Sixteen years ago, Jack Allen Gilmore worked as a corporate chef and Tom Kamm as the director of operations for a local chain of restaurants. The pair traveled frequently for work and after 20 years at the same company, they ventured out to grow a unique family of restaurants in the Austin area.
“We were just inspired to … touch local ingredients, local farmers, local brewers, local distillers, local cheese makers [and] local coffee roasters,” Kaam said.
The background
Gilmore and Kamm met with investors and found a spot for the first Jack Allen’s Kitchen in summer 2009. They opened the Oak Hill restaurant in December of that year, bringing a diverse menu of Southern-inspired plates.
Since then, Jack Allen’s has expanded to six different locations in the Austin area, as well as two other concepts: Salt Traders Coastal Cooking and Day Maker Half Day Cafe.
On the menu
The menu features a selection of salads, seafood, chicken-fried meats, tacos, enchiladas, burgers and desserts. One of the “Jak Originals” is a pesto-marinated crab stuffed chicken, which is a grilled chicken breast stuffed with blue crab, red bell peppers and jack cheese, a potato cake, vegetables and cajun cream sauce.
“My number one goal was to honestly get six people from anywhere in the country all at one table and find something on the menu that [they] want,” Gilmore said.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere
Jack Allen’s Kitchen has a full bar menu with margaritas, specialty cocktails, wine, cider, local beers and mocktails.
“Back in 2009, we were the first restaurant to feature only local beers on tap,” Kamm said. “And to this day, we still adhere to that.”
The restaurant also has a selection of hand-picked single barrel whiskies that are unique to Jack Allen’s.
Staying local
Jack Allen’s officially opened in Round Rock in 2012 and expanded to the Hutto Co-Op District last year.
“Hutto just seemed to be the next natural location for us because of the growth in Hutto, and things are really booming here,” Kamm said. “So, it’s really because of Williamson County and the welcoming business environment that’s here, and also the great community.”
Additionally, the staff guides Gilmore and Kamm’s decision to expand. The pair said they grow where their staff lives, which is another reason they opened a location in Hutto, so employees don’t have to commute to Round Rock for work anymore.
What’s next
With three concepts, the restaurant group is now talking about opening more restaurants in the next few years, Gilmore said.
“So with great food, great service, great drinks, Jack Allen’s Kitchen [was born],” Gilmore said. “And that hasn’t changed to this day. The passion behind what we do, when we do it, and why we do it, matters.”
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