As someone who said he has always paid close attention to details on projects throughout his life, Lox, Box & Barrel owner Sebastien Caillabet said he has to have a hand in every aspect of what he does.

Those visiting the gourmet deli can see that attention to detail first hand; Caillabet said he personally designed the dining space and kitchen, helped with construction, and created most of the metal and woodwork himself. The same care was put into selecting the local, fresh ingredients used on the hand-crafted menu, he said.

“I can tell you where all of my ingredients come from,” Caillabet said. “Our focus is on making sure our local farmers and ranchers are getting their products to customers.”

Lox, Box and Barrel opened in spring 2016 on West Hwy. 290, roughly halfway between Dripping Springs and Austin.

“There’s not much out here, so as far as food options, we’re a little island in a sea of fast food,” he said. “We wanted to bring something that was fresher, healthier and a better option for people.”

While the menu prominently features soups, salads and sandwiches,  as the restaurant’s name suggests, Caillabet said his smoked salmon lox, an Irish delicacy, is a main draw. The restaurant’s smoked salmon won a 2018 Good Food Award in the fish category.

Growing up in Ireland, he said he started working in his father’s restaurants at the age of 8. He has been smoking salmon in the United States for 15 years, and in 2011 he founded a business, Celtic Seafare, as a way to sell it in the area. He opened a small restaurant by the same name in Dripping Springs shortly after, but closed to start Lox, Box & Barrel a few miles east.

He said he moved from Ireland to California at age 19 to become a special effects technician for films, a career he held for 18 years. He said he also spent time as a military contractor after moving to the Austin area in 2003, but continued to cook throughout his life.

The biggest similarities between all the professions are the long hours, the creativity needed to thrive and, of course, the attention to detail, he said.

Caillabet said local favorites are the Bagel & Lox ($10.25) featuring his house-smoked salmon, and the Classic Reuben ($12.75).

Open for Brunch


Lox, Box, & Barrel offers a brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m -2p.m. with original takes on classic dishes.

Breuben ($9.50) Traditional corned beef Reuben and a scrambled egg on a fresh bagel

Brunch Mac’N Cheese ($9.25) Pasta and cheese mixed with breakfast sausage, ham, bacon and a sunny side up egg

LB&B Special ($10.95) Smoked salmon, potato-spring onion pancakes, cheese and a farm egg

Lox, Box & Barrel
9521 W. Hwy. 290, Ste. 100, Austin
512-400-0681 • www.loxboxandbarrel.com
Hours: Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., closed Mon.