On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Nick Adair and Katie Adair Barnhart join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss Adair Concepts. The brother-and-sister duo lead a growing hospitality group that includes Adair Kitchen, Los Tios, Skeeters, Bebidas, and more.
The conversation begins with Nick Adair explaining his interest in entering the business founded by his father Gary. Katie and Nick teamed up to open the first location of Adair Kitchen in 2012. From there, the company has grown steadily, including a big step forward in 2023 when they brought Los Tios to the former Buca di Beppo space in West U.
Recently, Los Tios opened a new location in Fredericksburg, which it will follow with the company’s first outpost in San Antonio later this year. Adair explains that he knows the town well, since his in-laws live there. The restaurant is off to a strong start.
“‘Vintage’ and ‘old school’ and those kind of words are stuff people are trying to replicate. Every one wants to feel old, especially in the Tex-Mex space,” Adair says. “Our oldness has turned into an asset. It’s a heritage brand now. We don’t have to fake trying to look and feel old. It really is that. It’s got 50 years of tried-and-true patina on it in all the right ways.”
Listen to the full episode to hear the siblings discuss the changes they’ve made at Buffalo Grille since they acquired it last year. They also discuss the recent hiring of Diego Fernandez to be the group’s culinary director.
In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Chelsea Thomas discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: Burger Chan owners Diane and Willet Feng bringing in a new operating partner; Long Weekend, a cowboy-inspired restaurant opening soon in Lazybrook/Timbergrove; and chef Jane Wild’s new cafe in the Heights.
In the restaurant of the week segment, Thomas and Sandler discuss their recent meal at Perseid, Aaron Bludorn’s French-inspired restaurant at the Hotel Saint Augustine. Tune in to hear their thoughts on the restaurant’s design and some of their favorite dishes from the meal.
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