Austin’s Legendary Restaurant Warriors Saddle Up for Yet Another Ride

You have to know Craig Gatewood. The long-time Austin restaurateur has helmed such placed as the Lakeview Café, the Dam View, Jake’s, El Dorado and many others. At 60, you would think he would want to think about hanging up his spurs and lighting out for the territories. Yet when I saw him today, he was knee deep in sheet rock and tile and gutting a local restaurant that has stood since the 1950’s. He’s looking to introduce a new concept that I can’t really go into yet because the deal has not been finalized. But it’s getting close and I can’t wait to share it with you.

I’ve gotta take my hat off to this man. A lot of lesser operators would have been defeated by the demise of El Dorado. Not Craig. There is no quit in this guy. He is plowing into this new venture like a 30-year old and he’s already lined up some serious partners. He lost his beloved wife some years ago and you can see the love in his eyes when he talks about her. I think he’s doing this as much for her as for himself and his son.

So just when you thought Craig Gatewood was about to ride off into the hospitality sunset, well guess again pards. I’ll fill you in when his new place is ready to open. This man is an Austin restaurant icon and I wish him nothing but the best.

Same thought for Dr. Foo Swasdee, the founder of Satay, arguably Austin’s oldest Thai restaurant. After a number of setbacks that would have left the average restaurant owner vowing to go into real estate, Foo said the hell with that and started Get Sum Dim Sum on Lamar. The place did well but not quite well enough. So now she’s moved Get Sum to Satay for Saturday and Sunday dim sum. She’s negotiating for a lease downtown with better parking, and still produces and imports her zesty Thai sauces.

I have seen this woman go through more adversity than one could think humanly possible. Yet when I talked to her today, she was her usual bubble of enthusiasm, talking a mile a minute about her plans. I hope she reinvents Get Sum at the new location and goes back to making Satay a full-time Thai joint (because it’s excellent). And then, just for fun, she bought a coffee shop in South Austin. I’m getting out of breath just listening to her.

These two local icons apparently just don’t know when to quit. And good for them. Do not go gently into that restaurant night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. (Apologies to Dylan Thomas). And these people are living proof that it ain’t over, well, till it’s over! Good luck to both of them.