Owners Claudia Lee and Richard Hargreave said that although both have years of business experience, they consider themselves underdogs as this is their first restaurant in the Austin area.
Hargreave previously worked with chef David Chang—founder of restaurant group Momofuku—which led to the opening of restaurants in Sydney, New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Lee brings several years of experience in the business of planning and marketing, having previously worked for FOX Entertainment Group and Pernod Ricard USA.
“With Underdog, we wanted to create a relaxed environment where our neighbors can get an impromptu happy hour with friends then find themselves staying for a full course dinner or circling back for a nightcap glass of wine,” Lee said in a news release in May.
The available wines and the Korean American-inspired dishes featured on the menu vary by season. Some dishes Lee and Hargreave said they are most proud of include clams and mussels with grilled milk bread, pork belly ssam and blue crab on crispy rice topped with trout roe.
Lee and Hargreave said they work with small producers to obtain the ingredients for dishes as well as the unique wines served.
Adjacent to the restaurant is a retail section offering bottles of wine, caviar and other specialty items available for purchase.
www.underdog-atx.com
