Round Rock’s former Denny’s at 2700 N. I-35 is getting a serious glow-up. Grey Orchard, a new modern American restaurant from owner James Sun and chef partner Cole Fitzgerald, begins its soft opening on July 9, bringing an upscale, seasonally focused menu with subtle Asian influence to diners north of Austin. The team is pitching it as a neighborhood destination along the I-35 corridor, with a warm, neutral dining room, bar seating, and space for semi-private and larger group bookings.
The restaurant’s website notes that reservations are open for a soft-opening period running July 9–19, with hours listed as Sunday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m., according to Grey Orchard. The site also highlights private dining options and directs guests to a reservation portal for event bookings.
Chef and Ownership
Grey Orchard is the latest venture from restaurateur James Sun, with chef partner Cole Fitzgerald leading the kitchen. Local previews note that Fitzgerald brings Michelin Guide credentials to Round Rock, with his work in Atlanta earning a Michelin Guide “recommended” mention, as reported by Round Rock Scoop. The owners say the concept is designed to work for both date-night dinners and larger gatherings.
Menu and Space
As described by CultureMap Austin, the interior leans into warm neutrals, with partitions, bench seating, and a prominent bar setting the tone. The menu aims for a blend of comfort and polish, with items such as a wild mushroom salad, a double smash burger, fried chicken with Alabama white barbecue sauce, tempura bang-bang shrimp, duck bánh mì and basil fried rice. The restaurant also includes a semi-private dining room and accommodates larger-party bookings for events and celebrations.
Reservations and What to Know
The Round Rock listing is available through OpenTable, which shows the address and reservation portal for the soft-open service. For direct questions or private dining inquiries, the restaurant lists a phone number on its site: (737) 243-9998, according to Grey Orchard.
Grey Orchard moves into the former Denny’s footprint at 2700 N. I-35, a conversion that Community Impact previously flagged as part of the ongoing growth in Round Rock’s dining scene. The new kitchen, pairing Sun’s local restaurant experience with Fitzgerald’s fine-dining résumé, gives diners another option for elevated, seasonally minded meals without a trip into downtown Austin, according to Community Impact.
