Dishing Up Fresh

nigeledelshain
1 hour ago
4 min read

WHEN AUSTIN NATIVE Aaron Lyons launched Dish Society in 2014, he wasn’t trying to reinvent the restaurant world. He just wanted to solve a problem he kept running into every time he ate out. “I had always been conscious of what I ate and where it came from,” Lyons says. “But I found it really challenging to find something that fulfilled those needs in a convenient, accessible way.”

That thought simmered throughout his early career. After graduating from UT, he landed a job that required constant travel. Living out of a suitcase and eating out for every meal, he experienced food culture in cities across the country. And, over time, he noticed a pattern: There was a noticeable gap in the dining space between fast-casual chains like Chipotle and more polished sit-down restaurants like Houston’s. What was missing was something in the middle. He couldn’t find real food, thoughtfully sourced, served in a way that fit his lifestyle.

The vision for Dish Society began to take shape when Lyons returned to Austin for graduate school. “I used that time to do a ton of research,” he explains. “I interviewed dozens of restaurant owners and managers and wrote the business plan that would eventually become Dish Society.”

At the time, he hoped the first location would open in Austin. But that dream proved more complicated than expected. “I was living in Austin, trying to find a space and investors, and I completely underestimated how hard it would be. None of the real estate developers wanted to take a chance on an undercapitalized, first-time restaurateur.”

A HOUSTON LAUNCH

After a year of chasing leads and facing rejections, Lyons expanded his search to Dallas and Houston. Eventually, he found a landlord in Houston’s Galleria area willing to give him a shot. It would take nearly a decade before Dish Society returned to Austin, but the dream never faded.

Dish Society finally made its way back to where it all started, opening its first Austin location right here in the heart of Mueller. For Lyons, it felt like a homecoming. “I’ve always loved the Mueller area,” he says. “I remember flying in and out of the old airport as a kid. Having watched it grow over the years into this vibrant, walkable community made it feel like the right place to be.”

That connection goes deeper than nostalgia. As a brand built around fresh, locally sourced food and a relaxed, welcoming vibe, Dish Society fits right in. “What most attracted me to Mueller is that it’s somewhere I’d live with my family if I still lived in Austin,” Lyons says. “It’s full of young professionals and families who want good food and accessible options. We want to be the kind of place people can frequent any time of day. We are there for breakfast with the kids, a working lunch, or a casual dinner after a walk around the lake.”

Dish Society has already found its rhythm, serving up an all-day menu of farm-fresh fare with favorites including brisket-stuffed sweet potatoes, seasonal salads, power breakfast bowls, and specialty lattes. They also offer a popular kids’ menu and a full bar for the grown-ups.

COMMITTED TO LOCAL

The restaurant prides itself on partnering with nearby farms and vendors to keep every dish fresh and deeply connected to a variety of Texas flavors. Over time, its growth has opened opportunities to collaborate with an even wider variety of local suppliers, ensuring that ingredients are always locally sourced and at their peak. This commitment not only supports the community but also delivers a dining experience that tastes like home.

Dish Society has come a long way since its first Houston location. Today, there are seven locations across Houston and Austin, with more on the way. One major milestone ahead is a new location opening inside Houston’s Hobby Airport next year.

Lyons credits much of the company’s success to the systems and team culture they’ve built over the past decade. “When you open a restaurant, you think you’re in the food business,” he says. “But what you realize is that you’re actually in the people business. Your team determines your success. You have to build a strong culture, and that leads to strong execution and exceptional guest experiences.”

The short-term focus for the team is making sure each location is performing at its best. Down the road? Lyons is looking to add additional Austin locations, expansion into the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and eventually, growth outside of Texas. “The key,” he says, “is growing at a pace that lets us maintain the quality and community partnerships we care about.”

As for Mueller, Dish Society plans to stay rooted here for the long haul. “We’re so grateful to the residents here for accepting us,” Lyons says. “We’ve had our share of growing pains. Opening our first store outside of Houston came with some challenges, but the community’s been patient, supportive, and incredibly kind. We look forward to being a true neighborhood staple for many years to come.”