When Zed's opened two years ago in the Tech Ridge development, the vision was to create an oasis where residents could get away from the hustle and bustle but still be in Austin.

Although the restaurant has undergone chef and menu changes, General Manager Laura Josselson said that vision remains intact. The restaurant has outdoor pools filled with koi, a waterfall, a back lawn where customers can sit on blankets to enjoy live music and a 1-mile walking path.

"People are happy to see changes here," Head Chef Jacob Hilbert said. "A lot of the locals in the area really want this restaurant to work because there aren't a lot of nice restaurants around here, there aren't a lot of places where they can go experience an attractive ambience and cool environment."

Four months ago, Hilbert moved his family from North Carolina to take the role as head chef at Zed's. He has spent 20 years in the food service industry and has owned three restaurants, which is a huge step up from his first food job as a pork glazer for HoneyBaked Ham, he said.

Hilbert didn't grow up in a culinary family but became fascinated by food when he was 15 years old and traveled with his mother to France where he experienced his first emotional connection to food.

"This was really a conscious decision of mine," he said of becoming a chef. "I really love cooking. I've always been sort of, I guess you could say, a creative person by nature."

He said he did not change too many items on the menu when he was hired, but he did add a few dishes that fit with the menu's comfort food concept.

"We serve duck, we serve lamb, we serve filet, beef, things that are usually thought of as part of the untouchable, upper-end bistro, fine-dining restaurant, but we sort of really try to present them in a way that is accessible and comfortable," he said.

Many customers order the beef dishes, such as the short ribs, Hilbert said, but other dishes that sell well are the chicken pot pie and chicken-fried ribeye.

"Those are lure items for me; it's like, 'Come on, try those, and if that's good, then let's go out a little farther out on the branch,'" he said. "Chicken-fried steak, there are only so many things you can do with it."

Hilbert said he loves to make the braised lamb shank and the roasted duck, which is similar to a French dish known as confit duck made with the leg of a duck.

"Those are the dishes where I've sort of had the most fun because I think if you really know food, and you come here and you have that duck and are presented with the massive half confit duck with the beans and the cornbread, it will occur to you that there's something learned going on here that's playful," he said.

Being that Austin is a music town, Zed's hosts live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Depending on the weather, Josselson said Zed's can set up a stage on the back lawn where people can sit on blankets.

"Austin is just such a music town, [so] we felt we wanted to contribute," she said.

Main menu

Although the restaurant serves a great deal of beef, Head Chef Jacob Hilbert said his favorite dish is the roasted duck ($27.50). Here is a selection of other items available.

• Braised lamb shank: A Moroccan-inspired dish with a lamb shank served with couscous, turnips, carrots, garlic and olives ($25)
• Roasted chicken: Half a chicken marinated in beer and roasted, served with whipped potatoes and roasted vegetables ($15.75)
• Chicken-fried ribeye: Topped with black pepper gravy and served with whipped potatoes and roasted vegetables ($16)
• Filet mignon: A 7-ounce filet with a coffee and chili rub served with whipped potatoes and asparagus ($34)

Appetizers and desserts

• Bang Bang Shrimp: Fried shrimp served with potato, Spanish tortilla, sesame seeds and spicy sriracha sauce ($12.50)
• Calamari: Thin ribbons of carrots, squash and zucchini fried with calamari ($12.50)
• Baby bellas: Portabella mushroom caps with sun-dried tomato vinaigrette and caramelized onions ($10.50)
• Lemon meringue tart: Homemade pie shell with lemon curd, fresh berries and toasted meringue ($7)
• Peanut butter cup and chocolate torte: Chocolate brownie cake with peanut butter and chocolate Bavarian creams ($8)

Zed's, 501 Canyon Ridge Drive, 512-339-9337, www.zeds.bz