At the ground level of The Austonian downtown luxury condominiums lies Chef David Bull’s celebrated trio of food and drink establishments: Congress, Bar Congress and Second Bar + Kitchen. Since opening in late 2010, the three establishments have gained local and national recognition – from the Austin American-Statesman and Texas Monthly, to Bon Appetite and Esquire – and have made their mark on the downtown Austin dining scene. For residents of The Austonian, these iconic downtown establishments offer an array of epicurean experiences, spanning seven-course meals, to casual small plates, to artisanal cocktails – all within minutes from home.
The three restaurant fronts are located along Congress Avenue, on the edge of the 2nd Street District. In the midst of an already vibrant and thriving downtown dining scene, the Congress restaurants offer brilliant and balanced gourmet meals, artisanal cocktails and an ambiance that is individual to each establishment and their particular food and drink offerings.
Five-star rated Congress features a prix-fixe dinner menu in three- or seven-courses that changes daily and is inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients. The restaurant’s cuisine and ambiance epitomizes Austin fine-dining, with innovative and well-crafted meals made from organic, local food in an understated yet elegant environment.
Congress is high-end and complex, without being overly showy. Executive Chef David Bull, the mastermind behind the cuisine at all three establishments, is renowned for his creative combinations of flavor, taste, texture and presentation, and the elaborate dishes at Congress are culinary works of art.
Second Bar + Kitchen is the casual compatriot to Congress where Bull puts forth his cosmopolitan take on traditional bar fare with appetizers and small plates. The atmosphere is trendy, upscale and casual, with an urban flair that is amplified by floor-to-ceiling windows, which provide diners with a prime view of the hustle and bustle on Congress Avenue. Lunch, brunch and dinner-goers are offered a range of seating options, both indoor and outdoor, with additional seating available at the bar. In addition to well-crafted small plates that bring together diverse flavors and ingredients, Second Bar + Kitchen also offers an array of beverage options, including craft and local beers, an approachable wine program and artisanal craft cocktails.
Bar Congress expands upon the cocktail capabilities of the Congress trio – with a staff of bartenders and mixologists who skillfully assemble creative works of art in a compact, prohibition-feeling space between Congress and Second Bar + Kitchen. The small bar packs a punch, with a selection of high-quality and rare spirits that Bar Congress’ craftspeople coax into coherent, adventurous and lively drinks. Managed by the well-known local mixologist Jason Stevens, of the celebrated Austin cocktail bars East Side Showroom and The Tigress, Bar Congress was named one of the Best Bars in America in 2011 by Esquire magazine.
Overall, the celebrity of the Congress trio is staggering. Congress was named in the Top 5 and Top 10 Best Restaurants in 2011 by Texas Monthly and Bon Appétit magazine, respectively. Bar Congress has been recognized by a number of spirits magazines, including Imbibe and Wine & Spirits. And, to top it off, Congress Executive Chef David Bull is highly decorated as well – named one of “The Best New Chefs in 2003,” a competitor on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America in 2006, and a contender for the prestigious James Beard award for the Best New Chef in the Southwest.
These, though, are merely the official distinctions of the restaurant and beverage trio – the real evidence is in the food and the drinks themselves.
