Robert Talamantez On his first week on the job as General Manager at Brio Tuscan Grille, Robert Talamantez received many welcome greetings from guests. There’s one that he remembers in particular, though. “I had the opportunity to meet Brian Stebbins on our terrace and he said it the best: ‘You are now part of the Southlake family.’ That was such a warm, genuine welcome to the great city of Southlake,” recalls Talamantez of the late developer from Cooper & Stebbins, the firm that conceived and developed Southlake Town Square. Indeed, it’s been Talamantez’s goal to make Brio a part of the community. In addition to partnering with charitable foundations such as Kids Matter International, Guzman 23 Foundation, Art in the Square and Wounded Warriors (to name just a few), the restaurant also does lunch drop-offs to local firefighters and police stations on Labor Day. “We are grateful to be able to touch people’s lives inside and outside of the restaurant,” Talamantez says. “Known as a community restaurant, Brio believes in giving back.” And the community, it seems, has embraced Brio as well. “Brio has always had that hometown restaurant feel. You often run into your friends, school teachers and business associates,” Talamantez says. “We are privileged in hosting many family get-togethers during the holiday season and throughout the year.” Talamantez, who has been in the restaurant business for 23 years, admits that being in this industry has transformed him from a shy kid from Snyder, Texas, to an executive whose main job is dealing with people. “I remember my first mentor stating, ‘You will learn a lot about yourself and other people in this industry—more than any other industry out there,’” recalls Talamantez. “He was correct.”
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