Austin Bar, Restaurant & Retail News

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

The Express News minced no words in that article... I don't understand this negativity of Austin that at the least SA publications have. Even listing alternatives to patronizing Austin based eateries. Joking or not, it's more than evident and it doesn't put SA in a good light. What Austin publication does that to SA? None that I know of.


Okay rant over.

I would be miserable if I lived there too

[Tyrone Shoes]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

The Express News minced no words in that article... I don't understand this negativity of Austin that at the least SA publications have. Even listing alternatives to patronizing Austin based eateries. Joking or not, it's more than evident and it doesn't put SA in a good light. What Austin publication does that to SA? None that I know of.


Okay rant over.

We'll take our restaurants back when their lawyers will stop advertising on Austin TV stations. I get tired of some idiot lawyer yelling at me for no reason.

[kingkirbythe....]

Whiskey-loving Texas restaurant chain pours into booming Austin suburb

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...on-round-rock/

Whiskey and cake are two nearly universally loved things, and one “farm-to-kitchen” restaurant in Texas is bringing them together. Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar will open a new location in Round Rock on September 13 at 2600 N Interstate 35. It’s the first location in the Austin area.

And to answer the obvious question, yes, there is a whiskey cake here. The restaurant describes it as “a sticky toffee cake with bourbon anglaise, spiced pecans and housemade vanilla whipped cream.” The rest of the menu is American, highlighting local ingredients from Texas, and cooked by the live-fire method — less technically, barbecue — over mesquite.

“Having the chance to expand to this area is an exciting milestone for everyone at Whiskey Cake. We’re incredibly humbled by the opportunity to get to know the locals and work directly with the businesses, farmers and ranchers to be an extension of the beautiful community of Round Rock, Texas,” said Whiskey Cake president and COO Ray Risley in a press release.

The entire nine-location chain is relatively local, with only two locations outside of Texas, one each in Oklahoma and Florida. The menus feature both seasonal changes and regional specialties (sometimes far from their hyperlocal origin, like the shrimp and grits in Oklahoma City). The local goat cheese fondue is a popular choice, and a menu item that simply says “local artisan goods” promises “stuff from our neighborhood and stuff we made in house.”

Whiskey cake isn’t the only kind on the menu; the carrot cake pancake stack addresses those morning cravings along with lavender-cream cheese icing. Chicken and waffles are elevated, too, with malted waffles and local eggs. Brunch creativity reaches its peak with a “French toast switch up,” allowing the chef to change the specifics at will.

The whiskey list is shockingly long, even for a place named for it. Organizing a 250-bottle “library,” it’s split into nine categories sorting by provenance and distilling process. There are 21 choices under “Texas” alone. Staff will help guests choose from the dizzying array. On the long-but-not-that-long drink list, there are tequilas, gins, wines, and non-alcoholic fresh-squeezed juices, among other treats.

The inclusive drink list matches the food, which takes plenty of opportunities to play with gluten-free and vegetarian recipes. The decor, too, aims to be responsible and boasts as many reclaimed and sustainable materials as possible. The chain even sets up tiny retail markets at each restaurant with local items. The Round Rock Whiskey Cake commits half of opening day’s proceeds to The Dog Alliance in Cedar Park, which trains dogs for families, first responders, veterans, and more.

The Round Rock Whiskey Cake will open September 13 on weekdays from 11 am to 10 pm, and closes at 11 pm on Fridays. Weekends from 10 am to 11 pm on Saturdays and 10 pm on Sundays. Reservations will be available soon at whiskeycake.com.

[kingkirbythe....]

Revered Rosedale teahouse and restaurant to close, but it's not all bad news

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...sedale-austin/

Well, it's a typical day in Austin: When one restaurant opens, another one closes. Rosedale's revered teahouse and shop, The Steeping Room, announced Thursday, September 1 that it will brew its last teapot on September 24.

Founded in 2007 by Emily Morrison and Amy March, The Steeping Room has served the Austin community for more than 15 years. The local business was one of the first to settle in The Domain, and Austin's first full-service restaurant and retail top dedicated to bringing connoisseur-quality teas from around the world to Central Texas.

The team opened their second location in Rosedale in 2012, later choosing to consolidate the business to that location in 2017, in light of the expansion of the Domain Northside. The consolidation allowed them to focus on growing their online tea shop, wholesale café and restaurant program, and launching their packaged baked goods and wholesale pastry line.

The tea shop built a very loyal following in its 15 years, attracting tea lovers and healthy food enthusiasts alike. And there are several silver linings for those fans. First, March and Morrison have decided to turn their attention to further growing their online tea market, expanding their wholesale tea program to partners in San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. They will also continue to do special events, pop-ups, and seasonal catering.

Further, the team announced launch plans for the opening of a tasting room where they can hold classes and do small group tastings. In product news, March intends to introduce a new line of teahouse-inspired frozen doughs and baking mixes, as well as commence work on her “communitea” cookbook to share some of her and her team’s favorite treats and specialties while chronicling her journey into mentorship in both the service and wellness industries.

