Owner hopes to expand Georgetown restaurant

When John Despertt opened BB's Home Cooking in 2005, he hoped to escape the corporate world and build a business in a flourishing community.

"Georgetown is a stable community from the standpoint of the retirees," he said. "It didn't really depend as much on the fluctuating economy, so that kind of went into my thinking."

The restaurant's first location had about 30 seats, but when Despertt reopened on Williams Drive in 2009, capacity quadrupled. The eatery serves lunch and dinner six days a week and breakfast on weekends, but Despertt said he would like to relocate and eventually open daily.

"My lease is up next November, and we're looking at buying some property and building more of a venue where we can do live music and have a little playscape outside for the kids. We would have more parking, and own the property and build equity," he said. "I'd like to stay on the west side of I-35, along Williams Drive if possible. I'm actually recruiting investors now."

Over the past few years, Despertt has expanded BB's and his clientele, opening a new location in Pflugerville last spring. But he said nothing brings in more business than positive reviews passed along by friends and neighbors.

"I'd say 95 percent of our growth has been word-of-mouth. We do hardly any advertising," he said. "We put out a good product for a decent price, and that's helped us grow."

BB's has plenty of regular customers, Front of House Manager Cindy Adams said. When diners want to try something new, she might recommend the smothered steak or BLT sandwich.

"You just really can't go wrong," she said. "I know everybody wants to say that about their restaurant, but really, it's true."

Breakfast

Owner John Despertt said Sunday mornings are the restaurant's busiest time, and diners call it the best breakfast in town. It is served on weekends from 8–11 a.m.

Betty's Breakfast, named for Despertt's mother-in-law, is served with two eggs, a choice of meat and four triangles of French toast ($7.29).

The Georgetown comes with two eggs, a choice of meat, home-fried potatoes or grits, and a biscuit or toast ($7.89).

The Western, one of seven omelets on the menu, has ham, bell peppers and onions and is served with home-fried potatoes or grits, and biscuit or toast ($7.39).

Lunch

Lunch is served 11 a.m.–4 p.m. and features sandwiches, salads and hamburgers.

Crab cake sandwich, a speciality of Washington, D.C.–native Despertt, is a Maryland-style crab cake topped with red onion, lettuce, tomato and cheese on a toasted bun and served with BB's house sauce and french fries ($10.49).

The Alaysia salad, named for Despertt's 3-year-old daughter, comes with mixed greens topped with grilled chicken, candied pecans, grapes, apple wedges and bleu cheese ($8.59).

Dinner

Many lunch items are also included on the dinner menu, which is served Tue.–Thu. 4–8:30 p.m. and Fri.–Sat. 4–9:30 p.m. BB's also serves exclusive dinner plates.

The homemade meatloaf dinner is served with a choice of two sides and a roll ($10.49).

The pork chops are grilled or fried and served with two sides and a roll ($10.79).

The Fried Catfish Dinner, one of a few fish items on the menu, features four catfish fillets with two sides and a roll ($10.29).

BB's Home Cooking, 4701 Williams Drive, Bldg. 1, 868-6700, www.bbshomecooking.com

• Tue.–Thu. 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
• Fri. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.,
• Sat. 8 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
• Sun. 8 a.m.–4 p.m.