Purveyors of Amazing: Andrea “Dre” Reed

The faithful steward who keeps Truluck’s running behind the scenes

At Truluck’s, every flawlessly executed dish is the final product of hours of preparation and years of dedication. Out of the spotlight of the dining room, there’s a team of unsung heroes who keep our kitchens firing on all cylinders. Heroes like Dre Reed, a steward at Truluck’s in The Woodlands, TX. At work or in the community, he embodies a commitment to service and going the extra mile.

Dre got his start in the industry at La Torreta Lake Resort & Spa along Lake Conroe, where for over eight years he continually rose up the ranks from dishwasher to steward to supervisor, charged with training and mentoring stewards for all four of the resort’s restaurants.

Dre added quality control and prep to his list of responsibilities, and his work ethic and willingness to learn caught the eye of a chef at the resort. When the chef accepted a sous chef role at Truluck’s, he recruited Dre to make the move as well.

Six years later, Dre runs the steward department and has become a fixture of the Truluck’s team. He relishes takng on new responsibilities and loves the support he receives from leadership.

In the fast-paced environment of the restaurant, surrounded by passionate, knowledgeable people, he can indulge his curiosity and pick up something new every day.

“There’s always something to learn,” Dre says. “And I’m always able to stay busy.”

His favorite part about working at Truluck’s is how generous his teammates are with their time and knowledge. “If you truly want to help and want to learn something, the people here will teach you.”

Dre strives to take that same approach, leading with generosity and helping others learn and grow. Despite his own remarkable professional development, he says his proudest moment at Truluck’s has been celebrating the success of someone else. He recalls mentoring a young employee since his first day on the job and slowly helping him overcome his shyness. Over time, under Dre’s mentorship, the young man came out of his shell and developed into a line cook at the restaurant.

Dre’s generous spirit has also made him a mainstay in his community. Outside of the restaurant, he is heavily involved in the work of Pleasant Rose Baptist Church in Willis, TX, which he has attended since childhood. Throughout the week, you’ll find Dre shuttling the congregation’s elderly members to and from choir practice, escorting them all over the state for church events, and doing setup and sound check for Sunday service.

A life of service comes naturally to Dre, who comes from a military family and spent four years in the U.S. Army as a member of Delta Company, 73^rd Ordnance Battalion. He recalls overcoming a huge fear of heights, repelling down from great heights to complete the air assault challenge during training. His experience has stayed with him, and today, taking on new challenges is a piece of cake. Truluck’s Chocolate Malt Cake, to be specific.

“That’s my favorite,” says Dre.

Join us today and enjoy an unforgettable meal, prepared with care by a team of remarkable people. Your table is waiting.