
Native Meals, a Houston-based restaurant that will get its dishes made out of scratch from native Texas ranches, farms and different distributors, has opened its doorways in downtown Austin.
The brand new two-story restaurant on the nook of San Antonio and West Second streets options floor-to-ceiling home windows, a spacious outside patio and earthy tones inside. Pure mild and vegetal décor are an extension of its farm-to-table and vegetarian delicacies ethos.
“We’re so honored to be right here at this location and share our love of fantastic meals, fostering a optimistic setting, creating a terrific place to return and work,” mentioned Nikki Dillree, Assistant Basic Supervisor of Native Meals in Austin. She mentioned that she desires the restaurant to be a spot the place Austinites really feel at dwelling and eat good meals.
Based in 2011 by chef Dylan Murray, restaurateur Benjy Levit and their accomplice Martin Berson, Native Meals had grown to 4 places in Houston earlier than leaping into the Austin market, first as a pop-up retailer in 2021 earlier than opening a retailer within the heart final month. The bodily location within the Second Avenue district was below building for over a 12 months to accommodate the area for the brand new restaurant.
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Native Meals Government Chef Zack Sutton mentioned native distributors are a part of the inspiration behind the restaurant’s choices. Utilizing Farm to Desk Texas, a distributor of regionally grown produce, the Austin location will get its bread from Gradual Dough Bakery, dairy from Antonelli’s Cheese, and selfmade yogurt from Ruthie’s.
“It is an limitless provide of native distributors,” Sutton mentioned.
For Sutton, having labored within the restaurant trade for many of her life, working at Native Meals was a refreshing change. Sutton cited the longevity of worker retention at Native Meals as a distinction in her job.
“The folks behind the corporate had been the promoting level for me,” he mentioned. “This firm is what units it other than different employers. After I was in Houston, I met workers who had been working for the corporate for 10 to 20 years. You do not see that in eating places fairly often.”
‘inventive freedom’
Native Meals has a various menu – from the Crispy Rooster Sandwich with shredded hen breast with pecan seeds to the Asian Rooster Salad topped with oranges and home fries, there’s something for everybody.
Since shifting to Austin means utilizing totally different native distributors, Sutton mentioned they discover it an thrilling problem to recreate the menu to suit native Austin elements.
“There’s lots of inventive freedom” with our menu, Sutton mentioned. “The elements that we get right here in Austin are totally different than in Houston, so it is distinctive.”
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Native Meals is finest identified for serving Houston-based distributors like Katz’s Espresso. With its new location, Native Meals has expanded its partnerships with Austin-area distributors and is seeking to develop its roster.
“The staff all the time welcomes introductions from different native growers and distributors to proceed rising their membership base,” in line with a press launch.
Chef and accomplice Dylan Murray has labored with the Native Meals menu because it opened in 2011 and mentioned he hopes to construct relationships with extra native distributors in Austin.
“We imagine that sustainable sourcing practices equal higher high quality choices and enhance relationships with our neighborhood,” Murray mentioned in a press launch. “Bringing this longtime Houston favourite to Austin furthers our goal and dedication to supporting locals in an accessible neighborhood setting.”
The brand new restaurant held its grand opening on June 25. The restaurant is open every day from 11 am to eight:30 pm For his or her menu and different choices, go to their web site.