Restaurateur Al Biernat passed away on Wednesday, November 13, after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 69 years old.

Biernat started his career in hospitality at 18 in Aspen, working as a bartender. He moved around as a young man, living in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston — and in the latter, he helped open the Palm. He moved from Houston to L.A. to work at the legendary location of the Palm there, known as a hotbed of industry insider dinners for movies, music, and entertainment. Eventually, the Palm brought Biernet to Dallas, where he opened the now-defunct restaurant and was general manager of all its locations in the city.

In 1998, when Biernat was in his 40s, he opened Al Biernat’s in Oak Lawn — his own steakhouse. It was like unlocking the floodgates of steak. It may be difficult to imagine, but Dallas was not always a town known for its steakhouses, and Al Biernat’s, along with the openings of Nick & Sam’s, Pappa’s Brothers, and III Forks, helped usher in an era where that reputation was made.

For decades, Biernat was one of the leading figures in hospitality. In 2009, D magazine wrote, “Al Biernat is known as one of, if not the very best, hosts in the restaurant biz. His passion for pleasing and damn near photographic memory when it comes to remembering guests’ names spans over two decades, has become legendary and sets the bar for other front of the house guys on the local fine dining scene.”

In 2011, then-general manager Brad Fuller told NBC DFW, Biernat is “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.”

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Al Biernat’s

Numerous celebrities have stopped into Al Biernat’s over the years, including Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, every significant Dallas sports figure, and former president George W. Bush. Then there was the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas when Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore, and Jerry Jones all dined there.

The restaurant opened a second location in North Dallas in 2017.

Biernat was diagnosed with ALS earlier in 2024 and had a series of conversations with the Dallas Morning News about his life.

Biernat is survived by his wife, Jeannie, and his children Angelica Saylor, Kaitlin Biernat Connell, and Jess Biernat, along with his grandchildren. Biernat’s family would like to receive messages, stories, and photos from friends and customers. Send them via email to FriendofAl@albiernats.com or mail them to Al Biernat’s Personal at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75219.

Dallas steakhouse owner Al Biernat, whose charismatic presence at his namesake restaurant attracted both the famous and the famously loyal, has died at 69. Biernat had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was diagnosed earlier this year. Soon after, Biernat began exchanging emails with The Dallas Morning News about his life and fabled career.

Biernat spent more than 50 years in restaurants, often wearing a crisp suit at the front door of his elegant Dallas restaurant Al Biernat’s, arms outstretched for a lingering handshake and an effortless compliment. Many of the players from the World Series-winning Texas Rangers chose Al Biernat’s to celebrate their 2023 championship, and football phenom Tom Brady stopped in just a few months ago. Biernat relished meeting regular folks just as much though.

“Nice to see you” was his signature phrase, delivered in a noticeable Michigan accent.

Biernat could remember anyone’s name. He lost the ability to speak in early 2024 due to bulbar-onset ALS, which attacks the face and the neck first, and his silence felt particularly unfair for this charismatic maître d’ turned restaurant owner and accomplished host.

“I have been greatly blessed with so many wonderful people in my life that it makes my future much easier to cope with,” Biernat told The Newsin February 2024.

It was the last time I interviewed Biernat by phone. Soon, Biernat lost control of his tongue and could no longer speak. By the summer, Biernat had lost 40 pounds and could ingest food and fluids only with a feeding tube. His wife of 45 years, Jeannie Biernat, served as his interpreter, caregiver and supporter.

“This illness is crazy-hard to deal with, because you lose your ability to communicate with people,” Biernat told me via email in early 2024. As the illness progressed, Biernat remained dedicated to his Christian faith. He prayed for a miracle.

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