Overview

• His death was confirmed by his son Michael to the San Francisco Standard, which first reported the news.
• Betz purchased the House of Prime Rib from founder Lou Balaski in 1985 and made it a destination known for 21-day aged prime rib carved tableside and stiff martinis.
• He arrived in San Francisco in 1962 as a waiter, bought Hoffman’s Grill in 1968 as the city’s youngest restaurateur, and later ran ventures including a Transamerica Pyramid nightclub.
• For more than 30 years he partnered with Glide Memorial Church to serve Christmas Eve prime rib dinners to thousands, with Glide citing more than 75,000 meals shared.
• The restaurant’s operations continue under his sons, Michael and Steven, following years in which Betz had already stepped back from daily management.