tenOak: Grand Opening Friday!
Tiffany Diane | Food & Drink,Music,Nightlife | Wednesday March 30 2011
Grand Opening Celebration this Friday (4/1)!
Austin’s food industry is, to say the least, BOOMING! From fine dining to the numerous food trailer parks around town, there is never a lack of delicious bites around town. The latest addition to the scene, tenOak, is going to offer a new take on dining – social dining.
“We want groups of people to come into our establishment and be able to laugh, chat and experience our wonderful food, and drink in our exceptional bourbon and whiskey selection,” says tenOak Marketing Coordinator Cassandra Erwin. “Our goal is small plates that are meant for sharing between friends.”
The American twist on dim sum or “American style small plates” are priced extremely fair, with everything under $10 and cocktails under $15. This social dining innovation was developed by owners Michael Gerard and Diggy Taylor, whose other concepts include Speakeasy, Imperia and previously Cuba Libre. Gerard and Taylor conceived the idea three months ago, focusing on creating something that Austin has not seen yet.
Texan native Chef James Roller has studied all over the US, returning to Texas to create classic American plates for Austinites. And in that same vein, tenOak kept local in mind, with draught beers from local breweries from the Austin area and spirits from the Texas area.
“Some of our signature drinks came straight out of the minds of our bartenders,” says Erwin. “We want to accentuate the flavors of an oak barrel in both our food and drink items. Some of our cocktails are infused with oak chips to bring out any earthy richness.”
Quality is obviously important to the restaurant, whose menu caters to vegetarians and carnivores. Whether you prefer fruits and vegetables or bacon, patrons are encouraged to sip, savor and share in tenOak’s social dining scene.
To give you a taste of the cuisine, Cassandra’s favorite dishes include a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich with warm bourbon maple butter and the signature stuffed hamburger (stuffed with bacon and bleu cheese, dressed with tenOak smoked shallot sauce).
You can try those out for yourself at the restaurant located at 409 Colorado St. It may just become one of your favorite new hot spots!
