When Tony Ciola and Creed Ford, co-owners and founders of Tc4 & Co., took over ownership of Mighty Fine Burgers, Fries & Shakes in 2021, they aimed to expand while keeping the familiarity of a then 14-year-old Austin brand.

Meet the owners

Mighty Fine Burgers was founded in 2007 by Ken Schiller and Brian Nolen of K&N Management. Ciola and Ford bought the brand when they were looking for local restaurants they could build upon.

Both are graduates of Lake Travis High School and have an interest in sprouting family-friendly eateries in local, suburban neighborhoods—areas they noticed grew popular after the pandemic.“Having grown up here ... you're gonna understand why these areas are so popular and why so many people are moving there,” Ciola said. “But also understand there's no restaurants there yet, so there's an opportunity for what Creed and I do with our brands, which are polished, casual dining, family-friendly, but also made-to-order, made from scratch, no matter which one of our brands you’re dining. That's how we approach the business.”

Ciola’s restaurant experience comes from working his way up in his family’s restaurant business, while Ford’s comes from the corporate side of the restaurant business. They founded Tc4 & Co. in 2011.

The group’s brands include Tony C’s Coal Fired Pizza, The League Kitchen & Tavern, Tony C’s Pizza & Beer Garden and Mighty Fine. Soon the group will debut an Italian-American concept in Dripping Springs: Cousin Louie's.

Combined, Tc4 & Co. currently has over 15 locations and counting across the Austin metro, six being stand-alone Mighty Fine locations. The burger joint operates concession stands inside Darrell K. Royal Stadium on The University of Texas at Austin campus and Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

What’s on the menu

Mighty Fine serves made-to-order burgers, fries, shakes, sandwiches, hot dogs and newly added chicken tenders.Ford said they emphasize fresh, high-quality ingredients in Mighty Fine meals. Patties are hand-formed with Creekstone Farms Premium Angus Beef, toppings are hand-cut, chicken tenders are hand-battered, and French fries are homemade.

Mighty Fine locations’ open kitchen ordering line concept allows guests to see their orders being prepared. Mighty Fine locations don't have drive-thrus, something Ciola and Ford said encourages guests to sit and appreciate a good meal.“We don't cut corners, and that's not always the easiest way to operate the restaurant,” Ford said. “It’d be a lot easier to go get a frozen patty and go throw it on a flat top and serve it, but that's not who we are. We're passionate about what we serve and passionate about what we do on a daily basis.”

Staying local

Ciola and Ford said the future of Mighty Fine includes hopefully opening more locations across Austin and Central Texas. They opened the brand’s newest location in Kyle earlier this year.

In the meantime, they said their focus is investing in the communities they currently serve.

"We really want people to get out of the car, stretch your legs, bring your friend in, come sit down here, enjoy some Texas hospitality, enjoy top-notch ingredients," Ford said. "Nothing's frozen except for ice cream."

• 5601 Brodie Lane, Ste. 1300, Austin; 10515 N. Mopac, Unit 205, Austin; 1890 Ranch, Building AC, 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 100, Cedar Park; 201 University Oaks Blvd., Ste. 1380, Round Rock; 310 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto; 19460 S. I-35 frontage road, Kyle
• www.mightyfineburgers.com