DEE LINCOLN
Dee Lincoln’s life story is often described as epitomizing the American Dream.
Though the self-made millionaire has earned award-winning professional milestones and is renowned nationally for her philanthropic endeavors, she remains grounded. She is often described as a gregarious Cajun firecracker with boundless energy, enthusiasm and passion.
She is recognized from Dallas to Wall Street as a national female powerhouse in the male-dominated steakhouse industry. She is often described as “The QueenUltra of Steak” for her role with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, a restaurant concept she co-founded over two decades ago. In April 2010, she resigned her position at Del Frisco's. "I leave the brand in good hands with Lone Star Funds. Del Frisco's has been an incredible journey, however, great eras come to an end," Lincoln said.
Her extensive wine knowledge is earning her national attention for her entrepreneurial endeavor, Dee Lincoln's Tasting Room & Bubble Bar, with her first location at Cowboys Stadium. This high-end concept is the first in a sports arena anywhere in the world housing self-service, high-end wine machines from Italy which deliver wines by the ounce at the perfect temperature.
In partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, Legends Hospitality Management CEO Mike Rawlings and her brother, Ricky Comardelle, Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar is an innovative wine, champagne and martini bar. The unique luxury brand concept affords guests the opportunity to enjoy the experience of tasting as little as 2 oz.
“Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar is a wonderful partnership at Cowboys Stadium. Dee is one of Dallas’ unique personalities who is very magnetic and makes everyo; ne feel right at home. She is very special, and we are thrilled to have her in the new Cowboys Stadium,” said Stephen Jones.
“I’ve spent my entire career with a luxury brand and am blessed to have built great relationships with wineries all over the world. These experiences led me to my passion for fine wine and now I share this passion with others,” said Lincoln. “The stadium is the most spectacular state-of-the-art arena in the world.”
Plans are currently underway to open additional Dee Lincoln's Tasting Room & Bubble Bar venues in Dallas and Fort Worth and to pursue additional opportunities in resorts and other sporting venues across the country.
Another new concept in her restaurant group is The Dinghy Bar & Grill, a casual marina restaurant on Lake Lewisville at Pier 121 that she and partner Ricky Comardelle opened in May 2010. The Dinghy Bar & Grill showcases a patio overlooking the water, full bar, and casual menu with Cajun accents rounded off with Texas classics.
As an award-winning philanthropist, Lincoln is the recipient of many national, regional and local awards including the Texas Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year Award, Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s nomination for “Restaurateur of the Year,” MDA Community Service Award for raising millions to help MDA children, Savor Dallas “Spirit Award,“ Women That Soar “Brilliantly You” Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary philanthropy and Northwood University’s “Women of Distinction” award.
She is also recipient of NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s Playmaker Award for Community Service, Restaurants & Institutions’ Ivy Award bestowed by her industry peers, Distinguished Restaurants of America (DiRoNa) National Board Member, Dallas Business Journal’s “Outstanding Business Leader” award, and founder of the Del Frisco’s Classic Golf Tournament recognized by the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the number one net profit tournament in the United States out of 80 cities.
As founder of the Dee Lincoln Foundation, her mission is to help children raising funds through high profile events.
Her tenacity for helping others is derived from her beginnings. Born Deidra Comardelle on the Fourth of July, Lincoln grew up in Gretna, a blue collar suburb of New Orleans.
In the late 80's, she moved to Dallas to open a Del Frisco‘s. Lincoln’s American Dream materialized, and she achieved a major milestone of her career in 1995. She and her former partner sold their Dallas-based Del Frisco’s concept for a record $23 million to Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon.
In her unprecedented style and intrigued by Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon CEO Jamie Coulter’s vision to expand the successful formula, Lincoln stayed on with that company for eleven years. Lincoln assisted in bringing vision to reality by opening and overseeing additional operations for Del Frisco’s upscale steakhouses in Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas and New York.
In December 2006, Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon sold the Del Frisco's concept to Dallas-based Lone Star Funds. Under Lincoln's leadership, Lone Star Funds opened Del Frisco's restaurants in Charlotte, Houston and Philadelphia.
Though she has risen to the top of her professional career as a nationally-recognized entrepreneur, earned millions for doing so and garnered more national awards and achievements than most, she remains centered.
When asked about her greatest accomplishment, she replies, “it isn’t the sale of the flagship restaurant in Dallas for $23 million. It’s the birth of my daughter, Bella.”
"Family is the most important part of my life," she says. "I am blessed. I want to keep balance in my life and be the best mom while continuing my incredible journey."
Asked to define success, Lincoln says, “never rest on your laurels; don’t become complacent and always keep moving because life is for ‘livin.’ ”
According to the national publication, Dining Out Magazine, “it’s been said that success is the convergence of hard work and opportunity. Even after all of her successes, Dee Lincoln continues to validate that definition.”
