Meet Our Team
Growing up locally in Robstown, Texas. Tony, the youngest of five brothers, had a lifelong dream of one day owning his own restaurant. He would often sit on his mother’s kitchen countertop watching her cook homemade tortillas and Mexican food from scratch.
During his high school summer years, he would work with his father mastering the trade as a framer. Soon after high school, he continued in his father’s footsteps as a framer but never strayed too far from the kitchen. As a soul devoted husband of over 33 years and father of three children, he always cooked for his family and friends at every gathering.
After years, as a successful self-employed business owner of a framing and custom home-building company, he decided to turn his focus to his passion for cooking. Tony started as a general manager at a local restaurant, and to now owning his own catering company serving private school lunches for over 12 years. He continued to expand his business in the food industry by opening a food trailer better known as Flamin’ Grills, offering only the best products available.
After many nights of conversations with his wife and children, Tony felt it was the right time to open his own restaurant. He used all his knowledge of framing, construction, and interior design to create this one-of-a-kind steakhouse. He wanted the restaurant to have a feel of elegance yet casualness, “I want everyone to feel at home in my restaurant” – Tony. The goal of the restaurant is not only to offer you the best quality steaks & seafood but to allow you to feel as if you’re sitting at your own dining room table.
Prime Steakhouse & Whiskey Bar “Corpus Christi’s Premier Steakhouse” has many little touches that will take you to that one special place you have been before, but at the comfort of still being in Corpus Christi.
Meet the Owner, Tony Gonzalez
The youngest of five siblings, Tony has always had an eye for food. In his younger years he started off in construction as a framer following in his fathers footsteps but had a dream of owning a restaurant. He began his journey in the food industry by starting a small catering company for the Diocese of Corpus Christi and later opened his well-known food trailer Flamin’ Grills. However, he still yearned for more. Utilizing his 10+ years experience from his catering company as well as the food truck, he would finally be able to accomplish his dream. From there, Prime Steakhouse Whiskey Bar was born. Building a restaurant from the ground up is one of his biggest and proudest accomplishments in his career. Prime, in its short lifespan, has become one of the best steakhouse restaurants in the South Texas region. “We’re creating an ambience that takes you to another place!”- Tony Gonzalez
Meet Noah Saenz, Executive Chef
At the age of 25-years, Chef Noah is Prime Steakhouse Whiskey Bar’s youngest Chefs to run our kitchen. A Corpus Christi native and a graduate of King High School, he had big dreams of making a name for himself in the food industry. Noah started mastering his skills in upscale restaurants soon after joining the culinary school in San Antonio, TX. He then ventured to Las Vegas where he worked under the guidance of Master Chef José Andrés at Bazaar Meat and Jaleo, and other acclaimed restaurants in Las Vegas. Noah’s goal is to bring an array of flavors to Corpus Christi and the South Texas region from all over the world. He will continue to bring his French inspired food to our guests here at Prime Steakhouse Whiskey Bar and take them on a journey through the dishes he creates.
Meet Don Arispe II, Sous Chef
A San Antonio native, Don has been in the food industry for over 10-yrs. His career began at well-known restaurants in the Pearl Area in San Antonio and the Hill Country region. He has joined our team to bring his knowledge of worldwide cuisines to assist our executive chef. His plans are to bring new flavors he has learned over the years to broaden Corpus Christi’s dining experience at Prime Steakhouse Whiskey Bar.
Meet Gordon Johns, Pastry Chef
A Missouri native and graduate in Applied Science and Culinary Arts, Chef Gordon has been classically trained under renowned Chef Marcel Karvelle at Café de France, a five star restaurant in St. Louis, Missouri. His 30 year journey of cooking has taken him through all stages of the restaurant industry, from sous chef to executive chef at multiple places.
Settling down in Corpus Christi, Texas with his passion for the art of pastry, Chef Gordon now joins Prime Steakhouse Whiskey Bar to complete the full experience people have come to join at our restaurant.
