East Austin Industry
Hospitality industry vets bring 'low-key healthy' restaurant to East Austin
Mid-October will see the opening of a new East Austin restaurant with what the founders describe as "low-key healthy" Texas fare. Harlan Scott and Cody Taylor, the names behind concepts like Cafe Josie, Valentino's in San Marcos, and Industry in San Marcos, are set to open a second location of Industry at 1211 E. Fifth St., Ste. 150 in just a few weeks.
According to a release, the name Industry comes from what Scott calls "the idea of celebrating the raw, authentic, and diverse lifestyle of servers and cooks and everyone in between." After thriving in the Austin industry for decades, Scott and Taylor opened Industry in San Marcos in hopes of enjoying a slightly slower pace. The restaurant is a "safe space" to break down the server/customer dynamic in an environment where people are being served by people who love their jobs, which is an ethos the pair will bring to the East Austin outpost.
“Great employee benefits including mental healthcare, fair wages, tip-share for the kitchen, and 40-hour work weeks are a priority for us,” Scott explains. “We don’t believe in the romantic notion of doubles and 70 hour work weeks; but we also hire people willing to make sacrifices from time to time to help out coworkers and the restaurant. The staff we have now, they “get it.” We think they will with Industry Eastside as well.”
Serving an all-day menu of tacos, burgers, hearty salads, and house-smoked meats in a casual atmosphere, Industry will have an all-scratch menu and counter service format. Menu highlights will include starters like blistered shishito peppers and green chile queso; heartier offerings like smoked chicken tacos and a smoked beet Reuben; and healthy alternatives like the Industry bowl, which will feature field greens, rice, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, pepitas, chevre, and a cashew honey vinaigrette.
And since you can't forget the drinks on an Austin menu, the new spot will offer weekday drink specials such as half-off margs, $4 whiskey Wednesdays, and happy hour pricing for ladies all night on Thursdays. A reverse happy hour from 10:30 pm to close will also be a draw on weekdays, as well as $2.50 mimosas on Sundays, which will pair with an "over-the-top brunch." Highlights of the latter will include a smoked cheeseburger Benedict; buttermilk biscuits and gravy; and Porky’s Pancakes with pork pastor, bacon, buttermilk pancakes, blackberry compote, and bourbon maple syrup.
Head to industrytx.com to learn more about Scott and Taylor’s philosophy behind the concept, and follow them on Instagram at @industryeastside for updates on the opening.
