New Restaurant To Open On West 6th Street In Austin
AUSTIN, TX — At a time of economic shutdown spurred by the coronavirus, stories of restaurants shuttered in the wake of slowed commerce have become all too common. But now, there's word of a new restaurant poised to open next month on West 6th Street.
Rick Singleton of Scenic Capital, in partnership with chef Nic Yanes of Juniper and Uncle Nicky's, revealed details on Friday related to the opening of Verbena, a new restaurant and bar concept at the Canopy by Hilton Hotel on vibrant West 6th Street, set to open in July 2020. Located at 612 West 6th Street, Verbena will offer an approachable and hearty, yet healthy, culinary program, officials said in an email.
At the center of metropolitan living and a lively nightlife scene, the full-service restaurant and bar will offer an urban oasis for locals and travelers alike, the restaurateurs added. “Austin is a city that takes its food and beverage scene seriously while keeping things fun and casual, which is our vision for Verbena,” Yanes said in a prepared statement. “We want to offer a culinary program that reflects the diversity of this city and drives our guests to gather with friends, colleagues and family to have new experiences with each visit.”
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, officials said Verbena’s culinary program will focus on seasonal, regionally sourced ingredients with a vegetable-forward approach that is influenced by French and Mediterranean cuisine. "Guests can expect sophisticated yet casual fare that is artfully composed," officials added. "In the 60-seat main dining area, Verbena will feature a grab-and-go morning coffee counter with house-made pastries and breads, handcrafted espresso beverages from a local Austin roaster, and savory breakfast sandwiches."
In addition to a comfortable 30-seat bar and lounge, Verbena overflows into the Canopy by Hilton’s open-air courtyard with a fireplace and water feature tucked away from the bustling street beyond, officials described. PM Food + Drink Innovation Group, a division of PM Hotel Group, consulted on the development of the Verbena concept and will operate the restaurant upon opening, officials added.
"Verbena’s bar will offer a sophisticated yet approachable beverage program reflecting the creativity and expertise of local mixology talent," the advisory reads. "The long bar counter made from a single pecan tree is a great place for local business people, residents and travelers alike to eat and watch TV, or to perch and survey the scene from all angles."
The beverage program is being developed in partnership with Proprietors LLC, an award-winning cocktail company operating acclaimed establishments including Death & Co., with locations in New York City, Denver and Los Angeles, and Nitecap in New York City. Proprietors LLC will develop training standards and assist with the curation of an expertly authentic beverage program with a focus on preserving time-honored cocktail traditions and emphasizing the use of fresh, local ingredients, officials added.
Verbena encompasses 3,800 square feet of space and 126 feet of sidewalk frontage under the Lake Flato-designed Canopy by Hilton Hotel. The interiors are a collaboration between Dallas-based firm Seifert Murphy and Austin-based Laura C. Singleton Interiors. "With a striking glass window system that encapsulates the long and narrow space, the contemporary interior trades elaborate finishes for a focus on the scenery and textures found beyond its walls," the restaurateurs said. "The courtyard side has elements of greenery, brick, glass, steel and water, punctuated by vibrant art in the hotel lobby beyond, while the other sits exposed to the gritty bustling street life of West 6th St amid historic warehouse buildings in the shadow of modern glass towers. Intimate yet airy, the design offers an inviting atmosphere for social dining and private events."
Added Singleton: “As downtown Austin continues to flourish, we envision the West 6th Street district becoming a diversified, pedestrian-friendly urban village. With Verbena, we want to create a gathering place that caters to both Austinites and visitors, with hearty and wholesome fare made with honest ingredients in a space that puts the focus on people and an atmosphere of social interaction.”
Construction is scheduled to be complete by June 1, with an opening set for July 2020. For more information about Verbena, visit www.verbenaATX.com or find Verbena on Facebook under verbenaATX and Instagram under @Verbena_ATX.
ABOUT VERBENA
Verbena is a new restaurant and bar situated in the heart of the W 6th Street District in downtown Austin at 612 West Sixth Street opening July 2020. The venue is located at the Canopy by Hilton boutique hotel developed and owned by Scenic Capital Advisors. Scenic Capital partnered with Chef Nic Yanes of Juniper and Uncle Nicky's to create the restaurant’s breakfast, lunch and dinner menu focused on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients influenced by French and Mediterranean cuisine. Verbena is a 60-seat restaurant, 30-seat bar and lounge, offering morning coffee and quick service counter, and 60-seat outdoor courtyard. The 3800 square foot restaurant was designed by Lake Flato, Seifert Murphy and Laura C. Singleton Interiors. For more information about Verbena, visit www.verbenaATX.com or find Verbena on Facebook under verbenaATX and Instagram under @Verbena_ATX.
ABOUT SCENIC CAPITAL ADVISORS
Scenic Capital Advisors is a full service real estate company and private equity firm that buys, builds, owns and manages apartments, hotels, and self storage. The firm is led by principals Rick Singleton, Joel Melrose, and Thomas Chen. Scenic Capital is involved in nearby downtown establishments, including Holy Roller as co-managing partner along with Callie Speer, and the development and build of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. For more information about Scenic Capital Advisors, visit https://sceniccapital.com/.
ABOUT NIC YANES
Native Texan, chef Nicholas Yanes earned his Associates of Culinary Arts degree at the Western Culinary Institute in Portland, OR. His resume includes positions as creative director, chef de cuisine and consulting chef at various restaurants and country clubs including Nana, Dallas Fish Market, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Coyote Ridge Country Club in Dallas, the Uchi restaurants and St. Philip Pizza Parlor in Austin. Yanes opened Juniper in East Austin in 2015. Juniper’s menu combines premier ingredients and old world technique to create comforting, yet inventive classic cuisine that connects the northern regions of Italy as well as other adjoining areas with Central Texas. Juniper gained attention and support as a rising star in the local community, boasting accolades like “2016 Best New Restaurants” in Austin Monthly, a top 25 placement in Austin American-Statesman’s annual Best Restaurants dining guide, and more. In 2019, Yanes opened Uncle Nicky's, a casual Northern Italian cafe located in Austin's Hyde Park neighborhood. Yanes partnered with Brandon Hunt and Zane Hunt, brothers behind Via 313 and Nickel City, and Nickel City partner Travis Tober for the concept. In 2020, Yanes partnered with Rick Singleton of Scenic Capital to open Verbena, a new restaurant and bar concept at the Canopy by Hilton Hotel on Austin’s vibrant West 6th Street.
ABOUT PM FOOD + DRINK INNOVATION GROUP
The PM Food + Drink Innovation Group, a division of PM Hotel Group, conceives and executes innovative bar and restaurant concepts that attract both guests and locals. Foodies on a constant quest for what’s new and next, we develop authentically local, immersive culinary experiences. We are committed to our core values of respect- for one another, our guests and the planet. We manage with a dedication to sustainability, a tradition of teamwork and a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. Learn more at www.pmhotelgroup.com
This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
