Welcome to the first in a series of articles where we will be highlighting local businesses in the Lakeway and Bee Cave area.
First up, we have Southern Steer -a community staple since its opening in May 2024 – that has provided the city of Lakeway with high-quality meat and customer service for over a year. The grand opening of its second Texas location will take place this weekend on October 25 and 26 in Oak Hill, Texas. Found right next door to the popular Shore Rawbar and Grill on Highway 71, its next enterprise is sure to be just as popular as its Lakeway location.
Jonathan Candee, the owner of Southern Steer Butcher’s Texas locations, can attest to the high-quality products offered by these establishments compared to other providers. “All of our products in-house have no antibiotics [and] no hormones,” Candee said. “We grind our own ground beef, we grind our own pork, we have dry aging. We are night-and-day different from the grocery store.”
The fresh and organic quality of Southern Steer Butcher’s meat is not the only thing that sets it apart, however. Candee, a New England native, wanted Southern Steer Butcher’s customer service to resemble the friendly butcher shops of his childhood. “You knew where your meat came from, if you wanted help with a recipe, or you wanted to ask questions,” Candee said. Christopher Haydostian, the Chief Operating Officer for Southern Steer Butcher’s Texas locations, agrees. “The key difference that separates us from the rest of our competitors is the quality of [our] service,” he said.
As an experienced chef, Haydostian has been part of three food operations in the Austin area: a full-service restaurant, a fast-and-casual restaurant, and a food truck. His level of experience is shared by the rest of Southern Steer Butcher’s leadership team: “We’re the only butcher shop I know of that has an executive chef on staff, a sommelier on staff, as well as a marketing expert.”
Both Candee and Haydostian intend to bring this strong leadership and product quality to Southern Steer Butcher’s newest location in Oak Hill. “It’s close enough to our current location here in Lakeway, so it’s not too far to transport products over there,” said Haydostian. The customer service is also guaranteed to be just as friendly: “The ownership team is just phenomenal.”
For those planning ahead for the holiday season, the new Oak Hill location will offer the same enticing deals as the Lakeway establishment. “We have daily rewards specials, so on Mondays, for instance, if you’re a daily rewards member – which is free to join – 15% off ground beef and pork chops, and 20% off take-and-bake sides,” said Candee. “We’ll have about 150 [organic turkeys] in our Lakeway location and about 100 of those in our Oak Hill location,” he added.
On the second day of its grand opening, food influencer and Tex-Mex cook Arnie Tex will join interested customers from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM for a meet-and-greet and signing of his new cookbook. His “Arnie’s Asada” seasoning line can be purchased at Southern Steer Butcher Texas locations.
Southern Steer Butcher has been a beloved establishment in the Lakeway community for the last year and a half. From its personable customer service to its weekly deals, its new location is sure to have the same effect on the Oak Hill area. Be sure to stop by its grand opening at 8701 Highway 71 West, Suite 100 for meat samples, Arnie Tex’s meet-and-greet, and an exciting community event.
