What's Eric Eating Episode 89

Meet the mind behind Tasting Room and Max's, plus killer crawfish

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," Jerry Lasco, founder and CEO of Lasco Enterprises, joins CultureMap food editor to discuss his three restaurants: The Tasting Room, Max's Wine Dive, and Sing. The conversation begins with Lasco explaining how being laid off from his job as a Continental Airlines pilot led him and his wife, Laura, to open the first Tasting Room in 2003. Inspired by a restaurant in New York and one of their favorite dive bars, they opened Max's Wine Dive in 2006.

Early success prompted Lasco to open Max's locations in cities like Atlanta, Kansas City, and Chicago, but only the Denver outpost remains from those attempts to expand out of state. Since the restaurant remains popular in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, Sandler asks Lasco if he plans to try again to take the concept elsewhere.

"That's a great question. The restaurant industry has changed," Lasco says. "It's tricky. We're trying to figure that out. It's no fun shutting restaurants down. I've been doing this for 16 years now. You hope you learn some lessons along the way, and most of the lessons are from mistakes you've made. If you were successful all the time, you probably wouldn't learn anything. Either you knew it already or you were just lucky. I don't know, Eric. We'll see."

Towards the end of the conversation, Lasco discusses how Sing has moved forward since the departure of chef and co-founder Cuc Lam as well as the lessons he's learned from some of the talented chefs and sommeliers who have worked for him over the years.

Prior to Lasco joining the show, Sandler and co-host Linda Salinas discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: the news that the James Beard Foundation will announce the finalists for its annual awards from Houston; the plans to transform Star Fish into 1751 Sea and Bar; Bravery Chef Hall hiring David Cedeno to run its cocktail bar; and whether the media played a role in Rhotey Rotisserie closing.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Sandler and Salinas share some of their recent crawfish meals. Salinas praises Midtown restaurant Saigon House as a favorite, while Sandler sings the praises of the weekend crawfish boils at La Lucha.

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The news of the week includes Bravery Chef Hall's cocktail bar.

Courtesy image

The news of the week includes Bravery Chef Hall's cocktail bar.

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family-friendly outdoor bar

Massive, German-inspired beer garden coming to new Energy Corridor project

Photo by Eric Sandler

The new beer garden will be similar to Katy Beer Garden.

One of Houston’s most successful bar operators is bringing his talents to the Energy Corridor. Steven Salazar is opening Ashford Beer Garden at the Ashford Yard mixed-use development.

Slated to open in early 2026, Ashford Beer Garden will build on the success Salazar has had with Katy Beer Garden, the project he opened last summer at The Dryer, a mixed-use development on the property of Katy’s historic Cardiff Rice Dryer. Like KBG, Ashford Beer Garden will be large — roughly 21,000 square feet — divided into a 10,000-square-foot indoor beer hall with a companion cocktail bar and a 11,000-square-foot outdoor beer garden that’s shaded by trees.

“We’re sticking with that Bavarian charm,” Salazar says about his vision for Ashford Beer Garden. “Bring your family. It’s really relaxed. The kids are playing. You have multiple generations hanging out. It’s worked well in Katy. We’re excited to bring it to a new area.”

Of course, the new project will make some improvements on the original. Most importantly, Ashford will have a full kitchen (KBG mostly relies on food trucks and a nearby food court). Salazar says he’s looking for a chef to lead the kitchen.

In response to customer demand for private event space, Ashford Beer Garden will also have a larger second floor patio than KBG does. The beer garden will have a larger screen to make it easier for people to watch sports.

Located on the site of a former Schlumberger campus near the intersection of Dairy Ashford Rd. and Briar Forest Dr., Ashford Yard is a 12.7-acre development that will include apartments, restaurants, and retail tenants. Salazar says he found his values aligned with the projects developers, Houston real estate firms Market Square Companies and Tenon Property Company.

“We have a similar vision of quality for the community and creating a space and having great neighbors. Not being a strip center but a true development that’s above and beyond what the area has to offer,” Salazar says. Later, he adds, “It seems great for us to be surrounded by companies such as Shell and Baker Hughes and all these great neighborhoods."

news-you-can-eat openings craft-beer ashford beer garden

What's Eric Eating Episode 89

Meet the mind behind Tasting Room and Max's, plus killer crawfish

The news of the week includes Bravery Chef Hall's cocktail bar.

Houston's most pretty-in-pink restaurant quietly closes in Upper Kirby

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New Houston pizzeria serves up slices and vintage vibes in the East End

family-friendly outdoor bar

Massive, German-inspired beer garden coming to new Energy Corridor project