Picnik founder Naomi Seifter announced in an Instagram post that Picnik will shutter its doors on Burnet Road, effective immediately, in preparation for something new.
Seifter will open a refreshed concept in its place, coming within the next 4-6 weeks. The new restaurant will “be the perfect representation of what we believe healthy, nourishing, health-promoting food should look like in a restaurant setting in 2026 and beyond,” Seifter said.
The backstory
Seifter launched Picnik's first location in 2013, which was a 150-square-foot food trailer, according to Picnik's website. Her goal was to build a restaurant grounded in offering convenient, gluten free meals crafted with high quality ingredients.
The first sit-down Picnik restaurant opened three years later, bringing farm-to-table dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Seifter brought in outside management to oversee the business in 2019, she shared on Instagram. Recently, she has spent the last two years exploring how to buy the business back; Dec. 1 was Seifter’s first day back as the new owner and operator.
Seifter said what she came back to was unrecognizable, including menu offerings and ingredient standards, she explained online.
On the menu
Picnik’s menu served salads and bowls, tacos, burgers, chicken sandwiches, cashew queso, curried chicken salad and more. The restaurant also had all-day brunch offerings like pancakes, steak and eggs, avocado toast and brioche french toast.
Beverage options included collagen bone broth, juices, zero proof mocktails, cocktails and specialty coffees.
Stay tuned
More information about the new concept will be released in the next few weeks, according to Seifter.
“What I’m trying to do here is going to have the most beautiful, positive impact for people and the families of Austin and beyond,” Seifter said.
