Birdie's is a restaurant in Austin, Texas. In 2023 it was named Food & Wine's Restaurant of the Year. The New York Times' Eric Asimov in 2024 called it "one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country".
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
|---|---|
| Established | 2021 |
| Owner(s) | Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Arjaz Ezekiel |
| Street address | 2944 East 12th Street |
| City | Austin |
| State | Texas |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 78702 |
| Coordinates | 30°16′35″N 97°42′17″W / 30.2764°N 97.7046°W |
| Website | www |
History
editThe restaurant was opened in 2021 by chef Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel and sommelier Arjav Ezekiel, who are husband and wife.[1][2]
Business and service models
editBirdie's is a counter-service restaurant and wine bar.[1]
The restaurant's business and service models, which Austin Monthly calls a "new take", maintain a minimal front-of-house staff; it takes no reservations, all diners stand in line to place their initial orders and seat themselves, and further service is not assigned to a single server.[3][4][5][1]
All workers are paid an hourly rate that does not assume tips; tips are pooled among all staff proportionately to the hours worked that week.[2] The restaurant closes for two weeks in August and two weeks in late December/early January to provide staff paid time off.[5][2] It offers paid family leave and health insurance.[2]
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday.[2] It sometimes closes to become a pop-up Italian restaurant called Aiello's, named after Malechek-Ezekiel's grandfather, who immigrated from Calabria.[2]
Reception
editThe restaurant was named to the New York Times 2021 Restaurant List.[6] The Austin American-Statesman named it Austin's best new restaurant of 2021.[7]
In 2023 Food & Wine's named Birdie's its Restaurant of the Year, calling it "the restaurant that everyone wants in their neighborhood".[2][3][8] According to the New York Times' Eric Asimov, writing in 2024, it is "one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country".[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c Hughes, Chris (2021-10-22). "The Powerhouse Duo Behind Birdie's Brings a Refreshing New Take on the Wine Bar". Austin Monthly. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g Shah, Kshushbu (15 September 2023). "Birdie's in Austin Marries Destination-Worthy Dining With a Sustainable, Supportive Workplace". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b "The Dish:Birdies". CBS.
- ^ Sharpe, Patricia (2022-01-18). "Are You Ready for Fine-Casual Dining?". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b Jennings, Lisa (30 June 2023). "This restaurant closes for 4 weeks every year to give its workers a vacation". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ "The 2021 Restaurant List". The New York Times. 2021-10-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Odam, Matthew (2021-11-11). "This is the best new restaurant in Austin in 2021 (so far)". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Martin, Richard (2023-10-02). "How Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel Created Hit Restaurant Birdie's". Appetito. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Asimov, Eric (26 August 2024). "Now an Acclaimed Restaurateur, He Long Concealed a Secret". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-09-28.