North Austin is getting a familiar face from South Congress. Ēma, the Mediterranean-minded sibling to South Congress favorite Aba, is set to open at Domain Northside this Saturday, bringing a mezze-focused lineup of small plates and a bright, California-leaning take on Mediterranean flavors. The new spot is geared toward indoor and outdoor dining with shareable, seasonal dishes at the center of the table.
Opening day, hours and reservations
According to Ema Restaurants, Ēma will debut on Saturday, January 31, at 3120 Palm Way, Suite 170, serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. Reservations are live through OpenTable, which currently lists bookable times beginning January 28. The restaurant also posts a phone number on its site for walk-in questions and private dining inquiries.
What’s on the menu
Ēma builds its menu around mezze, the spreads, vegetables, and kebabs meant for sharing, with signature plates that include sweet corn hummus, smoky whipped feta, crispy maitake mushrooms, octopus carpaccio, and a grilled halloumi kebab. The beverage program, led by Senior Beverage Manager Nicholas Berggren, leans Mediterranean, featuring cocktails such as the Don Higo, made with charanda rum, fig, coconut, and Greek mountain tea, plus a tequila yuzu espresso martini and several zero-proof options, according to CultureMap Austin.
Who’s behind Ēma
Chef Partner CJ Jacobson, who oversees both Aba and Ēma, brings a California-rooted, hyper-seasonal approach and national visibility from his Top Chef appearances and a 2014 Top Chef Duels win, per Lettuce Entertain You. His work at the Austin location leans toward brighter flavors and lighter preparations that are meant to complement daytime and early-evening dining.
What this adds to Domain Northside
The opening adds to a growing stretch of restaurants at Domain Northside and brings another Mediterranean option to North Austin alongside Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, North Italia, and Sixty Vines, according to CultureMap Austin. Earlier reporting had pointed to a fall 2025 debut for the project, per MySA, highlighting the familiar lag between announcement and opening for larger mall developments.
Reservations remain the safest move for opening weekend, and OpenTable currently shows availability across a range of times. Expect the kitchen to stick with bright, shareable plates that fit a day-in-the-sun vibe as Domain Northside continues to add higher-profile dining options.
