Hank’s restaurant review - Austin, USA

A former grocery store in Windsor Village, Austin has become home to a new all-day dining destination following a comprehensive redesign of the space by Ben May and Claire Zinnecker.

Restaurateurs Jessie Katz and Andy Means chose the site after falling for its industrial windows, tall ceilings and 4,000 square foot of patio space. While the restaurant, bar and café each serve individual purposes, the spaces flow easily thanks to a cohesive design that marries white walls, blond carpentry, rattan, plenty of greenery and peachy-pink planters. Custom decorative items such as the exterior lighting are by MAI Lab and Neptune Glassware, while the wood table tops are by Petrified Design. ‘Andy and I had been surveying different spaces for years, looking for just the right project to take on,’ says Katz, whose first project in the city, Henri’s, tragically burnt down in a fire as they were looking for the space for Hank’s. ‘Viewing any site of course requires a certain amount of imagination, but when we first saw our current building, we knew it had a tremendous amount of potential.’

Homely comfort foods such as brined and fried chicken with a side of honey, hearty salads and wood-fired veg and a more-than-tempting dessert menu lead by pastry chef Chaney Means, are on the menu at the restaurant, while the sit-up bar focuses on cocktails, wine, coffee and nut milks made in Austin.