Lutie’s Garden Restaurant
Austin
Opened in April 2021, Lutie’s Garden Restaurant is located within the Commodore Perry Estate, a historic architectural landmark and private retreat in Austin, Texas. Lutie’s culinary program is helmed by husband-and-wife team Executive Chef Bradley Nicholson and Executive Pastry Chef Susana Querejazu, who boast experience at high-caliber kitchens around the world. Nicholson has worked at Barley Swine in Austin and Birdsong and three-Michelin-starred Benu in San Francisco before staging at Amass in Copenhagen under former Noma Chef Matt Orlando through the Ment’or BKB Grant program. Querejazu previously held positions at Odd Duck and Barley Swine before moving to serve at Quince and Michelin-starred Saison in San Francisco. Through the Ment’or BKB Grant program, Susana staged at Le Meurice in Paris.
Lutie’s features highly seasonal, Texas heritage fare reflecting the chefs’ celebration of ingredients through preparation rooted in understated simplicity and their experiences cooking in acclaimed restaurants around the world. The kitchen is constantly staying creative with new and exciting dishes due to the chefs’ emphasis on sustainable, responsible sourcing and letting local farmers’ harvests guide the culinary program. The chefs place importance on allowing the quality of ingredients shine while building depths of flavor through expert techniques. The restaurant is named after Lutie Perry, wife of Commodore Edgar Perry; both were prominent business and civic leaders and the original owners of the grounds. Designed by local architecture firm Clayton Korte with interiors by powerhouse style maker Ken Fulk, Lutie’s evokes the warm hospitality and convivial spirit of the property’s Jazz Age legacy. The restaurant transports guests to a contemporary garden retreat, with a covered terrace overlooking the lush estate gardens. Key features include tumbled black-and-white stone floors, green latticework ceiling hung with plants, a grand oak bar lit by retro Murano glass chandeliers, and custom bespoke floral pattern upholstered pieces.
