Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile: Ranch-Inspired Setting And Impressive Steak

A rustic, ranch-inspired setting on the river—and serious steaks—in East Austin.

Perched on the banks of the Colorado River in East Austin, Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile is rooted in a ranch-to-table dining experience. Adam Jacoby, the restaurant’s owner, has been aspiring to open the restaurant since he was in high school, which is no surprise, considering that he comes from a family that has long valued the integrity of beef. Since January 1981, the Jacoby family has been operating their family-owned farm and ranching business, Jacoby Feed and See, in Melvin, Texas, which has expanded into a multifaceted operation over the years. However, Jacoby stresses that the new Austin restaurant is “more like taking a seed from Melvin and planting it here to grow in a way that reflects this place.” The restaurant serves Jacoby’s own beef, which might boast the happiest cows in Texas. “Our cattle receive only the best in nutrition, including pasture grass, hay, and a finishing ration specially mixed by Jacoby Feed and See. They are never given any type of growth hormone or antibiotics,” Jacoby says.

The meaty offerings (including a stellar bone-in ribeye) on Jacoby’s menu are sure to attract a foodie crowd; however, the quaint atmosphere is its own draw. Created by Kris Swift, winner of HGTV’s seventh season of Design Star, the restaurant’s interior transports you from East Austin to a rustic countryside cottage, complete with petite hobnail vases filled with Texas Hill Country blooms on every table and blue vintage Ball mason jars for water glasses. Guests can also linger on a sublime granite back patio, framed by reclaimed railroad ties from the family rail center. Swift and Jacoby have carefully curated the offerings available at the adjacent Mercantile, which sells everything from cake stands to cuts of Jacoby beef, so guests can re-create the restaurant’s eclectic, rustic-chic flavor at home. Every aspect of the restaurant is Jacoby’s way of bringing a serving of Southern hospitality to East Austin. “We look forward to sharing our family with yours,” Adam says.