Published: August 09, 2007 11:09 am      

Ironton has new restaurant

Austyn's Steakhouse opens at 11 a.m. today

Ironton — As of today, area residents have yet another option for dining out available to them.

Austyn’s Steakhouse and Lounge opens for lunch at 11 a.m. in the old railroad depot building at 124 Bobby Bare Blvd.

Austyn’s is the first business to occupy that structure since Manzetti’s Pizza and Pasta closed several years ago. Anyone who hasn’t been in the depot since that time probably won’t recognize it now, said Frank Murphy, the Ironton contractor who oversaw the building’s renovation.

The interior of the 5,000-square-foot structure has undergone a stunning transformation, Murphy said.

“It’s spectacular,” he said. “You just have to see it to appreciate it. It’s definitely the fanciest restaurant in the Tri-State.”

The building’s original hardwood floors were refinished, Murphy said. A custom-built bar and other wood furnishings were installed.

A railroad motif was employed for the restaurant’s decor, Murphy said. Among the eatery’s more eye-catching features are the glass partitions featuring railroad artwork, he said.

Of course, all that remodeling work would be for naught if the food wasn’t good, and, according to Murphy, Austyn’s comes through with flying colors in that regard.

The contractor said he had eaten several times at the original Austyn’s location in Marietta, Ohio, and had been impressed each time.

“It’s delicious,” he said. “I haven’t had anything yet that hasn’t been good.”

Owner Phi Chen described Austyn’s fare as “upscale American.” However, most of the restaurant’s dinner entrees are priced at less than $20.

Austyn’s menu features steaks prepared in a variety of ways, along with a large selection of chicken, pasta and seafood dishes. Gourmet pizzas, soups, salads and appetizers also are available.

Some of Austyn’s specialties include rack of lamb, grilled and served with a red wine, rosemary and garlic reduction; Ocean Feast, a baked Cajun-spiced rock lobster tail served with a pan-fried Maryland crab cake; and parmesan- crusted mahi mahi filet served with a creamy white wine garlic sauce.

All of Astyn’s dishes are prepared to order and use fresh, never-frozen ingredients, Chen said.

Chen opened the first Austyn’s seven years ago, naming it after this then-infant son. He said he chose Ironton as the site for his second eatery because it has a number of things in common with Marietta.

“Hopefully, we’ll have the same success in Ironton that we’ve had in Marietta,” he said.

Chen said he was counting on drawing patrons from Kentucky and from West Virginia to the Ironton location.

In addition to the main dining area, Austyn’s has private meeting rooms and a banquet room available. Chen said the eatery will accept bookings for all types of gatherings, including corporate meetings, birthday parties and wedding receptions.

Austyn’s employs about 30, Chen said.

The depot building is owned by the city of Ironton, which leases it to the Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. The chamber, in turn, is leasing the structure to Chen.

Federal grant funds were used to pay for work on the exterior of the structure, including fixing the roof and installing new windows, chamber President Bill Dingus said. All of the interior work was paid for by Chen, he said.

Dingus said he believed that Tri-State residents will be highly impressed with Austyn’s.

“It’s truly reminiscent of something you’d find in New York City,” he said.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.