Nick & Sam namesake takes over as Dallas steakhouse manager

Sam Romano is the new majority owner and general partner of Nick & Sam’s Uptown Steakhouse in Dallas.

If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the 25-year-old son of Phil Romano, who started Eatzi’s, Macaroni Grill, Fuddruckers and Nick & Sam’s. When the steakhouse opened in 1999, it was named after the operators’ young sons, Nick and Sam.

Now Sam has grown up (and Nick’s family is no longer involved in the business), so half of his namesake have been accused of running the steakhouse since January 18, 2022.

Diners can expect to see young Romano in the dining room, a spokeswoman said. However, Sam Romano has no intention of changing the concept. Samir Dhurandhar, the chef-partner from the restaurant’s early days, will continue in his role.

Phil Romano says in a statement that his son was “born for this”. The longtime Dallas restaurateur had been grooming Sam Romano for the job for several years, ever since he graduated from Syracuse University.

The nearly 23-year-old restaurant is a must-see and must-see place in Dallas where celebrities often dine, even two decades after it opened. A night out here can be flamboyant and fun, though the prices can skyrocket. One of Dallas’ most expensive dishes, a Wagyu sampler called Stairway to Heaven, is available at Nick & Sam’s for the shocking price of $800.

In recent years, Sam Romano has also become a partner in one of his father’s other businesses, the West Dallas restaurant park called Trinity Groves.

Despite the change in management, Phil Romano is not retiring. Maybe he never will.

Nick & Sam’s is at 3008 Maple Ave., Dallas.

For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on Twitter at @sblaskovich.