Meet Peter Waters | Restauranteur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Peter Waters and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peter, what do you attribute your success to?
Our staff! The only thing i actually do really well is hire great people, and the second best thing i do is stay out of their way.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
In 2012 a few friends were preparing to open up T/aco restaurant and I was completely over the “corporate rat race”, so I offered to give them a hand. A few months in I knew I had found my calling. Fortunately for me they were generous enough to offer me a share in the business and 10 years later I was able to purchase the remainder of the business. 6 years after opening T/aco I opened a small walk up grilled cheese stand on Pearl St called Ruthies (named after my maternal grandmother). Whether we were are seating guests at T/aco or serving sandwiches out a window at Ruthies we always operate with one goal in mind: “every guest leaves happier than they arrived”. Both concepts offer some of the most affordable food experiences in town with overwhelming amounts of hospitality,

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are very few cities that offer the amount of fun and entertainment that Boulder provides on a daily basis, When we have guests in town we usually just let them tag along with our daily routine. Most mornings I get up grab a coffee at Bitty and Beau’s (amazing mission, look it up) and take Floyd (our 165lb Great Dane/ Mastiff) out for a 3-4 hike at Dry Creek trail head – flat trails, tons of off leash dogs with friendly owners, and a creek for cooling off. On our way home we will stop at Black Belly butcher stop for a breakfast burrito and perhaps a cut of meat to throw on the grill for dinner later that day. If we are looking to show off our beautiful mountains I would drive up to Lyons and either head to Estes Park or pick up the Peak to Peak highway and head back home via Nederland. If we are looking to get in some more exercise I will head to Chataqua to hike the Royal Arch trail. In the summer time we will head over to Scott Carpenter Park Pool to lounge in the lazy river or fly down one of their multiple water slides, and check in on our second Ruthies location in the seasonal concession stand. For dinner we often rotate between Jungle fore casual and great tiki drinks, Japango and Hapa for sushi, Jax for seafood and intimate setting, New Yorkeese, and Audrey Jane’s are our favorites for a New York (my hometown) style crust, we also like Alberico and Barchetta for more of a sit down dining experience, for fining dining we love the bar at Steakhouse 316, Corrida for weekend brunch, and for a truly unique dining experience the Farm Dinner out at Black Cat. On weekends we love taking Floyd up to Lucky’s Bakehouse Cafe to sit on their patio and enjoy a late breakfast.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Querrys (and Big Red F) have always been an inspiration for the way we run our business. Dave & Dana have always put their community ahead of their business and it shows in all aspects a of the way they show up around town. I also have to give credit to the people of Boulder, There is no audience more deserving of unconditional hospitality then the people we get to serve on a daily basis.

Website: Www.tacocolorado.com

Instagram: Tacoboulder

Facebook: Www.facebook.com/TacoBoulder

Other: Www.ruthiesboulder.com