New Pacific Asian Cocktail Bar and Kitchen Serving Tropical Drinks and Asian-Inspired Dishes

Photography courtesy of Nicolai McCrary.

She’s Not Here, a Pacific Asian cocktail bar and kitchen from Uchi/ko and 50 Eggs alumni Ben Cachila and Chris Romero, is thrilled to officially open its doors to the public on Wednesday, August 15 in the 2ND Street District. The restaurant features fun, bright, tropical-influenced libations. Expect curious riffs on classic drinks utilizing hibiscus rye, aged rum, applewood-smoked mezcal, roasted coconut, jasmine, toasted almond, cloves, falooda syrup, cardamom, and magrood leaf.

The cocktail program is supported by a surprising and playful menu utilizing vibrant ingredients. Composed of small bites, seasonally focused sushi, cold tastings, and main dishes, the menu is inspired by traditional Asian recipes that are accented with fresh and aromatic elements. 

Highlights from She’s Not Here’s opening cocktail and dinner menu include: 

Cocktails: Hibiscus – Rittenhouse hibiscus rye, tiki bitters, coconut sugar; Sling – gin, aperol, fresh pineapple juice, lime; Smoke – applewood mezcal, plantation pineapple rum, lime, orgeat, toasted almond salt rim; Ginger – Batavia arrack, fresh ginger, honey, lemon; Rose – Aviation gin, grapefruit, falooda syrup, lemon, Peychaud’s; and Matcha- Tito’s vodka, matcha tea, coconut milk, honey syrup. 

Nigiri: Hamachi -yellowtail; Mebachi - big eye tuna; Madai – Japanese sea bream; Gai Lan - Chinese broccoli; and Shanghai Tip – Chinese romaine. A special “Sakana Haka” fish selection will change daily with offerings such as Kinmedai – golden eye snapper; Tennen Aji – wild horse mackerel; Taraba – king crab; and Goba Saba  - blue nose mackerel. 

Temaki: Soft Shell Crab – aioli, cucumber, kaiware sprouts; Cali Butter - clarified ponzu butter, California crab, soy paper; and Ume Shiso – Japanese plum, perilla, cucumber. 

Cold dishes: Marinated Yellowtail – lychee, green apple vinegar, pickled Asian pear; and Tasmanian Ocean Trout - passion fruit, South Pacific fruit relish, crown daisy.

Hot dishes: Pork Adobo – braised and fried pork shank, adobo jus, crispy cauliflower, coconut cream; Braised-Fried Korean Chicken with yuzu-pickled Asian pears, summer squash, and toasted chili oil; Galbi Style Pork Ribs – pickled shishito, garlic sweet soy glaze; and Sakana Tempura - crispy cod fillet, apple tentsuyu, pickled apple, togarashi.

The chefs have also been particularly mindful to dietary needs by developing an extended selection of produce-driven sushi items that are both vegan and gluten-free.

Relaxed and refined, the interior evokes a reimagined tropical hotel lobby from the 1920s and is a mash-up of French Art Deco meets island textures and palettes. The exterior is adorned with massive and sultry flora that has been executed entirely with spray cans by local street art legend Mez Data. This createsan ideal setting to spend a pleasant and lazy afternoon or evening sipping on colorful, flowered drinks while laughing a little too loudly with friends.

According to William Jackson, Chief Business Officer and Publisher of InFluential Magazine, Spanish InFluential, and Teen InFluential, “When you want a truly thrilling dining experience in the 2nd Street District of downtown Austin, then you must try She’s Not Here.  From the moment you enter the door, the experience is stellar.  The decor is simple, yet tasteful reminiscent of Palm Springs.  The food and drink programs are refreshing and thrilling, sure to tantalize the eyes as well as the taste buds.  The staff is knowledgeable, very professional.  Our hats off to our server Robert who ROCKED!  We were in a constant state of diner’s euphoria.”

Located downtown at 440 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas, 78701, She’s Not Here compliments the neighboring venues, restaurants, and The Violet Crown Cinema by providing a lush downtown refuge that serves both food and beverage Sunday – Thursday 5 p.m. – midnight, and Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. – 2 a.m. Expect expanded hours coming soon, which will include grab-and-go bento box lunches and happy hour service.

For more information, visit www.shnaustin.com or follow along on Facebook (/SNHATX) and Instagram (@snhatx).