Zoé Tong, an exciting upcoming concept, is headed to 1530 Barton Springs Rd, taking up the space of the former Austin Eastciders Restaurant, according to thorough reportage in Eater. The establishment will be headed by former New York City chefs Simone Tong (Little Tong Noodle Shop, Silver Apricot) and Matthew Hyland (Emmy, Emma Squared).
“We call it modern Austin Chinese,” Chef Tong told Eater. “I’m not taking you to China, I’m taking you to a restaurant on Barton Springs with amazing cocktails, spicy food, and fun.” She adds, “I don’t claim and I never claim authenticity.”
“Inspired by the buzz of China’s alleyways and eateries, the upbeat, festive vibe of Barton Springs, and the vibrant palette of Austin’s violet crown, Zoé Tong is perfect for a hot and steamy bowl of noodles at lunch, a mid-day matcha mint julep, or a late-night feast with friends over pan-seared dumplings, crispy duck, and flaky scallion tortillas,” the official website states.
Readers can expect Tong & Hyland to serve up unique spins on classic Chinese dishes such as Beijing duck featuring “a flour tortilla and spring pancake hybrid made with scallions and duck fat.” Eater adds that other staples of Chinese cuisine will incorporate Texas ingredients such as “quail, beef, goat, lamb bellies, corn, and okra.”
While no opening date has been set, the duo hope to open in the fall. Eager readers should note that if Zoé Tong is indeed not open by October’s ACL Festival, Tong & Hyland plan to operate a food and drink stand outside the premises.
