Emery, the third restaurant from chefs and restaurateurs Ian Thurwachter and Krystal Craig, is scheduled to open Nov. 5 at 4800 Burnet Road, in the former Gusto space. The steakhouse plans to serve Texas Wagyu, offer weekend brunch and hold a daily happy hour.
The team behind Intero and Poeta is turning to steakhouse fare, with a menu built around regionally raised beef and classic staples, according to Austin American-Statesman. The restaurant plans to serve Texas Wagyu from Peeler Farm in Floresville, alongside a double-cut pork chop, half chicken, broiled Gulf redfish and a house burger.
A broader menu beyond steak
The menu ranges from baguettes, beef tartare and shrimp cocktail to mushroom beignets with caramelized onions and salmon and spinach dip, per the Statesman's reporting. Limited quantities of prime rib will be served with au jus and horseradish cream. The restaurant also notes vegetarian choices, including roasted acorn squash with brown butter and parmesan, as well as gluten-free and dairy-free dishes.
Krystal Craig, who co-owns the venture, oversees Emery's dessert program as pastry chef, the same account states. Sweets on the menu include a flourless chocolate cake sundae and a lemon meringue tart. Craig's background includes ownership of Crave Artisan Chocolate, and she previously co-owned Intero alongside Thurwachter, who served as that restaurant's kitchen lead, according to Eater Austin.
Brunch and weekday service
On Saturdays and Sundays, brunch will include prime rib and hash, carrot cake coffee cake and four varieties of eggs Benedict, the Statesman reports. Emery is expected to serve weekday lunch, weekend brunch and dinner daily.
The beef comes from Peeler Farms, east of Floresville, where several hundred head of Akaushi cattle are raised across 3,000 acres, according to Texas Monthly. The ranch also supplies Austin restaurants including Pool Burger, Sour Duck Market, Dai Due and Salt and Time, the outlet reports.
Burnet Road and the local beef chain
Burnet Road’s commercial character has changed over time. In 2011, The Austin Chronicle described a shifting corridor where a new crop of restaurants was helping revitalize parts of the street. A 2022 City of Austin planning review described Burnet Road as an established commercial corridor and an Activity Corridor where mixed-use development is encouraged.
Peeler Farms says its Wagyu cattle are harvested at its USDA processing facility in Poth, seven miles from the farm, according to Peeler Farms. The cited reporting documents this farm’s operation and its Austin restaurant customers, but does not provide statewide production figures for comparison.
Drinks and daily specials
Emery plans a cocktail program with a signature martini menu and seasonal specialty mocktails, according to the Statesman's report. Its wine list will draw from around the world, with an emphasis on French varietals; beer options will include local breweries as well as domestic and imported selections.
A daily happy hour is planned from 3 to 5 p.m., with specials on martinis, wine, starters and the signature burger, the Statesman reports. Expected hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will accept reservations through OpenTable and walk-ins.
A new direction for the restaurant team
Thurwachter and Craig are extending a restaurant portfolio that began with Intero. More recently, they partnered with 2 Dine 4 Hospitality to move Poeta into the former Swoop House space in East Austin, according to Community Impact. Emery brings the team into steakhouse territory on Burnet Road, with its Nov. 5 opening approaching.
