Abi-Haus, one of Abilene’s newest restaurants, finally opens its doors to the public Friday evening.
After months of preparation, co-owners Jim Jackson and ACU design professor Ryan Feerer will begin serving their “honest American food” to patrons. During the past week, Abi-Haus has offered soft openings to its fans on Facebook. Previews of their brunch, lunch and dinner menus on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday night were each booked within an hour of being posted.
“We’ve had private parties and soft openings with nothing but positive feedback,” said Feerer. “The people who have already been to the restaurant have been wanting to come back and we’re not even open yet. So I think that’s a good sign.”
Their Facebook page has garnered nearly 900 likes since its creation in July while sales of their sourdough bread loaves and the soft openings have kept residents anxious for the grand opening.
“I’m really excited to see a new restaurant in Abilene that will offer something different,” said Taylor Edwards, senior Ad/PR major from Houston. “It will be really nice to have a place with such a great atmosphere and some of the foods that I’ve missed here in Abilene.”
The menu includes many American classics with interesting twists. Visitors can try a kobe beef burger with gorgonzola cheese, Korean fish tacos, smoked lamb shank and many other meals that can’t be found elsewhere in Abilene. Jackson and Feerer pride themselves on fresh, made from scratch ingredients from condiments and sauces to burger buns meats.
“We really see it as an art and a craft, said Feerer. “We still want to keep things simple so you can enjoy the flavor of the food. We’re not trying to mask those flavors, just trying to enhance them with really fresh ingredients.”
If the food wasn’t enough, the restaurant’s physical design is artfully designed.
Located at 959 N. 2nd Street, right next to Betty & June, the design has a look unmatched by any other restaurant in Abilene.
Typography by alum Jeff Rogers and chalk letterer Dana Tanamachi line the walls. Bold phrases like “Long Live Abilene” and “Good Food Ends In Good Talk” can be seen inside the restaurant,.
“We just wanted something classy and different,” said Feerer. “Where you walk into the space and it doesn’t feel like you’re in Abilene.”
Hours, menus and contact information are available at www.good-haus.com and the restaurant will offer tables on a first come, first serve basis.
“It’s something we felt Abilene was lacking,” said Feerer. “We felt it was our duty to open something like this for the city.”
