Silver Grill Cafe owner Rehan Awan bought the business on Parmer Lane in July 2010.[/caption]After working for more than two decades in management for Pizza Hut and Olive Garden, Rehan Awan decided it was time to go local.
In July 2010, Awan purchased the former J&J BBQ & Burgers on Parmer Lane and turned it into a neighborhood establishment called Silver Grill Cafe. Over the years he has made several changes and added his own personal touches, such as a playscape and fence around the outdoor patio, which is usually packed when the weather is nice, Awan said.
“We’re still evolving and trying to figure out how to cater to this area,” he said. “A lot of people ask us, ‘What’s your identity?’ Our identity is we’re a neighborhood restaurant catering to the families around here.”
In 2015, Awan plans to renovate the counter service area to a bar with seating and TV’s to complement the cafe’s existing full-bar menu. At some point he would like to open a second location in South Austin where he lives, he said.
The menu is an expansive range of comfort food classics, such as hand-breaded chicken fried steak, burgers and breakfast served all day with items such as the Crunchy Hangover with bacon, sausage and crispy tostadas.
“Breakfast was already here, and I tried to take it away, and people said, ‘No,’” Awan said. “So we came up with some chef-prepared omelets. Our [customer] favorite is the migas plate and All-American Breakfast Plate [with two eggs; toast; and ham, bacon or sausage.]”
Awan said the restaurant is also known for its Hawaiian Chicken entree, tacos al carbon with Angus beef and housemade slow-cooked ribs and brisket. Silver Grill also serves 9-inch super tacos, which are three times the size of the regular-sized tacos, with a choice of brisket, vegetables, steak al carbon or bacon ($4.89 each).
The restaurant offers a prime rib special Thursday through Saturday with either an 8-ounce steak ($13.95) or a 14-ounce steak ($18.95) served with a loaded baked potato and steamed broccoli.
The restaurant’s name came from the Silver Grill Hotel and Restaurant, owned by the parents of one of Awan’s friends when he lived in Pakistan. Awan moved to the U.S. to attend college and spent more than 25 years in the food service industry.
“A lot of people look from the outside and say the restaurant business is the hardest business, but to me it’s second nature,” he said.
Awan’s improvements have brought in regular Northwest Austin locals. Many who work in the technology industry frequent during lunch and families pack in during the evenings.
“On a daily basis it’s a good challenge to meet people and make sure they’re having a good time, enjoying the meal and get to know them,” he said. “We know a bunch of people on a first-name basis.”
Silver Grill Cafe has free Wi-Fi, and children eat for free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entree. Happy hour is Monday and Tuesday 3–9 p.m. and Wednesday through Sunday 3–7 p.m.
