FIRST LOOK DINING The Palomino Horse rescuer opens pub near San Gabriel Park G eorgetown resident Amber Kurkowski has spent years caring for horses found starved and emaciated, ensuring they don’t go hungry again. Now, Kurkowski is paying homage to the horses she rescued with her new Georgetown restaurant. The Palomino opened at 305 E. was in her 20s and just a very gentle sweet soul,” Kurkowski said. “You could just tell she was very thankful for all that we did for her and getting her out of the situation she was in.” Sitting in the former location of Bob’s Catsh-NMore next to San
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
Gabriel Park, the business is meant to serve as a place for locals and families of all sizes to gather. “I have kids, and I have a lot of friends who have kids,” Kurkowski said. “There’s just not a lot of places
Amber Kurkowski opened her new restaurant, The Palomino, on the Fourth of July in Georgetown. (Photos by Grant Crawford/Community Impact)
Morrow St. on the Fourth of July. The business was named in memory of a horse Kurkowski helped rescue after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when ood
water made it dicult for those with horses and other livestock to nd shelter for their animals. Sleeping in their horse trailer at night as they helped secure
in Georgetown to have a drink with your friends, and let your kids run
“HERE, A BURGER IS A BURGER, AND YOU’RE GETTING A SOLID BEEF PATTY.” AMBER KURKOWSKI, OWNER
around and be crazy. I felt like we needed something that was family-friendly—more
The BBB Burger ($15) comes with beer cheese, barbecue sauce and bacon.
The Bavarian pretzel ($12) is served with a side of beer cheese.
animals left behind, Kurkowski and her husband were asked if they could pick up a skinny, malnourished horse found at a ranch north of Beaumont. The facility where horses were being brought to wait for their owners to reclaim, though, couldn’t take Zinnia, a palomino. “She was in really bad shape. When we took her to the intake facility, they wouldn’t take her because she was so thin,” Kurkowski said. So Kurkowski, who runs a nonprot horse sanctuary on her ranch, brought Zinnia to a friend in College Station, where the horse was taken care of for a week before nally making the journey to Georgetown. Zinnia lived with Kurkowski at her ranch until 2022, when she died of colic. “She was an awesome horse. She
of a cool hangout spot that we’ve just kind of been lacking in Georgetown.” The Palomino’s menu features four varieties of bratwursts, a crispy chicken sandwich, and a children’s menu of mini corn dogs and chicken bites. Customers will nd an appetizer list of Bavarian pretzels, chips and salsa, beer cheese fries, mini corn dogs, and fried cheese curds. The bar also has 32 taps, 24 of which are beer, four are ciders and four are wines. However, Kurkowski said it’s the nine dierent burgers that will stand out. “I’m tired of going places and getting a disappointing burger,” she said. “There’s just no meat or you have to order a double burger. Here, a burger is a burger, and you’re getting a solid beef patty.”
Amber Kurkowski, owner of The Palomino, also runs K.W. Equine Sanctuary out of her Georgetown ranch. Here’s how her nonprot organization works. HELPING HORSES
Rescues horses found during law enforcement seizures, mostly those that aren’t being cared for
Rehabilitates the animals she takes in, retrains them and puts them up for adoption
Relocates the horses not suitable for adoption to her ranch where they live out their lives
The Palomino 305 E. Morrow St., Georgetown 512-240-5858 www.facebook.com/palominogtx Hours: Thu.-Mon. 3-9 p.m., closed Tue.-Wed.
N
Celebrating 30 Years as Your Only Local Shutter Manufacturer
Come to us or we will come to you! Schedule a Free
In-Home Consultation. 512-931-0400
3415 Williams Drive, #140, Georgetown • www.SouthernShuttersAustin.com
37
GEORGETOWN EDITION • AUGUST 2023
Powered by FlippingBook