After tiring of corporate life following a nearly 15-year career in the tech sector, John Despertt left his job in 2004 as a network specialist at Dell to open a homestyle, Southern restaurant in Georgetown.

BB’s Home Cooking, which moved locations in January 2018 from Williams Drive to The Summit at Rivery Park, gave Despertt a chance to focus on his cooking skill, which he said has been a lifelong passion. 

“I’ve been cooking since I was a kid,” Despertt said. “It’s what I’ve always liked to do.”

Despertt, who is originally from the Washington, D.C., area, said BB’s food is based on old-fashioned home-cooked recipes—or as he puts it, “the way your mother used to cook.”

The BB’s name is a tribute to Despertt’s mother and mother-in-law, Bernie and Betty, whose cooking styles were an influence on the restaurant.

Despertt said Southern cuisine seemed like a good fit for Georgetown when he first decided to open a decade and a half ago.

“I just figured that would be a go-to staple for most people in the area,” he said.

The BB’s location, which is next to the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center, includes indoor and outdoor seating as well as a bar area. The restaurant takes reservations for special events, such as birthdays, wedding rehearsals and business meetings.

The restaurant’s entrees include Southern go-to dishes, such as chicken-fried steak and catfish that can be served fried, blackened or grilled. BB’s also offers burgers, sandwiches, salads and breakfast dishes, including chicken and waffles. 

Entering his second year in business at his new location, Despertt said he plans to expand the variety of dishes available to BB’s customers by reintroducing a dedicated lunch menu and offering new specials on a rotating basis.     

The change will let Despertt try out some new dishes and add a little flair to established favorites, although he said BB’s simplicity and Southern roots will remain at the restaurant’s core.