After setting its roots in Boulder, Chicago, and Denver, The Kitchen makes its grand debut in Austin. The restaurant officially opened on November 14, occupying an 8,300 square-foot, two-story space on the ground level of the Guadalupe skyscraper. Designed to be “a space where friends meet, loved ones celebrate special moments, and the community gathers,” founder Kimbal Musk shared in a press release, the restaurant brings an elevated yet inviting dining experience. As a fan of celebrating moments both big and small, I decided to toast my new role as Time Out’s Texas and Southern editor with a visit.
The experience began with a warm welcome from two hostesses, who guided my guest and me to our table in the main dining room. The space features a mix of banquette-style seating and individual chairs, some with a view of the open kitchen. For larger parties, there’s an intimate wine room and a private dining room that seats up to 12 guests. The restaurant, designed by Michael Hsu’s Office of Architecture—the same minds behind Nando’s Peri-Peri—features an intimate dining space with a modern feel.
On the menu, people can expect to find shareable plates, each fusing flavors inspired by Peru, Morocco, and Japan. Standout dishes that I tried include grilled oysters engulfed in brown butter, kabayaki and scallions; carrots atop whipped feta; crab fried rice with Thai lime-nam jim; and a juicy Kansas City strip in a red chimichurri sauce.
The left side of the restaurant reveals a wood-wrapped bar with mirrored glass. There’s an impressive menu of wines by the glass, cocktails, draft and bottled beer and dessert wines that pair nicely with one of six desserts on the menu: churro doughnuts, chèvre cheesecake, mousse dome, cremeux, ice cream trio or semifreddo. Or if you’d like to end your dinner on a caffeinated note, there’s a selection of tea and coffee.
The Kitchen is open for dinner daily starting at 4pm, welcoming reservations and walk-ins. The restaurant does have a romantic and nightlife feel, so it’s ideal for date nights or catching up with friends. Future additions include valet service and an upper-level event space, expected in 2025.
For more information and to make reservations, visit https://www.thekitchen.com/