is now over 100! Nothing can bring people together for a good time like good food and drink.
Jeremy Pollok (Chief Operating Officer)
Jeremy Pollok is a graduate of George Washington University class of 94, offers half a lifetime of experience in the food service industry. He took his first job as a busboy in a small Italian restaurant and has since worked in every imaginable positions and environment. Everything from Small mom and pop restaurants to large corporate trendy hotels. He worked his way through college at some local GW Restaurants including GG flipp's, Mike Baker's as well as Bertucci's Restaurant. After Graduating he opened his first business running food concession stands at golf courses and swim clubs. Never satisfied with the status qou, Jeremy quickly moved onto his first restaurant in Brooklyn New York. By the summer of 2001 Jeremy had two thriving restaurants in the Brooklyn, Harvest and Harvest Market. Returning to Washington in earl 2002, Jeremy quickly got to work on opening restaurants and bars for the Kimpton hotel group and was involved in the opening of the Rouge, Helix, and Topaz lounges. With co founder Eric Bernstrom Jeremy open Tonic Restaurant in 2003 and it quickly grew into a neighborhood intuition some wondered allowed what they did before Tonic. Soon after with new partner Ilias Nathanial the trio opened Radius pizza a thriving pizza joint in Mount Pleasant. Jeremy gives 100% to every project he takes on, or he doesn't take it on period.
Jeremy loves to entertain, even during his leisure time. His off time is spent making dinner for family, reading about wine and food, as well as normal household chores, of course! Jeremy's love of the service stems from that very concept of family togetherness and the idea that food and drink are two of the most unifying concepts know to man. They are not only essential to survival, but also to the proliferation of people and culture. They allow us to unwind and enjoy both pleasures of the senses as well as belonging. This is the driving force behind Jeremy's desire to bring people together and show them a good time.