Dee Lincoln’s life story is often described as epitomizing the American Dream.
Though the self-made millionaire has earned award-winning professional milestones and is renowned nationally for her philanthropic endeavors, she remains grounded. She is often described as a gregarious Cajun firecracker with boundless energy, enthusiasm and passion.
She is recognized from Dallas to Wall Street as a national female powerhouse in the male-dominated steakhouse industry. She is often described as “The QueenUltra of Steak” for her role with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, a restaurant concept she co-founded over two decades ago. In April 2010, she resigned her position at Del Frisco's. "I leave the brand in good hands with Lone Star Funds. Del Frisco's has been an incredible journey, however, great eras come to an end," Lincoln said.
Her extensive wine knowledge is earning her national attention for her entrepreneurial endeavor, Dee Lincoln's Tasting Room & Bubble Bar, with her first location at Cowboys Stadium. This high-end concept is the first in a sports arena anywhere in the world housing self-service, high-end wine machines from Italy which deliver wines by the ounce at the perfect temperature.
In partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, Legends Hospitality Management CEO Mike Rawlings and her brother, Ricky Comardelle, Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar is an innovative wine, champagne and martini bar. The unique luxury brand concept affords guests the opportunity to enjoy the experience of tasting as little as 2 oz.
“Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar is a wonderful partnership at Cowboys Stadium. Dee is one of Dallas’ unique personalities who is very magnetic and makes everyo; ne feel right at home. She is very special, and we are thrilled to have her in the new Cowboys Stadium,” said Stephen Jones.
“I’ve spent my entire career with a luxury brand and am blessed to have built great relationships with wineries all over the world. These experiences led me to my passion for fine wine and now I share this passion with others,” said Lincoln. “The stadium is the most spectacular state-of-the-art arena in the world.”
Plans are currently underway to open additional Dee Lincoln's Tasting Room & Bubble Bar venues in Dallas and Fort Worth and to pursue additional opportunities in resorts and other sporting venues across the country.
Another new concept in her restaurant group is The Dinghy Bar & Grill, a casual marina restaurant on Lake Lewisville at Pier 121 that she and partner Ricky Comardelle opened in May 2010. The Dinghy Bar & Grill showcases a patio overlooking the water, full bar, and casual menu with Cajun accents rounded off with Texas classics.
As an award-winning philanthropist, Lincoln is the recipient of many national, regional and local awards including the Texas Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year Award, Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s nomination for “Restaurateur of the Year,” MDA Community Service Award for raising millions to help MDA children, Savor Dallas “Spirit Award,“ Women That Soar “Brilliantly You” Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary philanthropy and Northwood University’s “Women of Distinction” award.
She is also recipient of NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s Playmaker Award for Community Service, Restaurants & Institutions’ Ivy Award bestowed by her industry peers, Distinguished Restaurants of America (DiRoNa) National Board Member, Dallas Business Journal’s “Outstanding Business Leader” award, and founder of the Del Frisco’s Classic Golf Tournament recognized by the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the number one net profit tournament in the United States out of 80 cities.
As founder of the Dee Lincoln Foundation, her mission is to help children raising funds through high profile events.
Her tenacity for helping others is derived from her beginnings. Born Deidra Comardelle on the Fourth of July, Lincoln grew up in Gretna, a blue collar suburb of New Orleans.
In the late 80's, she moved to Dallas to open a Del Frisco‘s. Lincoln’s American Dream materialized, and she achieved a major milestone of her career in 1995. She and her former partner sold their Dallas-based Del Frisco’s concept for a record $23 million to Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon.
In her unprecedented style and intrigued by Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon CEO Jamie Coulter’s vision to expand the successful formula, Lincoln stayed on with that company for eleven years. Lincoln assisted in bringing vision to reality by opening and overseeing additional operations for Del Frisco’s upscale steakhouses in Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas and New York.
In December 2006, Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon sold the Del Frisco's concept to Dallas-based Lone Star Funds. Under Lincoln's leadership, Lone Star Funds opened Del Frisco's restaurants in Charlotte, Houston and Philadelphia.
Though she has risen to the top of her professional career as a nationally-recognized entrepreneur, earned millions for doing so and garnered more national awards and achievements than most, she remains centered.
When asked about her greatest accomplishment, she replies, “it isn’t the sale of the flagship restaurant in Dallas for $23 million. It’s the birth of my daughter, Bella.”
"Family is the most important part of my life," she says. "I am blessed. I want to keep balance in my life and be the best mom while continuing my incredible journey."
Asked to define success, Lincoln says, “never rest on your laurels; don’t become complacent and always keep moving because life is for ‘livin.’ ”
According to the national publication, Dining Out Magazine, “it’s been said that success is the convergence of hard work and opportunity. Even after all of her successes, Dee Lincoln continues to validate that definition.”
