Barley Swine Alums Are Returning to Austin With a High-End Restaurant

Lauded Barley Swine alums Bradley Nicholson and Eater Young Gun Susana Querejazu (’16) are coming back to Austin to open their own high-end restaurant. Lutie’s Garden Restaurant, which will be found on the Commodore Perry Estate at 4100 Red River Street in Hancock, will open sometime in the spring of 2020.

Lutie’s will focus on New American and Texan fare made with ingredients sourced locally from vendors and farms found on the property. On deck will be lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Because of Nicholson and Querejazu’s involvement, expect really inventive and thoughtful dishes and ridiculously amazing desserts and pastries.

As for drinks, Lutie’s will emphasize what is being described as “rare and vintage liquors, digestifs, and spirits,” according to a release. There’s also cocktails, Texas beer, wines (with plenty of natural choices), and coffee for a non-boozy option.

In Austin, Nicholson worked at South Austin Italian restaurants Enoteca Vespaio and Vespaio before joining Barley Swine in 2011. Likewise, Querejazu worked at Enoteca and Vespaio in Austin, as well as Uchi and Uchiko. Then she became the pastry chef for Odd Duck, and then executive pastry chef for both Odd Duck and Barley Swine in 2016.

They left Austin in 2017, when Nicholson worked at Amass in Copenhagen (from ex-Noma head chef Matt Orlando) and Querejazu staged at Paris restaurant Le Meurice (under Alain Ducasse).

Then, in San Francisco, the couple worked at several restaurants: Nicholson as executive sous chef at Pacific Northwest-inspired Birdsong, as well as essential SF and three-Michelin-starred restaurant Benu. Querejazu worked as the pastry sous chef at fine dining restaurant Quince and three-Michelin starred tasting menu restaurant Saison, as well as an assistant sommelier at champagne bar The Riddler.

Rendering: Lutie’s [Official]

Lutie’s whole vibe, befitting the fact that it’s on an estate, is being described as an updated classy country club. Expect lots of greenery, massive windows, a covered patio overlooking those gardens, antiques, and the such. The physical restaurant will be found on the east side of the property.

The space is being designed by San Francisco-based designer Ken Fulk, who has worked on many restaurants and bars, including Marlowe, Leo’s Oyster Bar, and other Big Night Restaurant Group places in the California city. Unrelatedly but equally as important: he also designed Napster co-founder Sean Parker’s extremely extravagant whimsical woodsy wedding that was inspired by Lord of the Rings in 2013.

Future plans for Commedore estate, which is managed by luxury hospitality brand Auberge Resorts Collection, include adding hotel aspects to the property. A new three-story building will be built with rooms and suites, and then several suites will be available at the mansion already on the grounds. Plans for the latter include a cocktail bar.

Nicholson and Querejazu will run the food and drink programs for the entire property, including catering, in their capacities.

Commodore Perry Estate was built in 1928 and had served as the country home of Commodore Edgar (who ran a Texas cotton shipping business and developed real estate in Austin) and his wife Lutie Perry (who inspired the name of the restaurant), where they had hosted parties. Currently, it is owned by developer Clark Lyda.

Based on these descriptions, Lutie’s sounds comparable to the iconic redeveloped historic Green Pastures in Bouldin Creek with renamed fine dining restaurant Mattie’s. Its future plans also include a hotel.

• Lutie’s [Instagram]
• Commodore Perry Estate [Official]
• Peek inside the Commodore Perry Estate resort in Hancock [Curbed Austin]