Etxe, the Basque-style steakhouse helmed by former Boca Restaurant Group fixtures David Matern and Heather Brady, is trading its short-term residency for a permanent address in East Walnut Hills. The new spot is planned around a wood-fired hearth and full bar, with space for roughly 95 to 110 diners, turning a well-regarded pop-up into a long-haul neighborhood restaurant.
According to Local 12, which republishes reporting from the Cincinnati Business Courier, the Etxe partners have signed a 10-year lease at the Woodburn Exchange and will take over 1395 William Howard Taft Road. That report notes the pair left the Boca Restaurant Group in September 2025 before launching Etxe as a residency, and that the lease and buildout are designed to support heart-forward Basque cooking alongside a robust beverage program.
From Pop-Up To Permanent Address
Etxe began as a culinary residency at The Aperture in October 2025, according to the restaurant’s own site. Coverage from CityBeat notes that the run doubled as a test kitchen for a live-fire, meat-forward menu, including wood-fired txuleta and tableside service elements the team plans to lean into in a permanent dining room. The Aperture paused full evening service at the end of 2025 and has since focused on limited lunch and takeout pop-ups while the space hosts Etxe.
What To Expect At Etxe
“This will be the restaurant we’ve always envisioned,” chef David Matern told CityBeat, describing a hearth-centered buildout and expanded service. Reporting on the lease says the finished dining room will seat approximately 95 to 110 guests and will feature both indoor and outdoor seating, a full bar, and new wood-fire infrastructure.
Neighborhood Impact
The Woodburn Exchange bills itself as a mixed-use development on Woodburn Avenue and pitches the project as part of a broader effort to reactivate that East Walnut Hills stretch, according to the development’s site. Local planning notes and neighborhood meeting minutes point to active interest and developer activity at the William Howard Taft and Woodburn intersection, suggesting that a long-term restaurant tenant like Etxe could help steady foot traffic and retail along the corridor.
Etxe will keep operating out of its temporary residency at The Aperture while the new space is being built out. The restaurant’s site lists current hours and booking details. The Aperture’s location and reservation information also appear on OpenTable, where the temporary address and service specifics are posted for diners.
