Canje

• Gardner Restaurant was maybe too early for its time in East Austin. When it closed, its owners lightly transformed it into the more neighborhood focused Chicon, featuring the introduction of a bar and garage door into the main dining space. Sadly, it fared little better. Subsequently it became The Last Straw, a sort of tiki-bar concept that witnessed all surfaces being painted colors you might find at a sherbet bar. Hastened by the COVID 19 pandemic, it also shuttered.

  But our friends at the Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group approached us and asked to assist in transforming the space into Canje, a Guyanese and Caribbean focused restaurant (more below). While many of the design elements that made Gardner special are intact, the previously serene space is now a joyfully loud event boasting some of the very best food in Austin. Named one 2022’s best new restaurants by Bon Appétit and one of the 50 best restaurants in America by The New York Times. 

• “Named after the Canje pheasant, national bird of Guyana, Canje pulls inspiration not just from mainland Guyana, but from Jamaica to Puerto Rico, and all the islands in between. The passion project of Guyanese native Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Canje’s menu explores the cooking techniques, ingredients, and many expressions of vibrant food across the entire region.” – Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group