More than 10 years ago, Ben Berg toured a fixer-upper building off Washington Avenue. He said he wanted to find a space with character for his new restaurant, and after seeing a picture of the outside, he loved it.

As Berg toured the brick building, he said trees were growing through the brick and that half of a wall wasn’t even there. Berg said there was no plumbing or electricity, but he was determined not to tear it down.

A decade after opening, B&B Butchers has all of its walls, lots of character and a reputation as a fine-dining steakhouse and butcher shop, featuring dry-aged steaks and Japanese wagyu beef.

“We opened B&B Butchers with the dream of creating not just a steakhouse, but a place where Houstonians could gather, celebrate and feel at home,” said Berg, founder and CEO of Berg Hospitality Group.

Diving deeper

Berg’s mother was a nurse, and when he was growing up in New York, she would take him to volunteer in the soup kitchen or deliver gifts during the holidays.

Giving back was always important to him, and as B&B Butchers grew more popular, he said he began to look for ways to reinvest in the community.

“A city like Houston, which I think is such a special city, embraces you so quickly and appreciates when you’re trying to bring good things to the city and lift the city up,” Berg said.

As a result, Berg founded Berg Gives Back, the charitable initiative of Berg Hospitality Group, to support Houston communities through meal programs, donations and relief efforts.

City of Houston officials have proclaimed October 21, 2025, as 'B&B Butchers Day,” honoring the restaurant’s decade of culinary excellence and community impact. (Courtesy B&B Butchers)
City of Houston officials have proclaimed October 21, 2025, as "B&B Butchers Day,” honoring the restaurant’s decade of culinary excellence and community impact. (Courtesy B&B Butchers)



The local impact

When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, Berg said his house was under water for two weeks, and the restaurant closed for three days. When he was able to reopen the restaurant, Berg had the idea to offer free meals to all the first responders working.

“The world collapsed for a second, but let's get back. And we did it for five days straight, lunch and dinner, and it was the most beautiful thing,” Berg said.

When the relief work was near complete, Berg said it felt wrong to stop there. Fe continued to partner with local nonprofits such as the Houston Food Bank to provide thousands of meals to first responders over the years.

In reflection of 10 years of business, Berg said, “This anniversary isn’t just about looking back at what we’ve built–it’s about looking forward and making sure we give back to the community that has supported us since day one.”