What's Eric Eating Episodes 396 and 397
Chef Ronnie Killen is ready to reclaim his crown as Houston's meat king
Ronnie Killen is this week's guest.
On this week’s episode of What’s Eric Eating, chef Ronnie Killen joins CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss his restaurant group. Killen has been a guest twice before — on the show’s second episode in 2017 and again in 2020 — so there’s quite a bit to catch up on.
Speaking with his usual candor, Killen details some of the health issues he’s been dealing with over the last three years. After undergoing multiple surgeries, he’s finally on the road to a sustained recovery.
Known for making Pearland a dining destination with his upscale steakhouse and being among the first Houston-area restaurants to serve craft barbecue, Killen acknowledges he may have fallen off the media radar a but, but he’s ready to get back in the spotlight.
“People say the barbecue place isn’t what it used to be. We don’t have the lines anyone. I didn’t want the lines. I wanted it to be approachable, not where people drive by it and see a two hour line. Our local people who come on a more frequent basis can’t wait two hours in line,” he says.
“When we first opened, we were a $3 million restaurant. Now we’re a $7 million restaurant. Would I throw away $4 million just to have a big line? No, I wouldn’t,” he adds.
Listen to the full episode to hear the chef opine on a number of other topics, including potential changes to Killen’s, his comfort food restaurant near the Heights and his recent departure from NRG Stadium. Sandler also shares memories of his first meal at the original Killen’s Steakhouse in 2008.
On this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Mary Clarkson discuss the news of the week. Their topics include the sudden closure of Japanese restaurant Molihua after only three months; Jonathan’s the Rub’s plans to add a fourth location in Cypress; and Winfield’s Chocolate Bar opening a new location just west of the Galleria.
For the restaurant of the week segment, they share first impressions of The Marigold Club, the French-influenced, English-inspired new restaurants from the owners of March and Rosie Cannonball. They discuss the restaurant’s eye-catching design and offer some opinions about their favorite dishes from chef Austin Waiter’s menu.
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