By Kaitlyn Milner
After eight years as one of East Austin’s favorite neighborhood wine bars, APT 115 has transformed into an elevated dining destination while keeping the atmosphere that made regulars fall in love with it in the first place. For owner Joe Pannenbacker, none of it happened by accident.
“We’ve been here for about eight and a half years. We started as just a wine bar, then slowly added more food, took that more seriously, and when Josh started with us, we saw this vision of elevating the place without losing our wine bar crowd.”
With the addition of Chef Josh van den Berg, APT 115 has transformed into a Michelin-recognized fine-dining establishment in Austin, while maintaining its comfortable, casual original vibe. When Pannenbacker set out to create APT 115, his vision was to “make it feel warm” and as though you were eating with “your eccentric friend who has cool art and plays great records.”
With recent renovations transforming the intimate dining room, guests can expect a different layout but the same energy. Pannenbacker wasn’t aiming to turn his space into something new or different, but rather to keep elevating the interior to make it an even better version of itself.
Pannenbacker, when asked about his opinions on how the remodel turned out, said that “It’s never done. I’m always tweaking it.”
This is because he “likes to think of himself as the curator of the space—more like a movie director,” rather than just an owner. To him, every detail is intentional, and no part of the restaurant is left out of the process. This includes the obvious, such as overall layout design shifting, down to the newly added hooks under the bar counter to accommodate purses.
There were also dramatic upgrades to the kitchen, making it clearly visible to the dining room, and with updated appliances for Chef Josh. The open layout is an interesting way to enjoy the meal, and it highlights how impressive the single-chef-in-the-kitchen concept is. Providing the opportunity to watch one man cook Michelin-star-level food for the entire dining room exemplifies excellence.
This small staff of seven, including Chef Josh, is another thing that sets APT 115 apart from other places in Austin, which typically have larger staff. Something that Pannenbacker has focused on throughout his journey is the value of quality staff, because “At the end of the day, if you don’t have inviting service, none of it matters.”
The food itself is no small talent, and all ingredients are sourced for quality and pedigree. Chef Josh personally expects all ingredients every day to ensure they meet standards, and even grows some of them himself in his home garden. The dedication to great food starts from the ingredients, and Pannenbacker says that APT 115 will not “…compromise on quality.”
Of course, this level of excellence comes with experience, which APT 115 has in spades. Spending eight years in the restaurant industry in an ever-changing, ever-growing Austin atmosphere is no small feat. By combining artfully prepared food with a vibe that makes you want to stay a while, APT 115 has solidified its place in the hearts of foodies everywhere.
As Pannenbacker says, “Come in and experience what we have to offer. It’s all genuine.”
To learn more about APT 115, visit their website at https://www.apartmentonefifteen.com/ for information about the menu and reservations.
