Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile on East Cesar Chavez in East Austin
Austin just gained something special, an exciting new addition to our city’s already impressive repertoire of dining and drinking options.
Jacoby’s Opens on Colorado River
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile opened its doors on August 20, 2014. Austinites are welcomed into a modern dining room with rustic overtones that leads out to an equally charming, breezy back porch. This ranch to table spot is located on East Cesar Chavez at the far east side of town, along the banks of the Colorado River.
Have a seat at the thoughtfully adorned tables inside
With an exceptional view and backyard feel, the porch at Jacoby’s will definitely become one of Austin’s favorite places to kick back and hang out this fall.
The Jacoby family ranch is located in Melvin, a tiny town east of San Angelo in the heart of Texas. The Jacobys have built quite a name for themselves in Melvin. In addition to the ranch, the family owns Jacoby Feed and Seed, a rail center and a café. Austin’s own Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile was born after one of their four sons, Adam, moved into town to attend UT and realized the capital city would make a perfect second home for the Jacoby business.
West Texas photographs and blue mason jars in the main dining room
Quite simply, the restaurant and bar are absolutely beautiful. Exposed brick walls, wood-planked ceilings and stitched leather chairs are brightened up by huge windows, gallery-worthy photographs and tables set with wildflowers and bright blue mason jars. Let’s just say Creative Director and Interior Designer Kris Swift knows what he’s doing.
Dishes Inspired by Texas
Clockwise from top left: deviled eggs with radish, coconut cupcakes, Jacoby beef sliders, and pimiento cheese on kettle chips
The beautiful back porch overlooking the river
I was lucky enough to attend an event at the restaurant the week it opened. I took it upon myself to taste everything in sight, in an effort to get the full Jacoby’s experience.
The Jacoby beef slider was unbelievable, with juicy beef, bread and butter pickles, complemented with garlic aioli. Try the full-size version on their Supper menu, or give the sirloin, strip or ribeye a try. I stepped out of my former-vegetarian comfort zone and tried the beef carpaccio, a raw preparation of their famous meat that reminded me of a leaner, richer prosciutto.
Beyond beef, Jacoby’s serves up other Southern favorites like deviled eggs with radish and creamy pimiento cheese on kettle cooked chips. They also serve a sour cream and roggenier version of mac and cheese, as well as creamed corn with crimini mushrooms that I cannot wait to try.
The Jacobys can bake, too. The coconut cupcake I snagged was a not-too-sweet iteration that reminded me of Southern cornbread.
Beyond the Beef
Jacoby’s mercantile sells handmade goods and artisan foods
The bartenders are friendly and fast, shaking up twists on familiar favorites such as Melvin Mules, West Texas Shandies and Mezcal Margaritas. Be sure to give the blackberry and basil Muskoka Smash a try, and definitely don’t leave out Shady Granny with lemon, strawberry and gin.
Jacoby’s blend of familiarity and freshness will easily draw people from all over town. Be sure to walk off your meal while strolling through the mercantile portion of Jacoby’s, filled with beautiful, handmade goods and specialty foods.
Located at 3235 E Cesar Chavez St – JacobysAustin.com
@samwchampion asks:
Have you made it out to Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile yet?
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