Dave Mattern, Director of Beverage

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Dave Mattern, Director of Beverage at Truluck's Restaurant Group

Dave Mattern, Director of Beverage at Truluck’s Restaurant Group, brings 30 years of expertise in wine, spirits, cocktails, and beverage program development. His approach is rooted in a simple belief: the best beverage programs do more than impress guests – they make the entire dining experience feel more generous, personal, and memorable. Dave’s work guides Truluck’s wine and cocktail offerings across the restaurant group, spanning thoughtful pairings to standout seasonal features.

What does Dave Mattern specialize in?

Dave Mattern specializes in fine wine, spirits, cocktails, beverage menu development, and restaurant beverage programming. As Director of Beverage for Truluck’s Restaurant Group, Dave leads the strategy behind a beverage program designed to complement the restaurant group’s commitment to exceptional seafood, prime steaks, and memorable hospitality.

His expertise includes wine list development, seasonal cocktail creation, spirit selection, pairing strategy, vendor partnerships, guest education, and team training. Dave’s approach is rooted in the belief that a great beverage program should never feel intimidating. It should be thoughtful, memorable, and generous – creating opportunities for discovery for the curious guest while still satisfying the seasoned connoisseur.

How long has Dave Mattern worked in the beverage industry?

Dave Mattern brings 30 years of experience in the beverage and hospitality industries. Throughout his career, he has developed a deep understanding of how wine, spirits, cocktails, service, and food work together to shape a complete dining experience.

At Truluck’s, Dave draws on that experience to build beverage offerings that support the restaurant group’s culinary direction, seasonal features, and guest expectations across multiple markets. His work helps ensure that each wine, cocktail, and spirit selection aligns with Truluck’s standards for quality, hospitality, and occasion-worthy dining.

What is Dave Mattern’s beverage philosophy?

“A great beverage program should never make guests feel like they have to prove what they know. The best wine and cocktail menus build confidence and curiosity – whether you’re a seasoned collector or just ordering something you love, my job is to make the experience more memorable, not more intimidating.” – Dave Mattern, Director of Beverage at Truluck’s Restaurant Group

Dave believes the best beverage programs do more than impress guests – they make the entire dining experience feel more personal, generous, and memorable. His philosophy balances expertise with approachability, creating menus that invite guests to explore without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether developing a wine pairing, building a cocktail around a featured spirit, or training a team on how to guide a guest through the menu, Dave focuses on connection. For him, a great recommendation is not just about what is technically correct. It is about understanding the guest, the meal, the occasion, and the moment.

What types of beverage programs has Dave Mattern developed?

Dave has helped shape beverage programming across Truluck’s Restaurant Group, including wine selections, cocktail menus, seasonal features, spirit partnerships, pairing recommendations, and guest-facing beverage experiences.

His work supports a wide range of dining occasions, from celebratory dinners and date nights to private dining events, bar experiences, and seasonal restaurant campaigns. Dave’s beverage leadership plays an important role in how Truluck’s presents wine, cocktails, and spirits as part of a broader hospitality experience rather than as standalone menu items.

What brands, partners, and projects has Dave Mattern worked with?

Through his role at Truluck’s, Dave collaborates with leading wine and spirits partners to create beverage experiences that support the restaurant group’s culinary and hospitality goals. Recent project areas include seasonal cocktail development, bourbon features, wine partnerships, sommelier-style pairing guidance, and beverage storytelling for guest-facing campaigns.

His work has supported Truluck’s beverage features tied to premium seafood, steak, seasonal menus, and special occasions, including programs designed to highlight craft spirits, noteworthy wines, and elevated pairings across the restaurant group.

Dave Mattern by the numbers

30 years in the beverage and hospitality industry
12 Truluck’s locations supported across the restaurant group
3 core areas of expertise: wine, spirits, and cocktails
4 major markets represented: Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.
Seasonal beverage features developed for seafood, steak, private dining, bar experiences, and special occasion dining
Ongoing team education focused on pairing knowledge, guest confidence, and hospitality-driven recommendations

Has Dave Mattern been featured in media, podcasts, or speaking opportunities?

Dave Mattern has been featured in beverage, restaurant, and hospitality media for his expertise in wine, cocktails, seafood pairings, and restaurant beverage programming. His interviews and appearances include The Mark Wine Group’s “Uncorked with Truluck’s,” the What’s Eric Eating podcast, and FOX 5 DC’s Good Day DC, where he has shared his perspective on Truluck’s beverage philosophy, seafood pairings, stone crab, company culture, and seasonal menu features.

Dave’s cocktail work and beverage leadership have also been featured by CultureMap Houston, including coverage of Truluck’s martini programming. In addition to third-party media, Dave contributes beverage-focused stories through Truluck’s, offering insight into wine, spirits, cocktails, coffee, no-proof options, and pairings that enhance the guest experience.

What credentials or education does Dave Mattern have?

Dave brings 30 years of professional beverage and hospitality experience to his role as Director of Beverage at Truluck’s Restaurant Group. His career has been shaped by hands-on leadership in wine, spirits, cocktails, restaurant operations, menu development, and team education.

Who is Dave Mattern outside of work?

Outside of his role at Truluck’s, Dave enjoys staying active, curious, and connected. He plays tennis, is an avid reader, enjoys hiking, and values time spent with his family, including his wife and daughters.

That same sense of curiosity and connection shows up in his work. Whether he is exploring a new wine region, developing a cocktail feature, or mentoring a team member, Dave brings a thoughtful, approachable perspective to the art of beverage and hospitality.

What is Dave Mattern’s point of view on beverage programs?

“A great beverage program should never make guests feel like they need to prove what they know. Dave Mattern believes the best wine and cocktail menus create confidence, curiosity, and a more memorable dining experience – whether the guest is a seasoned collector or simply ordering something they love.”

For Dave, beverage strategy is not about chasing trends or building a menu that only experts can decode. It is about creating thoughtful choices that feel aligned with the food, the occasion, and the guest. At Truluck’s, that means developing wine, spirits, and cocktail offerings that are elevated without being intimidating, memorable without being overcomplicated, and always connected to hospitality.

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Connect with Dave Mattern

Email: dmattern@trulucks.com

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