Mediterranean Restaurant Aba Opens In Austin

AUSTIN, TX — The celebrated Mediterranean restaurant Aba opened its doors on Thursday, marking the company's first expansion from its Chicago base.

The opening also marks the first restaurant opening for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ (LEYE) in Texas. Hebrew for “father,” the restaurant pays homage to Chef Partner CJ Jacobson’s culinary roots in California with a lighter style of cooking that draws inspiration for its cuisine from Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece, officials described in an advisory.

The Aba Austin kitchen will be helmed by Austin-based Executive Chef Nick Erven. Austin diners now will be able to try the restaurant's full menu — including signature dishes such as Crispy Short Rib Hummus, Muhammara, Tamarind Braised Short Rib, Shawarma Spiced Skirt Steak and Orange Blossom Crème Brulee Pie. The beverage delights at Aba Austin are crafted by Lead Mixologist Liz Pearce and will showcase cocktails with Mediterranean-inspired spirits and Middle Eastern ingredients. Favorites include the Frozen Pina Express, Aloe, It’s Me and Green Harissa Bloody Mary. The wine list, curated by Sommelier Alex Augustine, features rare finds along with traditional old and new world selections.

Previous coverage: Acclaimed Mediterranean Restaurant Aba Coming To Austin

The indoor dining room at Aba has seating for up to 86 guests, officials said, while the multi-level outdoor patio and terrace accommodates up to 130 and lives under a canopy of a 100+-year-old native Heritage Oak adorned with glass and metal lanterns from Morocco and the Middle East.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety are a top priority for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, and Aba is following local guidelines and implementing new standards which you can also find on the website.

Both dine-in and carry-out options are available daily. Reservations are open now at abarestaurants.com/austin/. Aba is open for dinner Monday through Friday and brunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday at the following times listed below.

WHEN: Opening Thursday, October 1, beginning at 4 p.m.
Hours of operation:
Dinner
Monday – Friday: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday: 3 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Brunch
Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Bar & Patio
Monday – Thursday: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Friday: 4 p.m. – midnight
Saturday: 10 a.m. – midnight
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

WHERE: Aba
1011 S Congress Ave.
Building 2, Suite 180
Austin, TX 78704

For more information or to make a reservation, visit the Aba Restaurant website. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is also still currently hiring for a few positions at Aba Austin. To apply, click here. Be sure to follow along on Aba’s Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. (LEYE)

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. (LEYE) is an independent, family-owned restaurant group based in Chicago that owns, manages and licenses more than 130 establishments in Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, Nevada, California, Virginia and Washington D.C. We were founded in June 1971 by Richard Melman and Jerry A. Orzoff with the opening of R.J. Grunts and today, thanks to the creativity of our partners, we proudly service guests at more than 60 concepts ranging from fast casual restaurants like M Burger to fine dining, Michelin-starred establishment, Everest.