New Restaurant Hank's In Northeast Austin Is Henri's Redux

EAST AUSTIN, TX — Henri's has risen from the ashes, with a similarly named restaurant by the same owners.

The husband-and-wife restaurateur team of Andy Means and Jessie Katz on Tuesday announced that Hank’s, a restaurant, bar, and coffee shop concept located in the Windsor Park neighborhood has opened its doors. The duo formerly owned Henri's in South Austin before that eatery was destroyed by fire in April 2016. Their new restaurant, Hank's, at 5811 Berkman Dr. neighborhood is nestled in an 8,500-square-foot space formerly housing a grocery store. An additional 4,000 square feet encompasses patio space.

Hank's will an all-day menu of classic neighborhood fare — burgers, sandwiches, salads, pastas, pastries, and a kids’ menu, along with a full bar and cocktail menu, catering, and a drive-thru cafe component, officials said.

Andy Means and Jessie Katz, photo by Wynn Myers

Initial hours will be abbreviated, with the café open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a limited lunch menu served from 11 am. to 4 p.m. daily. The restaurant and bar will be serving the full menu on Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Once fully open, Hank’s hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Officials consider Hank’s to an extension of the popular South Austin cafe, Henri’s that was lost to a conflagration. After the loss, Means and Katz looked for a space where they could start from scratch and incorporate their experience from Henri’s and their overall commitment to quality offerings, they explained. Hank’s is something of a re-imagined approach offering more food options for a wider variety of people, officials said.

Even the name hearkens back to the original concept. Means' grandfather’s name was Henri, with Hank as his nickname. "“We’re beyond excited to open our doors to Austin in the growing Windsor Park neighborhood,”

co-owner Jessie Katz said. “It was important for us to create an open space where all our guests feel welcome, and we’ve worked to develop a menu everyone can enjoy, with options for health and comfort, work and play.”

The restaurant has an easy and relaxed atmosphere featuring neighborhood comfort food with an emphasis on health-minded, fresh, and affordable fare, officials said. All of Hank’s food, including their bread, pastries, and pasta, is made in-house.

The all-day menu features a variety of neighborhood fare done the Hank’s way as well as a few nostalgic favorites from Henri’s, including appetizers like French fries with aioli, wood-grilled artichoke, and a cheese board; soups and salads, including potato & Gruyère soup, chopped black kale salad, and the crispy rice bowl; sandwiches like Parrano grilled cheese and steak & Gouda; entrees such as their classic cheeseburger, the spicy fusilli pasta, and brined fried chicken with hot honey; and featured desserts lime raspberry tart, crème brûlée, and flourless chocolate cake.

Photo by Wynn Myers

Hank’s goal, its owners said, is to serve food everyone can enjoy is further underscored by the restaurant’s variety of menu offerings that can be made vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free upon request.

But the restaurateurs didn't forget the kids, staying true to their family-friendly environment with a kids’ that includes childhood favorites such as grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, house-made pasta, and chicken tenders.

Daily specials include a $9 lunch option of a half sandwich and choice of soup, salad, or fries from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., along with a daily happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. featuring half-off appetizers, $1 off beer, and $5 tap and frozen cocktails and tap wine. In addition to the range of dishes at Hank’s, guests can also enjoy a full bar serving classic cocktails made right, Hank’s signature cocktails, including the frozen Frosé or Paloma, the Rose French 75, and the Hanky Panky Tiki, a well-curated wine list, 10+ beers on tap with emphasis on craft and local varieties, and select cocktails and wines on tap.

For the full menu, click here.

Hank’s also features a coffee shop with a signature blend of coffee from Texas Coffee Traders made exclusively just for Hank’s, as well as drive-thru service for visitors who want their favorite coffees, teas, and other cafe items to go.

The space was designed by Ben May Design and Claire Zinnecker Design to feature an open, welcoming interior characterized by elevated ceilings, ample natural light emanating through
large windows, and bench seating throughout the restaurant.

Catering also will be available, with large catering orders more than manageable via an ample 3,500-square-foot kitchen, officials noted. Catering orders can be delivered or picked up, and can be made by emailing

catering@hanksaustin.com or by calling (512) 609-8077.

To learn more about Hank’s, sign up for their newsletter at HanksAustin.com. To follow
restaurant updates, find Hank’s on Facebook at Facebook.com/HanksInAustin or follow Hank’s
on Instagram under @hanks.austin.

>>> Photos by Wynn Myers, used with permission