Today we’d like to introduce you to John Coronado.
Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in South Texas, lived briefly in San Antonio, and moved to Austin in 1999 to attend the Texas Culinary Academy. I have worked in the Austin service industry ever since, bartending, cooking and restaurant managing at several local Austin institutions. I met my current business partner while frequenting and falling in love with the original iteration of Aviary. What started as a friendship between patron and purveyor quickly became a business partnership. I started helping behind the bar and originated a food program to add to the cheese and charcuterie already in place. As we began to look towards the future, our business partnership came to fruition with the vision and goal of turning Aviary into a full service restaurant. I officially became co-owner of Aviary Wine & Kitchen, and after multiple trips to inspirational wine centric establishments across the nation to develop our vision, we came back with a final look and feel for the evolution of Aviary. We closed Aviary in 2016 for ten months while we remodeled and reopened as Aviary Wine & Kitchen three years ago on Oct.3, 2017.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well, besides the massive speed bump that was 2020, it has all been a learning process. As a first time business/restaurant owner, no matter how much we have experienced in the past, there is always more to learn and take into consideration. That attitude has gotten us through not only an extremely difficult year, but also over the hurdles and hiccups that you inherently face when opening a business. That being said, I would not change what we have been through and had to overcome to get to where we are today. Each of those lessons have made Aviary Wine & Kitchen the special place it has evolved into today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Aviary Wine & Kitchen?
Aviary Wine & Kitchen has always been a wine-centric location, but we also offer one of the most underrated and innovative kitchens in all of Austin. Executive Chef Andre Molina & Beverage Director Alex Bell work tirelessly offering the best wine and food program in Austin. The goal is to unify both sides of the coin, the food & wine program, harmoniously and approachably. I believe what sets us apart from others is our laid back, familial approach combined with the fine dining experience our staff has. We take great pride in knowledge that goes beyond the plate or the glass and strive to enhance the guest experience by providing a deeper level of understanding. Our wine program is designed to take people on a journey into new landscapes, playing into the sea of synonyms that wine really is. A new grape variety, a region of the world they didn’t even know made wine, a style of wine they’ve never seen, all while connecting back to the familiar and embracing their pre-established knowledge. With food, it’s about the diverse journey that the farms and purveyors of Texas offer, and showcasing this unique landscape through a myriad of culinary techniques Chef Andre has learned and experienced throughout his time in the industry. Our staff unifies these components and connects them to each and every one of our guests.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
The definition of success has definitely changed for our industry in 2020. Surviving and keeping the restaurant afloat is how I would define success these days as a whole. Being able to keep my staff employed, to make sure they can pay their bills, that to me feels better than almost anything else I would define as success. If we are to speak on day-to-day success, to me it’s as simple as seeing our guests enjoying the safe and thoughtful space we have created, and then leaving satisfied with full bellies and smiles on their faces. I feel very optimistic for 2021 and the direction we are headed in all aspects of the business.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@aviarywinekitchen.com
- Website: aviarywinekitchen.com
- Instagram: @aviarywinekitchen
Image Credits
All images in collaboration with @recessstudio.
