Down-Home on the Ranch {Jacoby’s Restaurant}
Southern comfort meals rooted in family.
Words by Sam Lauron photos by Ashley Haguewood
Nestled in a former electrical supply building on East Cesar Chavez, Jacoby’s has been serving elevated ranch-to-table dishes from the heart of East Austin for the past five years.
It might be easy to overlook Jacoby’s if it weren’t for their vintage neon sign hanging above the door. Kris Swift, Creative Director of Jacoby Restaurant Group, says the sign came from a building in the town square of Melvin, Texas, the hometown of his husband and business partner, Adam Jacoby.
“We negotiated getting that sign,” he recalls. “We actually traded some wheat and other commodities for the sign with the owner of the building, and we put new neon over it.”
While the street-facing exterior may be industrial, stepping onto the property immediately feels like being welcomed onto a rustic Texas ranch. From the quaint mercantile that features local goods to the patio overlooking the Colorado River, the entire space comes together to form a quintessential Southern experience. Vintage details like original brick from Melvin’s town square and reclaimed pipe from the family ranch reaffirm the authentic down-home atmosphere.
Adam and Kris founded Jacoby’s Restaurant and Mercantile in 2014 as an extension of his family’s ranch and cafe in Melvin. The two wanted to bring the comfort of Southern-style cooking and the quality of ranch-raised beef to Central Texas and put their own Austin twist on it. The ranch-to-table menu consists of classic dishes like cheeseburgers and fries or mac and cheese as well as lighter plates like deviled eggs and a Texas citrus salad.
One thing that sets Jacoby’s apart from others, however, is their proprietary beef. All of the proteins in the restaurant are pasture-raised, hormone-free, all-natural and come straight from the Jacoby family ranch.
“Adam’s brothers are literally the ones raising the cattle on the Jacoby ranch in West Texas,” Kris states.
One of Jacoby’s signature dishes, Chicken Fried Steak, encompasses everything the restaurant strives to bring to the table. The generous cut of meat is covered with a layer of light and crispy breading and served with rich mashed potatoes and black pepper gravy. The side of arugula salad adds a fresh component to balance out the plate and complete the meal.
While the menu may be protein-focused, several gluten-free, vegan, or dairy-free options, like the Farm Vegetable Plate, are available. With a medley of fresh seasonal vegetables with a lemon vinaigrette, the plate is a colorful addition to the Southern-style menu. Jacoby’s adapted lighter dishes like this one over time to better accommodate their guests.
“We try to have an open dialogue with our guests [and] stay true to our roots while growing with the community,” Kris adds with a warm smile.
This drive to serve the community stems from the couple’s loyalty to the city and commitment to the neighborhood. Kris and Adam have lived in East Austin since 1996; so for them, Jacoby’s is an extension of their home and guests are treated like family.
“This is a family-run business, from back to front,” says Kris. “And if we can convey that sense of family to our guests and make them feel comfortable, then I think we’ve succeeded in giving them an experience.”
Native Knowledge
The Jacoby Restaurant Group also owns and operates nearby Grizzelda’s. Like Jacoby’s, the restaurant that originally owned the space was family-owned. When the opportunity to take over the building presented itself, Kris and Adam couldn’t turn it down. “Adam and I were like, ‘absolutely!’” Kris enthuses. “We’re really committed to the neighborhood.”
Contact:
(512) 366-5808
3235 E Cesar Chavez St.
jacobysaustin.com
