Austin’s Favorite Modern Comfort

Texas-born restaurateurs Chuck Smith and Larry Perdido have spent more than three decades creating restaurants grounded in a shared belief that the best experiences begin with a strong sense of place, a compelling story and great people.

Their partnership began with Saba Blue Water Cafe in Austin’s Warehouse District before they opened Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill in 2003. Rather than impose a concept on the historic property, Smith and Perdido allowed the character of the building to shape what Moonshine would become: an approachable gathering place centered around Southern-inspired comfort food, generous hospitality and an experience that felt authentic to Austin.

Their complementary strengths have defined their work together. Perdido brings a chef’s perspective and a talent for developing restaurant concepts around the food, people and stories that give them meaning. Smith brings a passion for design, hospitality and creating environments that carry those stories from initial concept through the complete guest experience. Together, they have built businesses around understanding not only what people want to eat and drink, but how they want to feel when they walk through the door.

That philosophy extends to the teams behind their restaurants. Both Smith and Perdido credit much of their success to investing in people, creating cultures built on trust and empowerment, and developing the next generation of restaurant leaders. For them, hospitality has always been as much about the people serving the guest—and the communities surrounding their restaurants—as what arrives at the table.

More than twenty years after opening Moonshine, the restaurant remains a reflection of the passions that have guided their partnership from the beginning: respect the place, tell a good story, take care of people and create something they want to return to.