Daniel Barnes
Founder and CEO Daniel Barnes grew up on the western edge of the Texas Hill Country in a tiny town called Menard, where his parents owned and ran a motel and on-premise restaurant. Inspired by their work ethic, Barnes followed suit at a young age and became an entrepreneur after attending the University of Texas at Austin and honing his hospitality and sommelier skills at the Four Seasons Austin. In 2006, he founded Treaty Oak Distilling, the fourth distillery to debut in the state of Texas, eventually moving to the company’s headquarters in Dripping Springs, Ghost Hill Ranch. Today, Daniel oversees all things Treaty Oak on a macro level while managing multiple additional projects.
ELIAS VIDAL
Elias Vidal has been a leader all his life. He cut his culinary teeth at Ranch 616 in Austin, where he came to know and love the art of creating dishes that would bring the same joy to his patrons as it did to his friends and family growing up in San Antionio, Texas. Partnering with his brother and cousin to open Valentina’s, a highly awarded Tex Mex BBQ restaurant in 2013, he sharpened his skills and focus. His time at Alice’s Restaurant has nurtured his vision of combining smoke with mash, whiskey with BBQ. With a keen palate and focused on the future, expect more complimentary pairings on the menu, courtesy of a true visionary.
— Namesake —
ALICE BARNES
Alice’s Restaurant is a space with a famous name but a highly personal story of origin. Alice’s is named for Treaty Oak Distilling owner Daniel Barnes mother. If you’ve been to our distillery, you may have met Alice in our bottle shop, where she regularly holds court and walks guests through our samples while simultaneously making everyone fall in love with her warmth and exuberant personality.
Alice Barnes oversaw the restaurant at the Navaho Inn in Menard, Texas with late husband Phil for decades, providing a young Daniel Barnes ample opportunity to learn all aspects of restaurant and hospitality, from dredging Chicken Fried Steaks to washing dishes, waiting tables, taking care of customers and so much more.
Speaking of CFS, Alice is famous for hers and they sometimes make an appearance as a weekend special, so take advantage of that if you happen to be here on one of those blessed days.
Naming our restaurant after Ms. Alice was an easy decision, even though most people surmise our inspiration was the famous Arlo Guthrie song. And although you can’t get anything you want, at our version of Alice’s Restaurant, we’re certain our ever-evolving menu will provide more than enough options to satiate your, your friends or your family’s palate.
So, come on out! We look forward to serving you.
