Chef Jack Gilmore and Tom Kamm of local favorite restaurant featuring Southwestern cuisine, Z Tejas, just opened a new culinary venture to bring local ingredients (Here’s a list of the local vendors supported on their menu) and Texas flavor to Southwest Austin. (coincidence?) 

Jack Allen’s Kitchen officially opened it’s doors last Friday, December 18th. So, I jumped on the opportunity to try it out with some great company on the following night. We had a tasty, and positive dining experience and Rebeccammend it for dinner with a group of friends or family. 

I would describe this new dining destination at the “Y” in Oak Hill as casual, yet modern, Western, yet polished, zesty and welcoming, serving fresh high-quality dishes with local ingredients and unique flare.  The Guacamole Smash, included cotija cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds. The Red Chili Fries excitingly meshed the flavors of red chili, cotija cheese, scallions, lime juice, and garlic aioli. The homemade pimento cheese was creamy with a bold flavor. 

The menu includes an extensive list of appetizers to munch on over Margaritas,  and the dessert menu – I would have tried it all if our dinner hadn’t filled us up. The sides you can order in mason jars and take home with you keep the dining experience friendly, country, and with the smokey, spicy shaken salsa you can take home if you have some left over, Jack Allen’s Kitchen gives you flavors you can savor even after you leave.

In terms of ambiance, guest blogger, Jenny Diamond, offers her thoughts below:

“Jack Allen’s Kitchen, located just off Highway 71 [West] has a very welcoming ambiance. The set up is large and excellent for larger parties. They are more than willing to accommodate large groups and were extremely flexible with reservations. Although chilly outside when we were there, the milieu of the restaurant coupled with the linen and lights strung from the ceiling created an open and warm feel. The layout of the restaurant is very open and at the same time [Jack Allen’s Kitchen] has created a layout that does not make you feel like you are in the middle of your middle school cafeteria.”

Quite the contrary, Jack Allen’s Kitchen is the type of restaurant, secluded from the chaos of downtown, that provides a comfortable setting to help you make dining memories with loved ones over savory dishes and refreshing sips.

Check it out and report back!