Birdie's Explained

Established:2021
Current-Owner:Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Arjaz Ezekiel
Street-Address:2944 East 12th Street
City:Austin
State:Texas
Postcode:78702
Other-Label:-->

Birdie's is a restaurant in Austin, Texas. In 2023 it was named Food & Wine's Restaurant of the Year. The New York Times' Eric Asimov in 2024 called it "one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country".

History

The restaurant was opened in 2021 by chef Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel and sommelier Arjav Ezekiel, who are husband and wife.[1] [2]

Business and service models

Birdie's is a counter-service restaurant and wine bar.

The restaurant's business and service models, which Austin Monthly calls a "new take", maintain a minimal front-of-house staff; it takes no reservations, all diners stand in line to place their initial orders and seat themselves, and further service is not assigned to a single server.[3] [4] [5]

All workers are paid an hourly rate that does not assume tips; tips are pooled among all staff proportionately to the hours worked that week. The restaurant closes for two weeks in August and two weeks in late December/early January to provide staff paid time off. It offers paid family leave and health insurance.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday. It sometimes closes to become a pop-up Italian restaurant called Aiello's, named after Malechek-Ezekiel's grandfather, who immigrated from Calabria.

Reception

The restaurant was named to the New York Times 2021 Restaurant List.[6] The Austin American-Statesman named it Austin's best new restaurant of 2021.[7]

In 2023 Food & Wine's named Birdie's its Restaurant of the Year, calling it "the restaurant that everyone wants in their neighborhood".[8] According to the New York Times' Eric Asimov, writing in 2024, it is "one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country".[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hughes . Chris . 2021-10-22 . The Powerhouse Duo Behind Birdie's Brings a Refreshing New Take on the Wine Bar . 2024-09-28 . . en-US.
  2. Web site: Shah . Kshushbu . 15 September 2023 . Birdie’s in Austin Marries Destination-Worthy Dining With a Sustainable, Supportive Workplace . 2024-09-28 . . en.
  3. Web site: The Dish:Birdies . CBS.
  4. Web site: Sharpe . Patricia . 2022-01-18 . Are You Ready for Fine-Casual Dining? . 2024-09-28 . . en.
  5. Web site: Jennings . Lisa . 30 June 2023 . This restaurant closes for 4 weeks every year to give its workers a vacation . 2024-09-28 . . en.
  6. News: 2021-10-11 . The 2021 Restaurant List . 2024-09-28 . . en-US . 0362-4331.
  7. Web site: Odam . Matthew . 2021-11-11 . This is the best new restaurant in Austin in 2021 (so far) . 2024-09-28 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Martin . Richard . 2023-10-02 . How Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel Created Hit Restaurant Birdie’s . 2024-09-28 . . en.
  9. Web site: Asimov . Eric . Eric Asimov . 26 August 2024 . Now an Acclaimed Restaurateur, He Long Concealed a Secret . . 2024-09-28.

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