Photo by Kelli WeldonDespite drizzling rain on a 60-degree Saturday, customers crowded around St. Philip's booth during a recent Sustainable Food Center Farmers Market at Sunset Valley.
Staffers have been selling pastries at the market since August and will continue to do so even after St. Philip makes its much-anticipated debut this fall, chef Omar Rodriguez said.
"The community of Sunset Valley has really embraced us," Rodriguez said.
Pizzas, sandwiches and pastries will be among St. Philip's offerings. The South Lamar Boulevard restaurant features a pizza bar so customers can watch bakers in action as well as patio space, said John Baydale, president and owner of Uchi Restaurants LLC.
"For us food is always first," he said.
A brunch menu offers steak and eggs, a croque-monsieur and s'mores pancakes, said Kerstin Bellah, lead baker and pastry chef.
Philip Speer, director of culinary operations for Uchi Restaurants, has described the concept as "part pizza parlor, part bakeshop and part culinary workshop."
Baydale said the wealth of talent Uchi has attracted throughout the years fueled the company's growth, and Uchi Restaurants will debut another Austin conceptin 2015.
The new restaurant, another departure from sushi, will also be located on South Lamar Boulevard, he said.
"We think that South Austin is only going to continue to grow and become more innovative," he said.
