Chef Josh Finger is co-owner and executive chef of Claudine, the 26-seat tasting-menu restaurant he opened with his wife, pastry chef Maggie McConnell, in downtown Providence in June 2025. Named for Finger’s mother, Claudine serves a market-driven nine-course menu grounded in classic French technique, with a focus on seafood and ingredients from the Northeast. It was named a 2026 James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.
Finger grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia, watching his mother work as a restaurant server and manager. At 16, he took an unpaid stage at a local bistro. After high school, he moved to New York City and cooked at David Chang’s Momofuku Noodle Bar and Chefs Club before joining Thomas Keller’s Per Se as a commis. He eventually rose to executive sous chef.
Finger met McConnell at Per Se in 2018. After leaving the restaurant together at the end of 2022, they moved to Rhode Island and developed Claudine through pop-ups and collaboration dinners. At Claudine, Finger leads the savory side of the kitchen, creating menus that change frequently around the best ingredients available.
