The Rodeo's First-Ever Sit-Down Restaurant Saddles Up for Year Three

The Rodeo's First-Ever Sit-Down Restaurant Saddles Up for Year Three

The Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse (photo by Jenn Duncan)

THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK Show and Rodeo roared back in 2022 after a pandemic-induced hiatus, and one of the buzziest parts of the whole thing was restaurateur Ben Berg's brand-new sit-down concept, a first for the Rodeo.


In 2023, The Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse's return was highly anticipated, and expectations were exceeded, as Berg added more seating and live music. So what's on tap for 2024? Well, lots of... taps, actually. There will be four new satellite bars serving special concoctions in addition to beer and wine; expect one each dedicated to tequila, whiskey, Cosmos and Aperol Spritzes. In addition to the more casual Saloon and upscale Steakhouse components, Berg will also debut The Skillet, a walk-up booth serving elevated versions of classic carnival fare — think bacon-on-a-stick with truffle honey, and a pretty stellar smash burger.

Ben Berg at The Ranch (photo by Jenn Duncan)

Snake River Farms pork chop (photo by Alex Wu)

Wasabi-crusted tuna (photo by Kirsten Gilliam)

BBQ chicken sandwich (photo by Kirsten Gilliam)

Au Poivre (photo by Alex Wu)

The Ranch After Dark, a late-night experience with live performances and DJ-spun tunes, returns nightly. Guests can reserve tables from 9pm until close, with a $500 minimum per table. High rollers can also book the Steakholder tables for dinner, featuring private restrooms and a private bar (from $15,000 for six guests).

The Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse is erected in a high-end, climate-controlled tent that spans 16,000 square feet and is decked out this year by Visit Round Top and HGTV's Junk Gypsies. Lots of great photo ops here!

The Ranch is taking reservations now via OpenTable.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Meet Brian Boyter, New High-End Residential Broker with an Unique Background

BRIAN BOYTER IS a Houston native with an interesting background in real estate. After an impressive 16-year tenure managing commercial transactions in a Fortune 500 Real Estate Investment Trust, he recently made the shift to high-end residential brokerage. The experience left him uniquely suited to thrive in the sometimes-emotional world of buying or selling a home.

Keep Reading Show less

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less