Photo by Carrie TaylorAfter operating a sports bar for three years, Tony Orlando became a father—and another business plan was born. The long hours at Stars Sports Bar and Grill were not conducive to his new lifestyle, he said, and he decided to tailor his next venture for every member of the family.
"There are a lot of families in the area, so I knew Katy needed a restaurant built for kids and families," Orlando said. "I wanted to have something for everyone."
All Stars Family Grill opened June 1, 2011 in the south portion of the Katy area near FM 1093.
Its expansive patios and play areas, party and arcade rooms offer plenty for children of all ages, and the multiple TV screens placed around the restaurant's interior provide entertainment for adults.
Orlando started in the hospitality businesses at age 21, and he has not looked back since. All Stars said he has seen a steady stream of businesses since opening and Orlando is planning for a second location sometime soon, he said.
The restaurant's menu is similar to Chili's with a variety of options and cuisines, Orlando said. Highlights include generous portions of southern fried pickles to start ($6.49) and the chicken fried steak ($11.79).
Executive chef Cody Hix said he is given creative freedom to make any kind of daily special he desires. Some days the restaurant will feature an Italian-inspired dish or a dish with Asian flavors. The ordering style is casual where customers order at a cash register before finding their seat, and they can enjoy complimentary soft serve.
"The kids love it," Orlando said. "We work really hard to make sure our food is top notch. We try to home-make everything as much as possible."
Hix, who said he was born and raised in the restaurant business and is slated to star in the Food Network's "Chopped" sometime in the fall, orchestrates much of what is on the menu and enjoys working for a family centered restaurant.
"I used to run the busiest Cici's in Austin, and after I did that I have been hooked on places that cater to kids," he said.
As nearby neighborhoods continue to fill, Orlando said he is ready for the crowd and is looking forward to expanding All Stars in the future.
"We want to be a place where families can just come and relax," he said.
Breakfast buffet
From 8 a.m.–12 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, the restaurant features a breakfast buffet with a variety of options. Prices are $10.99 (adults) and $5.99 (children ages 12 and under). The menu includes traditional breakfast favorites, such as:
Orange juice
Coffee
Soda
Eggs
Bacon
Sausage
Made-to-order omelets
Pancakes
French toast
Biscuits
Cereal
Grits
Hash browns
Fresh fruit
Pastries
Chef's recommendations
El loco bueno burger—Topped with pepper jack, avocado and jalapeos ($9.79)
All Stars chicken club—Grilled chicken with bacon, Swiss cheese, red onion, avocado and cilantro ranch ($8.99)
Southwest chicken salad—Chicken, pico de gallo, Monterey Jack cheese, avocado, roasted corn salsa and tortilla strips ($8.99)
Brownie a la mode—A homemade brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce ($4.49)
Playing around
At All Stars Family Grill, owner Tony Orlando wanted to have play areas for children of all ages. His two patios feature a toddler playground, a fenced-in, covered patio with 10 ceiling fans and is built specifically for children ages 2–5. The Dippty-Do-Dah is another fenced-in playground for children ages 5–12. The seating area of the playground is also covered and has ceiling fans.
Party space
Great for teen parties, sports leagues and groups, All Stars Family Grill has space available for rent on its outside patios as well as three rooms inside, Orlando said. Exterior patios are equipped with 10 ceiling fans and features multiple TV screens. The interior rooms can be joined together with movable walls, and each features TV screens for slide shows and presentations.
All Stars Family Grill
26440 FM 1093, Ste. 400
Katy 281-394-2100
Hours: Mon.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
