Since the nation was celebrating its bicentennial in 1976, the Side Porch Steak House has been operating in Bartlett. While the city is celebrating its sesquicentennial, the popular fine-dining restaurant is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2016.
Owner Tim Teel bought it in 2008. To his chagrin, it was just as the economy took a nosedive and the city did a major resurfacing project on Stage Road.
“They tore it up right in front of the restaurant shortly after I bought it,” he said, chuckling.
Nevertheless, he and the business made it through and are now busier than ever, he said.
He focused on his vision of operating a neighborhood steakhouse where customers are treated like neighbors. He loves the closeness between his regular customers, too.
“The thing I like about this place is watching somebody who’s sitting at the back get up to leave and it takes them about 10 minutes because they’re stopping to say hi to their friends that are also dining here,” Teel said.
He has a knack for helping families soothe and entertain their babies too when the little ones start to fuss just as the food arrives. He said some call him the “Baby Whisperer” because the babies will calm themselves as he walks around with them as the parents eat.
He prides himself on the customer recognitions he’s gotten many years in the Bartlett Express “Readers’ Choice” awards. A wall of the restaurant gleams with framed certificates for the honors.
He’s passed his helpful attitude on to his staff and emphasizes to them that his philosophy is about making things right for the customer.
“We don’t make excuses,” he said. “We fix it. I’d love to say that nothing ever goes wrong, but it does. Instead of making an excuse and trying to make us look better, it’s ‘Okay, we messed up. Sorry. What can we do to fix it?’”
It’s all about showing appreciation and support for the customer.
“If it weren’t for people walking through that door, we wouldn’t have anything to do,” Teel said.
He honors the nation’s military by keeping a “missing man” table set up at the Side Porch too. It started when a regular customer, a WWII veteran, passed away. It resonates with his customers, including one who always take a moment to stop and salute in honor of servicemen and servicewomen.
Loving the work
He had more than a decade’s experience from his early years working as a bus boy, then a cook and a server at another restaurant, so the business felt like a natural choice to him.
“I like the interaction with people,” Teel said. “Like I said, I wore a tuxedo to work for 13 years. A lot of my experience was in dealing with the customers, dealing with people, and I like that. I’m kind of a people person.”
His career before and during his restaurant ownership days taught him that operating a business is not just about getting the sale. It’s about fostering that relationship with the customers.
“And that’s what I try to do,” he said. “I sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to people on their birthdays.”
Business details
Teel said his best-seller is his 8-oz. filet with a salad and either potato or veggies, and it’s only $17.95.
“For a steak house, we’re very reasonable,” he said.
He prioritizes ensuring that customers get generous portions in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere at a reasonable price.
“I’m not trying to get rich,” he said. “I’m just trying to make a living.”
The restaurant seats 100 people and may serve 120 people over a weeknight or 250-300 on the busier weekends. On Fridays, his waitlist usually starts before 5 p.m. On Saturdays, it begins even earlier, usually around 4:40 p.m.
He usually runs the Side Porch with six servers, four hostesses/ service assistants, and about eight people in the kitchen. Most nights, he’s there for at least two hours himself. The rest of the time, he relies on the good people he employs.
“I am so many people’s first job,” Teel said, smiling. About 4-5 Bartlett High students are working for him this year along with a handful of college students.
He mentors them on appropriate workplace practices, and he follows their successes later in life as they enter their professional careers and shares in the happiness. “I get real proud when one of my kids moves on.”
In some cases, he’s hired younger siblings when the older ones move on. In one case, he hired a girl after her mother worked for him.
He particularly likes it with his younger employees when he gets to see their lightbulb moments of what it takes to be a success at work.
“I hope that when they go on to do something else, that the things that they learned to do here help them,” he said.
He also has some very long-time employees, including a few who have been there through all three of the Side Porch’s owners.
The business has continuity in many ways.
“It’s such a neat venue,” he said.
For more information, visit the restaurant’s website at sideporchsteakhouse.com or go to the restaurant at 5689 Stage Road, Bartlett. The phone number is (901) 377-2484. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30-8:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 4:30-9:30 p.m. The business is open only for private functions on Sundays and Mondays. Customers who participate in his loyalty program get text-based coupons each month. Those who check in on every visit get $10 off on their 10th visit. Active-duty and retired military also get a 10 percent discount.
Written by Carolyn Bahm, Express editor. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or via email to bartlett.editor@journalinc.com.
