Welcome to Irene's
Long-awaited Irene's opens doors to comfort food in downtown Austin
Downtown Austin, are you ready for another dining destination? Irene's, the long-awaited eatery from Elm Restaurant Group, is scheduled to open on Memorial Day, May 30.
The team behind 24 Diner, Easy Tiger, Italic, and dearly departed Arro has ventured further into American cuisine with their latest project. Originally slated to open in early 2015, the long-awaited Irene's will soon be serving up comfort food with a twist.
As it is with sister restaurant Easy Tiger, breakfast is served beginning at 7 am each day from a convenient counter window. Austinites are invited to grab coffee, pastries, and savory bites to go, or stop for a while on Irene's gorgeous outdoor patio.
Chef Andrew Curren's all-day menu becomes available at 11 am. Diners can look forward to snacks, salads, and sandwiches on the lighter side, which are balanced out by heartier blue plate specials. For desserts, Pastry Chef Mary Catherine Curren has whipped up classics such as strawberry cake, banana pudding, and vanilla soft-serve.
Craig Collins, Elm's acclaimed beverage director, has crafted a drink lineup of local drafts, house-made punch, and straight-forward cocktails. All of these offerings — and more — can be enjoyed until 2 am daily.
The charming restaurant is named after Elm partner Chad Gluckson's grandmother, who is described as a "drinking, smoking, gambling woman with an immense heart and a keen understanding of true hospitality." The vibe of Irene's mirrors the personality of its namesake — old airplane panels, a pinewood bar, and vintage embellishments adorn an impressive space designed by Veronica Koltuniak of VeroKolt.
For an opportunity to check out Irene's before it opens on Memorial Day, make sure to follow the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram.