Black Angus Steakhouse with Tim Heidecker

"Black Angus Steakhouse with Tim Heidecker" is Episode 423 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Black Angus Steakhouse with Tim Heidecker" was released on November 9, 2023.

## Synopsis

Tim Heidecker joins the 'boys to talk major chains, pizza, and waiting in line before a review of Black Angus Steakhouse. Plus, another edition of The Michelin Men.

## Nick's intro

“*I’m not ashamed of my humble beginnings. Everyone has to start somewhere and it wasn’t as if I’d sold my soul to the devil, but it was a life of seedy hotels, smoky bars, and blatant and blameless sex.*”

This was Stuart Anderson’s colorful description of the Seattle hotel bar he opened as his post-World War II entrance into the world of hospitality, as written in his memoir, *Here’s the Beef! My Story of Beef*. Anderson’s nose for the booze biz allowed him to remodel and refurbish his dingy dive first into a more genteel French restaurant, and then ultimately, in 1964, into the concept that would make him a one-man brand: a Western-themed chop shop later imitated by chains like LongHorn Steakhouse.

Offering a steak dinner for the value price of $1.95, and leaning into his sleazy past with skimpy costumes for the female wait staff — a detail long forgotten in today’s family-friendly version — Anderson’s eponymous steakery was a quick hit with Seattleites and he established satellites by annexing and rebranding existing steakhouses. In 1972, the fast-growing franchise of ten locations was acquired by Saga, and by the time of Marriott’s acquisition of Saga in 1984, it had grown to 121 locations.

But in the '90s, the new corporate ownership excised Anderson’s name, Sean Parker style, and as the sit-down dining scene became more competitive, this former cash cow was slowly put out to pasture. Today, the franchise that Anderson called “the Number 1 Restaurant Chain of the 1980s” has filed for bankruptcy twice, shedding the bulk of its locations, down to just 32 rustic roadhouse grills.

Anderson died in 2016 at the age of 93, his identity and influence long since smoked out of his smokehouse. So can this past-its-prime rib restaurant rally for a posthumous cattle drive back to relevance?

This week on *Doughboys*… Black Angus.

## Fork rating

* Ribeye & Crispy Shrimp
	+ medium-rare
	+ Roasted Jalapeño Butter
	+ Caesar Salad
	+ French Fries
 Mike Mitchell
* Ribeye & Crispy Shrimp
	+ medium-rare
	+ Roasted Jalapeño Butter
	+ Wedge Salad
	+ Loaded Baked Potato
 Tim Heidecker
* New York Strip Center Cut
	+ Wedge Salad
	+ Loaded Baked Potato
 shared
* Wagon Wheel Sampler Platter
* Three Cheese Garlic Bread
* Sky-High Mud Pie
* Chocolate Chip Cowboy Cookie

Nick, Mitch, and Tim all went together to the Black Angus in Burbank.

Nick's favorite bite was the Three Cheese Garlic Bread. Tim's favorite was the Sky-High Mud Pie.

## The Michelin Men

In this segment, Nick reads four menu items from a Michelin-starred restaurant. They then decide if they would rather have the meal for free, or get a new set of Michelin tires.

## Snack or Wack

A listener named Alma mailed Doughboys some *Minions*-themed Chipicao from Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are chocolate croissants.

They did not particularly enjoy these, probably deeply upsetting Alma.

 Mike Mitchell
 Tim Heidecker

## Quotes

**Tim**: This was kept from us. I was wondering what the relative proximity of your dentist was to where we were eating. I would've loved to have known.

**Mitch**: Nope.

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
 Tim Heidecker
Neptune's Net in Malibu
Cracker Barrel

## Photos

Molasses Bread and ButterWagon Wheel Sampler PlatterThree Cheese Garlic BreadCaesar Salad and Wedge SaladRibeye and Crispy Shrimp with Loaded Baked PotatoRibeye and Crispy Shrimp with French FriesSky-High Mud Pie and Chocolate Chip Cowboy Cookie