Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, 69, the owner and founder of the eponymous steakhouse, died peacefully on Wednesday with his family by his side, following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS.
Biernat, a popular and beloved figure in the hospitality industry who was well-known for his charm and gracious demeanor, often greeted guests at the front door of Al Biernat’s with a compliment and a handshake. He loved meeting people, whether they were famous A-listers or just ‘regular folk,’ and it is said that he excelled at remembering names.
In a 2011 interview with NBC 5 DFW, Biernat’s nephew and restaurant manager, Brad Fuller, described Biernat as “the host of all hosts. He’s the nicest, most friendly guy. He’ll remember your name or what table you like, what you had last time you were in, whether that was last week or a year ago.”
The team at the Al Biernat’s Oaklawn location shared the news of his death on social media, noting that his “passion, dedication, and warmth created a dining experience unlike any other, one that felt like coming home to family.”
“For our team, Al was a constant inspiration, instilling in each of us a commitment to excellence, a genuine love for hospitality, and a belief in the power of a shared meal. His legacy lives on in every dish we serve, every guest we greet, and every memory created within these walls,” the message stated.
Biernat was born in Michigan, but first discovered his love for the restaurant business at age 18 while working as a bartender in Aspen, Colorado.
“I met the most interesting and diverse people from all over the globe,” he wrote in an email to The Dallas Morning News. “I had the rich and famous sitting at my bar every night.
“Being a bartender in Aspen was the best job for meeting people,” he wrote. “I knew what I wanted to do with my life after that: I wanted one day to have my own place.”
Biernat worked at various restaurants around the country before landing in Houston in 1978, where he helped open The Palm. He worked in a number of roles at The Palm restaurants in Houston and in California, before becoming the youngest general manager of all the restaurant’s locations when the Dallas location opened in 1984.
In 1998, Biernat struck out on his own, opening the first Al Biernat’s steakhouse in Oak Cliff. In 2017, he opened a second location in Far North Dallas. Over the years, many celebrities have dined at Al Biernat’s, from former presidents to professional athletes to A-list actors.
Biernat was diagnosed with ALS last December after experiencing symptoms for several months. As the muscle disease continued to progress, he began to have difficulty communicating, both verbally and electronically.
In one of his last posts on social media in September, he expressed faith in his hope of “seeing [Jesus] in all his glory. Since we are all flesh, soul, and spirit, only my flesh is being left behind. But don’t get me wrong, I have a blessed life in this world, with a loving wife, and a beautiful family, and many wonderful and caring friends. I am grateful!”
Biernat is survived by his wife Jeannie, daughters Angelica Saylor, Kaitlin Biernat Connell, and Jess Biernat, and five grandsons and two granddaughters.
Both Al Biernat’s restaurant locations will continue to operate under the direction of Fuller.
