Owners of Maverick BBQ celebrate 2-year anniversary
It’s been two years since Al and Cheryl Coughlin took over the
barbecue restaurant in the old train yard on Fifth Street, with
their daughter Tara Lips and her husband, Eben, as co-owners and
operators. The quartet of owners are inviting customers to help
them celebrate Aug. 21 with drink and meal specials throughout the
day.
Owners of Maverick BBQ celebrate 2-year anniversary
It’s been two years since Al and Cheryl Coughlin took over the barbecue restaurant in the old train yard on Fifth Street, with their daughter Tara Lips and her husband, Eben, as co-owners and operators. The quartet of owners are inviting customers to help them celebrate Aug. 21 with drink and meal specials throughout the day.
When asked what the last two years have been like, Lips had one word.
“Hectic.”
Lips is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy of San Francisco and her husband Eben, is a graduate of the Johnson and Wales Culinary School.
“My husband and I both worked in the food industry our whole career,” she said. “Your goal for working in a kitchen is to one day have your own place.”
Despite their culinary talents, the couple did have to learn how to handle the paperwork and management part of the job.
“It has been a learning process,” Lips said.
When the Coughlins and Lips purchased the restaurant, they decided to stay with the barbecue menu.
“We wanted to keep everything the same,” Lips said. “The thing that we were interested in is just making sure the quality of the food is really good, us both being cooks.”
Lips did vamp up the dessert section of the menu, and added on her own homemade bread pudding. Other dessert items include bananas Foster made at the table, ice cream sundaes and brownies.
“I make the bread pudding dessert, which is our No. 1 seller,” she said. “My husband does pretty much all the barbecue, but he tries to run a special a week and that is where he can be creative and do something different …”
The menu features barbecue classics such as pork ribs, pulled pork, tri-tip and chicken as well as a handful of barbecue sandwiches. The restaurant even offers a gluten-free menu for those with dietary restrictions. Menu items can be ordered in the dining room, outdoor patio or the lounge, where patrons can order from a full bar.
“We have outside dining now,” Lips said. “It took us a year to get the permit.”
The lounge can be rented out for private parties, and the restaurant staff also offers catering. Thursday nights, trivia is offered in the lounge starting at 6:30 p.m., and once a month karaoke is featured in the lounge.
Maverick BBQ is located at 35 Fifth St., in Hollister. For more information, call 635-8000 or visit www.maverickbbq.com.
