New Waterloo’s French brasserie, Le Politique, is now open. Located along the corner of 2nd Street and San Antonio, the brasserie, patisserie, and coffee shop will serve a menu of classic French fare by husband-and-wife culinary team Executive Chef Derek Salkin and Executive Pastry Chef Alyssa Hurlstone. The restaurant offers lunch, mid-day, dinner, and brunch in a bright corner spot of downtown Austin.
Translated to ‘the politician,’ Le Politique is a nod to Austin’s roots as a capital city, as well as a tribute to Texan and French politicians, past and present. Designed by Austin-based architects Clayton & Little, the restaurant features a spacious indoor dining room, large bar and lounge, and—in homage to traditional Parisian brasseries—2,400-sq. ft. of wraparound patio seating. A bright palette of blues, pinks, and white contrasts with bold brass and marble accents throughout the 9,000-sq-ft space, located along the first floor of Austin’s Northshore high-rise development.
“We are definitely channeling the Parisian brasserie experience,” says Alexis Lanman, director of marketing at New Waterloo. “It’s the kind of place where a latte turns into a long rosé lunch, friends come and go, and you can spend an entire day watching the world go by from your spot on the sunny patio.”
A classic brasserie, Le Politique will offer a menu of time-honored French fare, including an extensive raw bar selection and fresh fromages to start. Entree highlights include Chef Salkin’s Truite Amandine with haricot vert, toasted almond, lemon, and brown butter, and the decadent Gnocchi À La Parisienne with summer vegetables, fines herbes, and corn fondue. At the bar, old meets new with French favorites like the Soixante-Quinze (a French 75) and original cocktails, like the La Cómplice, featuring local Treaty Oak rum, luxardo, dolin blanc, grapes, and lime. The restaurant will also offer an expansive wine list from regions across France, housed in an on-site cellar.
“At Le Politique, old-school Texas hospitality meets French charm,” says Mandi Nelson, beverage director at New Waterloo. “We’ve recreated classic French cocktails using homegrown Texas ingredients and chosen to highlight a unique selection of boutique French beers and wines.”
The pastry program, led by Chef Hurlstone, will feature a selection of housemade desserts and pastries, including the perfect Paris-Brest, warm Madeleines, and Pain Au Chocolat. The adjoining patisserie and coffee shop is slated to open in early October, and will serve breakfast and baked goods daily.
Le Politique is the latest project from New Waterloo, the Austin-based hospitality management group behind local favorites La Condesa, Sway, South Congress Hotel, and Hotel Ella. New Waterloo will further expand its portfolio with the fall opening of Il Brutto, a neighborhood Italian restaurant in East Austin.
