Brianne Dlugosch has always enjoyed the Hill Country, and when she made a chance stop in Kerrville a few months ago, she decided she needed to be here — or at least her business needed to be here.
Dlugosch is one of the owners of the 5D Steakhouse — a small Texas-based chain — and a stop along Interstate 10 at one of Kerrville's gas stations led her to purchase the site of an old bar and house and tear it down.
"We stopped, and I saw the property, and I said I was going to call," said Dlugosch, who was on her way to Monahans, a west Texas town about five hours west of Kerrville, between Pecos and Odessa on Interstate 20.
On the other end of that initial call was commercial real estate broker Bruce Stracke. In about two months, they closed the deal, securing 5D Steakhouse for Kerrville.
"We've broken ground, and we're getting the pad ready," Dlugosch said. "Construction should take between seven and nine months."
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When completed, Kerrville's new 8,000-square foot 5D Steakhouse will have a commanding view of Interstate 10, just below Lowe's Home Improvement along Sidney Baker Highway. It's a prime spot, and that's why Dlugosch moved fast to secure the deal.
There are seven restaurants in the family-owned chain. The 5D stands for the five members of the Dlugosch family. Headquartered in Yorktown, the Dlugosch's transitioned from cattle ranching to restaurants in 2015, when Brianne Dlugosch's parents opened their first restaurant. The business has taken off from there.
"It was a really unique start," Dlugosch said of her family business, which has three generations of cattle ranching in its roots. In turn, the family decided that a big steakhouse environment that provided something for the entire family was a good business model.
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There are restaurants in Victoria, Kenedy, Port O'Connor, Carrizo Springs and Monahans.
Every restaurant features a large playground for the children, outdoor seating and live music every Friday night.
"There will always be live music," Dlugosch said.
The offerings, of course, are focused on steak, but Dlugosch said one of their signature dishes is a chicken breast.
"I'd say our whiskey-pecan-glazed chicken breast is one of best dishes," Dlugosch said.
In a state mad about barbecue, Dlugosch said the steakhouse is part of a longstanding Texas tradition. The restaurant will not offer barbecue — instead focused on steak, chicken and seafood.
When it comes to beef, the chain's 16-ounce T-bone steak is one of the stars. There's also a 22-ounce Porterhouse steak. The other element that Dlugosch touts is cocktails.
"We have a 60-ounce fishbowl punch," Dlugosch said. Yes, the fishbowl is the serving dish, but Dlugosch said it's one of the best cocktails on the menu. You might float after that, or at least need to call an Uber.
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With construction underway, Dlugosh aims for a Spring launch of Kerrville's newest restaurant, and she's excited about being here.
"We've always loved the Hill Country and coming to Kerrville," she said.
