Round Rock gets a fresh option for seafood with the opening of Salt Traders Coastal Cooking, a new concept from chef Jack Gilmore of Jack Allen's Kitchen.
Co-owners Gilmore and Tom Kamm capture a coastal vibe with the new seafood-centric eatery. "We were inspired by our travels and trips all along the American coastline, from the Bahamas to the Gulf to the East Coast. Each place had something different we loved, so we tried to capture that coastal vibe and each region's unique cooking style and bring it back to Salt Traders Coastal Cooking," says Gilmore in a release.
Dishes include scallop pasta, wood-fired salmon, blackened fish enchiladas, and a shrimp and lobster roll, all under the direction of executive chef Chris Ten Eyck. A massive wraparound raw bar filled with Gulf oysters, ceviche, crudo, and seasonal options is a focal point of the space.
The craft cocktail lineup reflects the coastal vibe with options such as a frozen grapefruit margarita and coconut mojito. These frosty beverages, as well as any of the sips off the extensive beer and wine list, can be enjoyed on the covered patio.
Salt Traders is open for dinner Sunday through Thursday from 4-10 pm and Friday and Saturday from 4-10:30 pm. Lunch service will follow.
An Austin favorite as established as Uchi has a strong shot at winning a star.
Missed out on one of the coveted invites for Monday night’s ceremony that will reveal which Texas restaurants are included in the state’s first ever Michelin Guide? Fear not.
The event will be streamed live on YouTube beginning at 7 pm. We’ve embedded it below.
As CultureMap haspreviously reported, restaurants from Texas’ five largest cities — Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin, as well as points in between — have been invited to the ceremony that’s being held at Houston’s 713 Music Hall. They’re eligible for one of four designations:
Michelin stars: rated at one, two, or three for restaurants that offer exceptional experiences
Bib Gourmand: described as “restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices”
Recommended: for restaurants that serve good food but are not quite star worthy
Green stars: for “restaurants that are leaders in sustainable gastronomy”
Considered to be the most prestigious restaurant review site in the world, Michelin uses five criteria to evaluate restaurants. They are: product quality; mastery of cooking techniques; harmony of flavors; the personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; and consistency over time and across the entire menu.
The guide’s famously anonymous inspectors had already been spending time in Texas when Michelin announced its presence in July. It seems like they’ve been busy.
Texas Monthlyreported that at least 16 barbecue restaurants statewide have been invited to the ceremony, including Austin's Franklin Barbecue, LeRoy and Lewis BBQ, Interstellar BBQ, and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, as well as the meteorically successful Lockhart joint Barbs B Q. In the article, barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn speculates that at least one barbecue restaurant could receive a star, which would be a first for America.
Austin's relatively casual dining scene and inconsistent performance with other food awards (not too shabby, but showing alternating periods of obsession and being overlooked) makes it a bit hard to predict how it will fare in this inaugural year of recognition.
Some Austin restaurants like Pasta|Bar have sibling restaurants in other states that already have stars; others like El Naranjo and Nixta Taqueria already have chef wins from the James Beard Foundation under their belts. There are also some obvious contenders given their ongoing local prestige: Uchi, Hestia, Barley Swine, and Olamaie come to mind. So do newer restaurants that are doing something truly unique, riding huge waves of media praise, or both, like Canje, Birdie's, and Fabrik.
Of course, CultureMap will be in attendance. We'll have full coverage of the results later.
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CultureMap Austin editor Brianna Caleri adapted this story with local commentary.