64 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {food coloring} les. He also visited East Coast gems like Chicago Chop House for inspiration in elevating the Sundance concept. “But we never got out of our lane,” Galen assures. “One of my dad's favorite sayings to me while I was learning the business was, ‘Son, don't mess this thing up with a brilliant idea.’ We keep up with the trends without sacrificing who we are and what we stand for.” Another lesson learned on the job was how to strike a better work/life balance. “I was working probably 80 hours a week,” Galen Growing up, Galen says weekends were all about sports. “Boxing was our favorite back in the day. My dad would fire up the barbecue and grill some pork ribs and dogs served with a bowl of Lay's potato chips and his famous cream cheese onion dip. Occasionally, he would allow my brother and me to split an ice-cold Budweiser if there was something special to watch, like a Muhammed Ali fight. On Saturdays, my dad coached my Little League team that played at Ford Field in Portola Valley.” When the team won, they celebrated with burgers and fries at Rossotti's Alpine Inn—a meaty memory befitting someone who’s carved out a place for himself at the family steakhouse. says candidly. “After the first month with Megan, my oldest, my wife basically came to me and said, ‘We didn't get married so I could be a single mom.’” Galen wholeheartedly agreed, learning to more fully rely on his team. “As I hired more management, we were able to do even more business, make better profits.” Though Galen leads the team, you’ll still find his father’s fingerprints all over this place, particularly through his collection of sports memorabilia. Prominently displayed in museum-quality cases throughout the dining rooms, lobby and even the bathroom, items range from an autographed picture of Babe Ruth to a home plate signed by all 30 New York Yankees. It’s the kind of atmosphere where sports stars feel right at home, and Sundance has hosted greats like Tiger Woods, Jerry Rice, Jim Plunkett and John Elway. raising the steaks sundancethesteakhouse.com
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