This week, the Buda Economic Development Corporation announced the upcoming opening of Astra Restaurant & Bar, a brand-new concept from Texas restaurateur Matti Bills. Known as co-founder and former owner of Mum Foods, as well as being behind Howdy Child and Three Six General, Bills is launching Astra Restaurant & Bar at 404 Main Street this February.
“I’ve always wanted to have wood-fired oven place,” Bills told What Now on Thursday. “For me, the focus has always been local sourcing. I had a big focus, too, early on in my career, on natural sourdough, local organic grains, on featuring what Texas has to offer for veggies.”
Accordingly, many of the ingredients served up at Astra will be grown at her urban farm in San Antonio. Meanwhile, Three Six General will produce Astra’s house-made cured meats, which will include “mortadella, coppa ham, bacon, and salamis.”
The Buda EDC announcement describes Astra as “an elevated yet approachable neighborhood restaurant offering an all-day menu centered on locally sourced, scratch-made cuisine. The concept features shared plates, artisan sandwiches on seeded sourdough with house-cured meats, sourdough pizza made with organic heirloom flour from Barton Springs Mill, handmade pastas, crudo, seasonal vegetable dishes, burgers, and house-made soft-serve waffle cones.”
In addition to a large bar, an espresso counter, and seating for about 40 guests inside, Astra will also feature plenty of outdoor seating, Bills says.
“What is really cool is we have a huge outdoor patio, and a gorgeous 400-year-old-tree.”
“Astra reflects exactly the type of thoughtful, locally rooted investment we aim to attract to downtown Buda,” Jennifer Storm, CEO of the Buda Economic Development Corporation, said in the announcement. “Matti Bills brings an exceptional reputation, a strong commitment to sustainability, and a proven culinary vision that will enhance Main Street as a place to gather, dine, and experience the character of our community. We are proud to support this project and welcome Astra to Buda.”
You can keep up with the opening by following @astra.btx on Instagram.
