SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Joe Betz, the owner of the iconic San Francisco steakhouse, House of Prime Rib, has died at 86, KRON4 News has confirmed. The SF restaurateur was a native of Bavaria, Germany who first arrived in San Francisco as a waiter in the early 1960s.
A journeyman waiter, Betz rose up through the city’s restaurant world to become one of the most beloved and well-known figures on the San Francisco dining scene.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Betz began waiting tables at Hoffman’s Grill at age 22 and later bought the restaurant, making him the city’s youngest restaurateur at the time. That was in 1968. He closed Hoffman’s in 1984.
A year later in 1985, Betz bought House of Prime Rib from its previous owner Lou Balaski, according to the San Francisco Standard.
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Founded by Balaski in 1949 and known for its generous portions, old school vibes, and hospitality, the Van Ness Avenue steakhouse has long been one of the most sought-after reservations in the city, typically booked up months in advance…