on the house

Revived Austin restaurant debuts at The Triangle after 2-year pandemic closure

The lollipop wings (upscale Buffalo wings) are emblematic of Provision Dining House's commitment to refining the classics.

Photo courtesy of Resplendent Hospitality

After a two-year closure brought on by the pandemic, one Austin restaurant has finally reopened, at a new location and with a refined vision.

On June 1, Provision Dining House, formerly located on Braker Lane, made its debut at The Triangle, in the space previously occupied by Maudie’s Tex-Mex.

Those two years were not wasted, as the restaurant planned its vibrant return and rebrand. It stuck to its food roots, according to executive chef Albert Gonzalez (who owns Provision with his wife, Poeta Asher), but the whole restaurant is lightening up, in a literal sense. The previous space was dark and rather formal, even if sparse with the high ceilings. This made-over location, with seating for 155 inside and 50 outside, is all about bright colors, brass, and terracotta.

On the food side, that pursuit of lightness results in an expanded kids menu, and a new lunch menu including $15 specials (a lunch entree with salad, fries or lemon garlic kale, or a half-sized soup and salad). Gonzalez notes the addition of rotisserie meats like Prime rib, porchetta, and chicken.

“I'm excited to get back to work with the team. We've retained a few folks from the original team and couldn’t be happier about that,” says Gonzalez. “After two years of searching, we found a space that we feel really good about. We are well-positioned between residential and commercial density allowing us to cast a wider net than our last location.”

Gonzalez is working with chef de cuisine Allen Stewart to recapture Provision’s “culinary strategy,” which a press release identifies as “a refined approach to classic dishes.” The restaurant is proud of its “fan favorite” lollipop wings, which are essentially an elevated version of a sports bar Buffalo wing, served with a carrot and celery slaw. A luxurious mac and cheese has joined the lineup, with 5-year aged Cheddar, Cheddar gratin, and raclette, plus black truffle.

Part of the public caught in that “wider net” at The Triangle could be a drink crowd, snacking on appetizers like dinner rolls and deviled eggs, while enjoying a wide drink menu with classics, specialty, and non-alcoholic cocktails. General manager and beverage director Ben Smith presides over the beverage program, showcasing creative drinks like “Wagons East” (American whiskey, coffee, spearmint, and smoke) and the nonalcoholic “Sarsaparilla” (sarsaparilla root, egg whites, lactart, seltzer).

This new location is meant to capture greater authenticity for Provision, which combined with a more lighthearted approach, bodes well for a sustainable future in one of Austin’s best hybrid residential and entertainment areas.

The new Provision Dining House is located at 4600 W. Guadalupe St., Suite B5, and is open Wednesday through Saturday. Reservations can be made via OpenTable at provisiondininghouse.com.

The lollipop wings (upscale Buffalo wings) are emblematic of Provision Dining House's commitment to refining the classics.

Crispy buffalo wings with a carrot and celery slaw.

Photo courtesy of Resplendent Hospitality

The lollipop wings (upscale Buffalo wings) are emblematic of Provision Dining House's commitment to refining the classics.

chefs openings apps lunch dinner

Omakase for Everyone

New South Austin restaurant swims against current of expensive omakase

Photo courtesy of Tancho Sushi

Tancho Sushi keeps things simple.

Austin had no shortage of beautiful sushi restaurants, but a new one at Lantana Place is doing drawing the trend away from the center of the city and sticking a lower price tag on the experience. Tancho Sushi, offering "everyday omakase," is now open at 7415 Southwest Parkway.

The thought of casual omakase feels like a bit of an oxymoron in Austin, where the service style — which tasks the chef with choosing what the diner will eat — is almost synonymous with something fancy and expensive. Factor in the interior design at Tancho, which certainly doesn't look pedestrian, and it's hard to believe it's actually an everyday meal.

But all things considered, these prices seem reasonable: $29 for the lightest dinner option, and capping out at a $59 feast. Lunch is even less expensive, starting at $24.

Tancho Sushi interior The airy space takes advantage of its surroundings outside of the city.Photo courtesy of Tancho Sushi

In some omakase experiences, the chef might factor in a diner's taste, the special ingredients that are available that day, and any number of other factors to determine what hits the table. But at Tancho, these prix fixe options are predetermined, doubtlessly contributing to the more accessible pricing.

The 50-seat restaurant also uses a clever marketing angle to get diners in who aren't necessarily experienced in sushi, or might otherwise be intimidated by letting a chef choose unfamiliar foods. "With thoughtfully curated preset menus, Tancho simplifies the dining experience by eliminating the guesswork so guests can focus on enjoying their meals," a press release announcing the opening says.

The release was sent November 22, but it looks like Tancho has been serving customers in a soft opening capacity for about a month, based on its Google reviews (which are stunningly high for a new restaurant at 4.7 stars).

Offerings at Tancho are simple.Photo courtesy of Tancho Sushi

Although each menu is different, there is a shared arc. All four experiences start with sunomono salad, a cucumber-based dish with red seaweed and sesame. Then there's tuna sashimi with smoked yuzu ponzu and scallions, and the rest depends on what the diner chooses.

Some standout items across the dinner service are sea bream on the light menu; akami (very red meat along the spine of a tuna) on the standard omakase menu; a lobster open hand roll on the rolls-only menu; and a tuna flight on the grand omakase menu.

No menu item is especially complicated. The focus is on doing each ingredient right, including the temperature the fish is served at and even the flavor of house-made soy sauce and ponzu.

“We keep the focus on the ingredients,” said co-founder Brad Van Otterloo in the release. “By stripping away unnecessary flourishes, we allow the quality of our fish to take center stage. This is a Texas-born concept through and through, and we’re proud to contribute to Austin’s growing sushi reputation.”

The open hand rolls are a signature for the restaurant.Photo courtesy of Tancho Sushi

Despite all this talk of omakase, it is possible to order à la carte items: some appetizers, nigiri (sliced fish on top of rice), and rolls. There's also a carefully curated beverage program, which largely focuses on sake. That includes the Kubota Manju or “Ten Thousand Celebrations" ($79), renowned in Japan for its complex layers and smooth mouthfeel.

“As Austin continues to grow, we wanted to introduce a fresh take on the sushi experience,” said Van Otterloo. “We’re here to make sushi approachable for Austinites while honoring the integrity of this cuisine. It’s about creating a space where everyone can discover and enjoy sushi at their own pace – no pressure, no pretense.”

Tancho Sushi exterior This restaurant is meant to be approachable.Image courtesy of Tancho Sushi

Tancho Sushi is located at 7415 Southwest Parkway, Building 4, Suite 300. It's open daily from 11 am to 10 pm, offering both dine-in and takeout. There are no reservations.

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