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Acclaimed Austin restaurant Emmer & Rye is finally opening its highly-anticipated modern grill house — Hestia — in the downtown area at 607 West Third Street, Suite 105, starting on Saturday, December 7.
Hestia will focus on the New American approach to grilling. Food will be made with live-fire cooking methods, using mainly the giant 20-foot hearth in the kitchen. The name of the restaurant stems from the Greek goddess of the hearth.
In line with that ethos, the menu features items with global influences. There are snacks, small plates, and larger entrees. Expect plenty of meat, like duck, beef, lamb, and seafood.
The forthcoming restaurant, much like Emmer, is led by executive chef Kevin Fink and partner/executive pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph. Rounding out the team are chefs de cuisine Keith Rzepecki (Uchiko, Cafe Malta) and Julien Hawkins.
The team opened New American grain-focused restaurant Emmer & Rye in 2015 on Rainey Street, along with then-chef de cuisine Page Pressley. Then they opened the casual food hall stand Henbit in Fareground in 2018. After Hestia was announced, Pressley left earlier this February and joined Clarksville restaurant Swedish Hill.
Just a block away from Hestia, local restaurant group McGuire Moorman Hospitality is opening a bunch of new restaurants and bars within upcoming downtown high-rise Austin Proper. This includes The Peacock, a grill restaurant focusing on Mediterranean fare (Israeli and Turkish), expected to open in mid-December along with cocktail bar Goldie’s.
Hestia’s hours are from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, and then from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.