Chef’s weekly rotating family style menu, featuring seasonal antipasti, pasta & entrée courses.
$38 per guest.
Children under 12, gratis!
info@parksideprojects.com
512.729.0050
2900 e 12th St.
Austin, TX 78702
Building upon the philosophy of food and hospitality that has made Parkside a standard for downtown dining, Shawn Cirkiel opened Olive & June in 2012. Excited by the opportunity to be just a few minutes north of downtown near family and friends, Olive & June focuses on Southern Italian and is named after he and his wife’s grandmothers.
Olive & June highlights a long list of superlatives including as many as 12 different pastas made in house daily, the most comprehensive list of Amari and Grappa, original Italian influenced cocktails, and the largest and most diverse Italian wine list in the city curated by beverage director and advanced sommelier Paul Ozbirn. Parkside Projects’ executive pastry chef Erica Waksmunski, also responsible for all pasta and bread production, rounds out Olive & June’s unique menu with outstanding desserts.
Shawn’s dedication to sourcing local, finding the best ingredients, and making everything in house continue to be a theme, but at Olive & June they are appreciated in a beautiful 3 story building surrounding a 200 year old oak tree. The atmosphere is as casual as Austin, but the service and attention to detail makes Olive & June a perfect spot for a weekly haunt or a special occasion.
Creativity and innovation in the kitchen have made Shawn Cirkiel one of Austin’s most coveted chefs and restaurateurs. 8 years ago, Cirkiel opened parkside—the city’s first gastro pub—to much fanfare. The accolades continue on for this sophisticated spot, which is housed in a converted two-story space on East Sixth Street, as they do for Cirkiel’s subsequent ventures: the backspace, a widely popular Neapolitan-style pizzeria, olive & june, an updated version of family-style Southern Italian dining, and Bullfight, an authentic Spanish restaurant featuring a variety of small, shareable plates and wildly popular takes on Spanish tapas.
Cirkiel’s passion for local and seasonal food extends beyond the scope of his restaurants and has become a driving force behind his notable community engagement. As a child growing up on a farm, Cirkiel learned early on the integral role fresh ingredients play in cooking. He took that core knowledge with him to the Culinary Institute of America, where he refined his skills and style and developed an even deeper appreciation for sustainable food. He soon moved to Napa Valley to work in the kitchen at the esteemed Domaine Chandon before landing a job at New York’s Café Boulud. An entrepreneur by nature, Cirkiel moved to Austin to embark on his own endeavor: He took over as the owner/chef of the city’s beloved Jean-Luc’s Bistro, followed by a move to Uchi.
It didn’t take long for devotees to realize Cirkiel was very talented. His success spilled over to parkside, the backspace, olive & june – named for his grandmother and his wife’s grandmother, and Bullfight. Inspiration for the many classic Italian dishes at olive & june came from the family dinners Cirkiel enjoyed as a child in the Italian-American neighborhood of the South Bronx, where Cirkiel’s father was raised. The vision for Bullfight came from Cirkiel’s love affair with Spain, and represents his most passionate work yet – bringing ambitious, thoughtfully-modernized Spanish classics and a colorful mix of regional tastes and flavors to Airport Boulevard.
Cirkiel’s devotion to smart (sustainable) cooking and the community is evident by his involvement in many projects, including an initiative at Austin’s Highland Park Elementary, where he has helped develop healthy-eating, exercise, and gardening programs. Cirkiel is also a founding chef of the Sustainable Food Center’s Farmers Market in downtown and a board member and secretary for the Sixth Street Austin Association, which has been fundamental in raising funds to restore the legendary district. And while the chef maintains a high profile around town and in the media—he’s been noted in numerous publications, including Southern Living, Food Arts, Cooks Illustrated, Bon Appetit and the Los Angeles Times—Cirkiel doesn’t stay out of the kitchen for long.
