Upcoming Downtown French Restaurant and Bakery Changes Name

Le Politique is the new name of the French restaurant headed for downtown Austin on San Antonio Street. Found in the Northshore apartment complex, the restaurant was formerly pegged as Chez Nada. The idea remains the same: a French brasserie with coffee shop and raw bar, making its debut in the summer.

As inspiration for Le Politique, executive chef Derek Salkin quoted Julia Child’s memoir in a statement: “The kind of food I fell in love with was not trendy, souped-up fantasies, just something very good to eat.” For lunch, dinner, and brunch, the menu focuses on French fare, including escargot, trout amandine, tarte flambee, and more.

The bakery will have its own area, with pastries, coffee, and espresso, available to go. The space will include an indoor dining room, bar and lounge areas, along with a big patio overlooking 2nd and San Antonio streets.

Working alongside Salkin is wife Alyssa Hurlstone as executive pastry chef. She previously worked at Faena Miami Hotel and French Laundry. Salkin's culinary resume includes Paul Qui's Miami restaurant Pao, Jean Georges, Per Se, French Laundry, The Modern, Joel Robuchon’s restaurant in New Orleans, and others.

Le Politique is part of Austin hospitality group New Waterloo. Also under its umbrella are Sway (which is expanding with two more locations yet to come), La Condesa, South Congress Hotel and its various restaurants (Otoko, Cafe No Se, Central Standard, and Manana), Goodall's Kitchen in Hotel Ella, and Pao in the Faena in Miami.

Similarly, New Waterloo changed the name of its forthcoming twinned Italian restaurants on East 6th Street from Gatto Nero and Enoteca Gattino to Il Brutto, and changed the concept of its casual counterpart to focus on sandwiches.

• Le Politique [Official]
• Le Politique [Facebook]
• Le Politique [Instagram]
• Chez Nada Will Serve French-American Fare Next Year [EATX]