Citizens, an Australian-inspired, New York-born café is opening its first Austin location this spring. Located at 4818 Burnet Rd., this location will be unique not just for debuting the brand in Austin, but for being the breakfast-focused tiny chain's first all-day concept.
Citizens opened in Chelsea, New York, in 2016, and has previously dedicated itself to breakfast, lunch, and coffee. The Austin location will also serve dinner. There are only four locations; in addition to Chelsea and Austin, there are locations in Soho in New York and Montrose in Houston.
“We’re so excited to bring Citizens to Austin and share our taste of Australia with this amazing city,” said co-founder Andrew Geisel in a press release. “There’s something a little magical about Aussie café culture — it’s laid-back, vibrant and full of unexpected flavor. We’ve poured our hearts into creating a space where great food and coffee meets great company, and where every visit leaves you just a little more curious about what’s coming out of the kitchen next.”
According to the release, the dinner menu is inspired by Australian gastropubs (it's not the first New York restaurant doing this in Austin in the past year) and offers "bold, produce-driven dishes in a relaxed, sociable setting." Despite the Australian roots present in dishes like the fish and chips with chicken salt — which is actually salt flavored with chicken — many of these dishes appear more Italian. The release lists vodka sauce chicken parmesan, short rib ragu pappadelle, and tiramisu.
Citizens will be rich in comfort foods.Photo courtesy of Citizens
Breakfast items include crispy banana bread French toast and a "big brekkie" with poached eggs, toast, bacon, chicken sausage, avocado, chorizo baked beans, hash browns, and a Fresno chile — priced at an understandable $22 in Houston.
Vegemite flights will give Austinites a chance to taste Australia's most famous food, a spread made with brewer's yeast, vegetables, and spices. It'll be served on cheddar biscuits three ways: with butter, with cheese, and with smashed avocado. An entire pop-out menu will feature dishes and cocktails that are all made with Vegemite.
Diners can enjoy all this in a colorful space with curved benches, beautiful tiles, and as the press release really drives home, a disco ball. Under that disco ball is The Giving Booth, a table where half of the profits daily will be donated to local Austin causes.
“Austin is the first place we’re rolling out our all-day format — and we couldn’t have picked a better city to do it,” said co-founder of Citizens Justin Giuffrida. “Now you can kick off your morning with a flat white and roll straight into happy hour with a $1 espresso martini. Dinner, drinks, disco ball — this is a whole new side of Citizens."