First opened in 2008 on historic 6th street, Austin native Chef Shawn Cirkiel pays homage to his family with Parkside, named for the housing project in the Bronx where his father grew up. Before “farm-to-table,” “house made,” and casual but elevated service became the calling cards of Austin, Parkside has now set the standard for downtown dining for the better part of a decade. Parkside, our original and our flagship restaurant, is best known for its extensive raw bar and its superior selection of oysters from around the country. Patrons of Parkside feel at home a suit or sandals, where a seasonal menu of locally sourced proteins and produce come together in form of a beautiful lamb entrée or our awarding winning cheeseburger. Not to be overlooked, Parkside’s acclaimed pastry chefs make dessert anything but an afterthought. Austin’s original gastropub, Parkside continues to gain affection from tourists and locals alike, and its ingredient driven menu and consistent service are the foundation for every one of chef Cirkiel’s restaurant since.
Named after the grandmothers of chef Shawn and his wife, Olive & June opened in 2012 with an emphasis on making every pasta, as many as 12 different kinds, in house daily. If this doesn’t make Olive & June unique enough, the 3 story building is enveloped by a 200 year old oak tree with 4 different dining areas inside and out. Olive & June has the largest and most diverse selection of Italian wine, Amari, and Grappa in the city, but to central Austin’s regulars it’s equally well known for its formal yet friendly service, a hallmark of all Shawn Cirkiel restaurants. Celebrating the cuisine and culture of Southern Italy, expect to see new menu features daily focusing on fresh vegetables, pasta, and its famous piccoli piatti where everything is meant to be shared.
7co is a Parkside Project’s newest venture. A full-service event venue (with a large outdoor space!) located in the heart of East Austin at 7th and Comal. The unique private event space is perfect for corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners and other special occasions. The property spans an entire city block boasting high end interior finishes, a stunning 15,000 sq. ft. outdoor space and a 1000 sq. ft. terrace with its own fountain. This new venue allows for a fully customized event lending itself to many different styles.
Parkside Projects’ first venture outside of restaurants is found in event venue 800 Congress. Named after the location’s physical address, 800 Congress is downtown Austin’s newest event venue located on historic Congress Avenue. With an open, industrial feel and views of the Paramount Theatre and the Capitol it is the event destination of ‘No-Co’ (North Congress). Venue features include original exposed brick & foundation walls, projector with 200” projection screen, state of the art sound system, & VIP room with private entrance. A truly versatile space, 800 Congress is a blank slate for creating the downtown Austin event you’ve been waiting for.
The newest venture from Chef Shawn Cirkiel’s Parkside Projects, Jugo is the new healthy, grab-n-go destination in downtown Austin. Opened in March 2017, the fast casual spot offers fresh-pressed juices and smoothies made with a variety of local, organic and seasonal ingredients. JUGO also serves a selection of freshly made and packaged to-go items, in addition to sandwiches, salads, protein packs and lighter snacks. Ideal for locals on their way to work or visitors enjoying historic downtown Austin, JUGO is the reliable and healthy go-to option.
Since Parkside opened in 2008, community engagement has been priority for Chef Cirkiel. Early projects include an initiative at Austin’s Highland Park Elementary, where he has helped develop healthy-eating, exercise, and gardening programs. Cirkiel is also a founding chef of the Sustainable Food Center’s Farmers Market in downtown and former board member and secretary for the Sixth Street Austin Association.
Today Parkside Projects contributes tens of thousands of dollars a year in financial support, food, and time to local charities and service organizations. We have been incredibly fortunate in our growth and strive to grow equally in our ability to give back to Austin. We are thrilled to receive requests daily and try to respond to, participate in, and contribute to as many people as possible.
Please send your giving requests here, if we are able to help we will respond within a few days.
Parkside Projects offers private dining experiences at all 3 of its unique restaurant concepts. From intimate private dining rooms to entire restaurant buyouts we are available to host any and all of your upcoming special occasions. Parkside. The Backspace, and 800 Congress offer settings in the heart of downtown Austin. Indoor/outdoor neighborhood options can be found at Olive & June.
Chef’s weekly rotating family style menu, featuring seasonal antipasti, pasta & entrée courses.
$38 per guest.
Children under 12, gratis!
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At Parkside Projects, our principle is to hire quality over quantity. Many of our staff have been with us more than a few years and many since the beginning of their restaurant careers. As a great source of pride, many of our managers and chefs began their careers with us. As well, other members have also become leaders of some of the best restaurants across Austin.
While we love to promote from within, we love meeting new people to grow our Parkside Projects family. Experience is important, but passion and hard work are fundamental. Please email us your resume and tell us about yourself at careers@parksideprojects.com.