Fast-casual eatery aims to offer breakfast by end of 2014

When FireOak Grill owner Amin Esar opened his new restaurant in 2013 in Northwest Austin he brought many flavors from the Houston-area food scene.

Esar's concept for FireOak Grill, he said, mirrors a successful endeavor he owned in Houston called Jake's Grill by offering diners a diverse menu.

"In a small place like this you can have so many food items so the customers have an extensive choice," Esar said. "That's the thing we like about it; you can have seafood, burgers, fresh salads and grilled chicken sandwiches all in one place."

FireOak, open for lunch and dinner, serves American cuisine with a Southern twist. Esar seasons his menu with Southern-influenced foods such as chicken-fried steak and shrimp po'boys.

The fast-casual restaurant's menu also offers salmon, tilapia, chicken, beef and vegetarian options. Esar said FireOak is known for its flame-broiled burgers.

"It gives more flavor to the food," he said. "A lot of [restaurants] don't want to [use charbroilers] because it takes a lot of hard work to clean. We do it because we just don't want to compromise on the flavor."

A restaurateur of more than 10 years, Esar said making condiments and marinades and mixing seasonings in-house adds quality to the taste of the food.

The chipotle mayonnaise and ginger sauce are a few of the handmade items the restaurant serves. FireOak's meat marinades include ingredients such as lime, lemon, cilantro, onions, vegetable oil, salt, garlic and peppers, Esar said.

Diner Gary Matthias said he eats at FireOak about two times per month for lunch and orders the seasoned fries and a cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and mayonnaise or mustard.

The seasoned fries, a special item not on the menu, are full of flavor, he said. The large portions of food for low prices keep him a returning customer, Matthias said.

By the end of the year Esar hopes to open for breakfast and serve items such as sausage, bacon, egg, cheese and spinach kolaches. After FireOak opens for breakfast, he said he would also like to expand the restaurant's hours to include Sundays. For lunch, Esar said he hopes to offer more grab-and-go options for customers.

Lunch for $5

FireOak Grill offers lunch specials Monday through Friday that include a featured item and a drink for $5.

• Monday Cheeseburgers
• Tuesday Chicken taco salad
• Wednesday Crispy chicken sandwich
• Thursday Chicken wrap
• Friday Fish sandwich

Specialties with a Southern influence

• Dishes are served with the choice of two sides, such as green beans, onion rings, mashed potatoes, salad, coleslaw or rice.
• Chicken-fried chicken coated with housemade fry batter ($8.29)
• Monterey chicken with bacon topped with Monterey Jack cheese, barbecue sauce and pico de gallo ($9.49)
• Smothered chopped steak served with brown gravy, grilled onions and mushrooms ($8.49)
• Grilled chicken ($8.29) or blackened chicken ($8.39)

FireOak Grill, 12518 Research Blvd., Ste. J, 512-382-1454, www.fireoakgrilltx.com, Hours: Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.