Since opening its first outpost in 1980, Kerbey Lane Cafe has become synonymous with Austin, so tied into the city’s identity that in February, Mayor Steve Adler chose to include the eatery’s famous queso recipe in a time capsule sent to the moon. Now, after almost four decades serving coffee and gingerbread pancakes to hungry Austinites, it is branching out with an entirely new concept.
The Kerbey crew is renovating the former home of Barile (nee Flour & Vine) at 300 S. Lamar Blvd. into High Note, an all-day restaurant specializing in healthy fare. The new spot is preparing for a mid-April opening, however, a rep from the company cautions that construction and permitting might delay the date slightly.
“High Note came about because we saw a niche in the Austin restaurant community that was lacking: health-conscious, high-quality food at an affordable price,” explains CEO Mason Ayer in a statement. “At High Note, we want you to leave feeling good about what you ate, what you spent, and what you experienced.”
Keeping with that mission, the restaurant’s menu was designed to appeal to a wide variety of lifestyles, offering dishes in line with keto, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes. All proteins are natural and antibiotic-free, and the eatery minimizes the use of soy, peanuts, and other common allergens.
The menu includes a sourdough toast with edamame hummus, avocado, soft boiled egg, and toasted sunflower seeds; a broccoli sandwich with cashew cheese and toasted cashews; and a superfood oats bowl of bananas, pecans, golden raisins, and seasonal fruit topped with a coconut cinnamon whipped cream. Meatier options include a Korean beef plate and a salmon poke wrap with brown rice and pickled cucumber.
For many of the menu items, High Note worked with Austin producers to spread the local love. Siete Family Foods provides grain-free chips for the salsa and vegan queso; ice cream is sourced from dairy-free purveyor NadaMoo; and bread and baked goods are made by Sour Duck Market and GFY Kitchen, a favorite of those who avoid gluten.
In addition to the healthy food, High Note also specializes in freshly squeezed juice blends like beet with honey, grapefruit and lemon; sweet potato with pineapple, lime, and tiki spices; and kale with apple, almond and lime. Guests can order the concoctions as-is or punch them up with bartender recommended liquor.
Other beverage choices include hot and iced tea, aguas frescas, and Kosmic Kombucha. The bar program will offer house cocktails and a curated selection of wines.
Once open, High Note will be another addition to the city’s trendy all-day restaurant scene. Hours will be 6:30 am to 10 pm on weekdays and 7:30 am to 10 pm on weeknights.
High Note's juices can be punched up with liquor.
