One of the most anticipated culinary and hospitality concepts of the last two years in Austin comes to fruition Nov. 11 when Leona Botanical Café & Bar opens at 6405 Brodie Lane in Sunset Valley.
Chef Lakana Trubiana, and her husband, Justin, owners of the Dee Dee Thai food truck, and sisters Maritza and Reyna Vázquez of Veracruz All Natural, announced the project more than 18 months ago.
After lobbying the city of Sunset Valley for permission, the team converted a five-acre residential lot into a pastoral escape with food from two of the most popular food trucks in town, along with a full bar and a new collaborative food concept, Bun Bun Burger.
All three of the food outlets will operate out of their own counter-service areas. The first brick-and-mortar from Trubiana will see her small trailer menu of northern Thai dishes double in size.
“It’s been a long journey — from cooking for family and friends, to hosting pop-ups, to opening and operating a food truck for nearly 10 years, to finally making this project at Leona come true,” Lakana Trubiana said in a release. “Cooking, gardening and nature are near to my heart, and we’re so excited to share the space with everyone.”
Veracruz will serve its tacos and tortas for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the burger concept will open later this year.
Caer Maiko Ferguson — a veteran of Peche, the Roosevelt Room and DrinkWell — will oversee the bar program, which is a collaboration between Dee Dee and Veracruz. The coffee drinks — with coffee sourced from Proud Mary — and cocktails, like a green papaya margarita and Oaxacan old fashioned, draw flavors from Asian and Mexican culinary traditions.
A pastry case will feature items from Rockman Bakery and an assortment from quarterly collaborators like Sour Duck Market and Texas French Bread.
The team overseeing the expansive indoor-outdoor space includes acclaimed Austin architecture firm Clayton Korte, and Campbell Landscape Architecture. The five-acre lot includes 7,000 individual plants, 90 existing trees preserved to maintain the current shade and habitat, and 80 additional trees.
“This project is all about the outdoors and designed to foster a strong connection with nature for all ages,” said Cameron Campbell, president and founding principal at Campbell Landscape Architecture. “Tall, shady trees, diverse plantings, layered garden elements and thoughtfully integrated architecture make this garden a serene respite and destination like no other dining space in Austin.”
The women-owned business sits on the site of land long owned by the late philanthropist Betty Grubbs — a longtime supporter of the women’s athletic department at the University of Texas — who died in 2018 at age 100. Leona plans to hold an annual fundraiser for UT’s Betty Grubbs Endowed Scholarship.
Leona will be open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with Dee Dee serving food from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Veracruz serving from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.