Oria Opens on Barton Springs Road With Wood-Fired Mediterranean Dining
The team behind Space Cowboy introduces a stylish new spot for shareable plates and live-fire cooking
A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant built around charcoal- and wood-fired cooking, Oria, opens in mid February in the former Austin Eastciders space at 1530 Barton Springs Road. The concept comes from the team behind Space Cowboy, with owner Rikki Wang at the helm and JuanDiego “JD” Solombrino serving as executive chef.
Oria’s menu pulls from Southern European and Eastern Mediterranean cuisines, with small plates designed to be shared.
“Oria is about slowing down and letting food, fire and conversation take center stage,” Wang said. “After creating Space Cowboy, we wanted to create something that feels equally transportive but familiar, a place that still feels special, grounded in warmth, ritual and human connection.”
Signature dishes include fire-roasted harissa branzino, spicy walnut and yogurt dip, and freshly baked wood-fired pita. The menu is organized into sections devoted to breads, spreads and dips; fresh and raw seafood; vegetables; hearth and flame; and fire-warmed mezze.
The cocktail program features drinks such as the Fig Leaf Martini, Dates & Spices Old Fashioned and Charred Pineapple Mezcalita. The bar also offers a selection of spritzes and tonics, along with wine and beer, plus late-night dessert cocktails like espresso crema and banana milk.
Stylish patio and late-night dining
The restaurant’s patio seats about 100 guests and includes an outdoor pita oven positioned near the entrance, where live-fire cooking is visible to arriving diners. A fountain sits at one end of the space, which is arranged with bistro tables, four-tops and a small elevated section for private events. A walk-up counter with outdoor bar seating is intended to serve daytime foot traffic along Barton Springs Road.
Inside, limewash walls threaded with ivy and a quartzite bar top create a warm, organic atmosphere. Large windows open to blur the line between indoors and out. The main dining room seats 100, with banquettes lining the perimeter and freestanding tables at the center.
Oria is open for dinner and late night from 4 p.m. to midnight on weekdays and until 2 a.m. on weekends.