With Valentine’s Day approaching, it seems only fitting that we tell our own East Austin love story.

    Even before we won “Best Place to Take a First Date,”  people commented on the romantic atmosphere here at the Blue Dahlia.  But most of those people don’t know that our restaurant’s history is actually a love story.  Sam and Amy may have created Blue Dahlia Bistro, but Blue Dahlia Bistro created the marriage of Amy and Sam Ramirez. 

    Back in 2006, Amy was a model looking for a new career. She had dreamt up a place inspired by the many restaurants she had visited abroad and was pitching her business plan to potential investors.  A friend suggested that she take it to another friend for consideration. That friend happened to be Sam.  

    Sam was far from your typical investor.  A geo-technical driller by profession, he had never invested in a business other than his own.  After looking over the business plan, he decided that he was ready for an adventure and jumped on board (his love of cheese plates and wine helped the decision).

    It wasn’t until their first owners’ meeting that Amy really noticed Sam. Of course Sam noticed Amy (how could you not!) but did his best to keep the relationship strictly professional.  As they spent time together working on building Blue Dahlia Bistro, Amy was smitten by Sam’s fun-loving style and spirit and Sam grew to appreciate Amy’s work ethic and willingness to jump in where she was needed on the job site (turns out she LOVES driving Bobcats). 

    Amy finally came clean and admitted she had a crush.  Sam was surprised but expressed he had feelings of his own.  Amy had said previous to meeting Sam that she didn’t ever want to get married. Sam’s reply – “I’ve always loved a challenge.”  One year later, they were married. 

    When she isn’t flying around the restaurant checking on every detail, you can often find Amy huddled around a table with Sam enjoying a cheese plate and drinking wine in the place they created together.  Or, you could say, in the place that created them.

For more info about our Valentine's Day special, click here.