Opal Divine’s Austin Grill - Marina

Opal Divine’s Austin Grill - Marina

Written by Shannon Colletti Thursday, 24 April 2008

 

When eating at Opal Divine’s Marina, you get more than just great food — you get to do something good for the environment. The owners of Marina, Michael Parker and his wife, Susan, want it to be the poster child for green business.

“I don’t want to be the last guy forced to do it,” Michael said. “I want to be the guy that’s on the front wave, making it happen.”

They opened Opal Divine’s Freehouse, their first location, on West Sixth Street in March 2000. They named their restaurant after Susan’s grandmother, Opal Divine.

Their second location, Penn Field, followed five years later, and Marina opened Dec. 27, 2006, in Northwest Austin.

“The way the town was growing, it looked pretty attractive to us,” he said. “We knew it was going to appreciate.”

The building for Marina already had a seaside motif, and the Parkers decided to keep it that way by naming it after their 14-year-old daughter Marina.

All three Opals are wind powered by Austin Energy GreenChoice and have recycling programs. Parker said he is trying to start a composting program for the food waste, adding that 60 percent of Opal’s throwaway is compostable. He also plans to get Marina fitted for solar panels.

The restaurant’s atmosphere is laid back — a place equally suited for dining with your family or meeting friends for a beer. Guests can enjoy live entertainment and special events, such as scotch tastings and $2 Texas beer night on Wednesdays.

The cuisine is a mix of American grill and pub fare. The Parkers use all-natural ingredients in most of their food and cook only with trans-fat free oils. The burgers are made from antibiotic- and hormone-free beef. The chicken is also free of hormones and antibiotics, and Marina now serves an all-natural line from Boar’s Head for all of its sandwich and omelet meats and cheeses.

Marina prides itself on its bar selection. It offers more than 60 varieties of single malt scotches and 36 craft-brewed and imported draught beers. Margarita mixes are made fresh daily, and all the tequilas are 100 percent agave.

Lunch began with the Southwestern Eggrolls, which were loaded with spicy grilled chicken, black beans, corn, cheese and cilantro and encased in a thin, crispy shell ($6.95). They came with chipotle mayo dip that added a kick.

The entrées arrived next, including the Zweibrücken Würst Plate ($8.95). This was a stick-to-your-ribs meal: two bratwurst steamed in Shiner Bock and served with salad, side and roll. The brats were brimming with flavor enhanced by the beer, and complemented by sauerkraut and spicy mustard.

The Tuscan Turkey & Havarti Panini is another option ($8.95). Slices of Tuscan turkey, creamy Havarti cheese, cilantro pesto and sun-dried tomato aioli were overflowing between two slices of grilled sourdough. It came with award-winning Cracked Pepper Fries, which were neither greasy nor too peppery.

For lighter fare, you can try the Two Step Express Lunch Deal, half a sandwich and a salad, cup of soup or side for $5.95.

The Double Divine Brownie is a dessert must ($5.95). It consisted of two giant, homemade brownies and two scoops of Amy’s Mexican Vanilla ice cream, all drizzled with caramel and chocolate.

All of the to-go packaging at Marina is biodegradable. The Bagasseware container is made out of leftover cane and plant fibers. The cups come from corn, and the plastic ware is “SpudWare,” made of vegetable starch, soy and limestone.

“Our goal is to eventually not have anything go to the landfill. We’re a good ways from that, but we are working toward it,” Parker said. “It’s something we believe in and are trying to do more of every year.”

Sun Kitchen: 10 a.m.-midnight, bar open until midnight

Mon-Tues Kitchen: 11 a.m.-midnight, bar open until midnight

Wed, Thurs & Fri Kitchen: 11 a.m.-1 a.m., bar open until 2 a.m.

Sat Kitchen: 10 a.m.-1 a.m., bar open until 2 a.m.

Brunch Sat & Sun: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Michael Parker said he uses many local vendors at Opal Divine’s. Some of these include:

• El Lago chips and tortillas
• Independence beer
• Live Oak beer
• New World Bakery
• Smokey Denmark
• Texas Coffee Traders
• Walters Bay Tea Company