For now, the Rosedale location will continue brewing up delicious, comforting teas until the end of its lease on September 24.

"The Steeping Room’s guiding principles have always been based in community building," the team shared in a release. "It has been co-created through the years with a talented and loyal team of people who have become an extended family while being shaped by our local community. Now, the TSR team looks forward to celebrating the joy of tea and delicious food with their restaurant family and beloved patrons as they finish out their time in Rosedale and plan their next phase for Austin and beyond."

[kingkirbythe....]

Second Bar + Kitchen gets a second chance with East Austin opening

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...-austin-hotel/

Another local pandemic closure is getting a second chance as business picks up.

Longtime downtown favorite Second Bar + Kitchen will stage a comeback in the East Austin Hotel at the corner of Sixth and Waller streets, less than a mile from its original downtown location, beginning September 15. In November 2020, the restaurant permanently closed its downtown location after a decade in business, due to dwindling foot traffic and the unpredictability of economic recovery in downtown Austin.

“I’m very excited to help bring Second Bar + Kitchen back to downtown Austin with Executive Chef Gerard Kenny,” said SBK founder and chef David Bull, who also serves as regional vice president of food and beverage for La Corsha Hospitality Group, in a press release. He is joined by executive chef Gerard Kenny. “Our guests will recognize that the food and service at this location is authentic to our original location, and we are delighted to be returning to our city’s core.”

The restaurant continued service at the Domain Northside in the Archer Hotel Austin, serving elevated plates in a range of styles from new American to Asian fusion to pizzas, and early breakfasts starting at 7 am. A second existing location also operates at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport next to Gate 16, with a relatively long menu compared to other ABIA eateries, as well as grab-and-go breakfast service.

SBK fans will recognize many menu items at the East Austin location. The Congress Burger honors the original location with onion confit and “comeback sauce,” while more adventurous menu items include the seared Faroe Island salmon with pork belly fried rice, coconut tempura, and mint. Snackers might enjoy truffle pomme frites with grana padano and white truffle aioli.

A long beverage list on the bar side includes a dozen classic and signature cocktails (the white peach sangria lightens up the fruity staple with white wine, peach liqueur, passion fruit, and limoncello), 37 whiskeys, beers, wines, and dessert drinks.

Guests are invited to the restaurant and rooftop, but food and drinks will also be served at the hotel’s poolside bar, as well as in event and meeting spaces. The hotel already has two eateries onsite: the eclectic and stylish Sixth and Waller Global Diner, and loungey cocktail bar and deck The Upside, perched above the pool like a very chic treehouse. Both eateries and the pool bar will be replaced by SBK.

Second Bar + Kitchen at East Austin Hotel will be open Sunday to Thursday from 7 am to 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday until 11 pm. More information is available at www.secondbarkitchen.com.

[StoOgE]

The food critic for the San Antonio Express News seems really bitter to be stuck reviewing the San Antonio food scene which can basically be summarized as

"Hey, Best Quality Daughter is good enough to stand out in another city!"
"The Pig Stand was cool, right?"
and
"Our Taco stands were once far better than Austin before Cuantos opened."

[clubtokyo]

They love to hate us

[kingkirbythe....]

The prettiest Japanese-style sandwiches are back with popular pop-up in Austin

https://www.statesman.com/story/ente...n/65470334007/

Just ... just look at those eggs.

Sandoitchi, the Dallas-based pop-up concept that specializes in Instagram-ready, Japanese-style sandwiches, is returning to Austin for a limited run. From Sept. 4-17, they'll operate out of the kitchen of North Austin restaurant Mikado Ryotei (9033 Research Blvd., No. 100).

Chef Stevie Nguyen (of Morimoto, Momofuku Ko and Uchi in New York) started Sandoitchi in 2020, and the concept brought its sandwiches to Austin in January 2021, selling out its pre-orders.

“After our first visit last year, we knew that we had to come back to Austin since it’s such a thriving and amazing foodie city,” said Keith Tran, operations manager, in a statement.

The geometrically pleasing handhelds from Sandoitchi are inspired by sandwiches often found at konbini, or convenience stores, in Japan. With their clean lines and appealing visual symmetry, they've become popular on social media.

[kingkirbythe....]

One of Austin's top barbecue joints is permanently closing next week

https://www.statesman.com/story/ente...0/65469445007/

A decade is like two lifetimes for most food trucks. And that's about how long Kerlin BBQ will have lasted before it turns out its lights next week.

The East Austin barbecue trailer that Bill and Amelia Kerlin opened in 2013 posted on Instagram Thursday that Sept. 10 would be its last day in business. The post stated that commercial development would soon begin on the lot that for many years was home to Kerlin and taco operation Veracruz All Natural, sandwiched between since-closed pinata shop Jumpolin and cocktail bar Weather Up.

The barbecue trailer, which was an Austin360 Top 10 barbecue stalwart for 9 years, will continue to offer limited catering and take large pre-orders, according to its owners. For that, the Kerlins will work through a commissary kitchen.

While the Kerlins won't regularly sell their trailer's full roster of barbecue, you can still get their smoked meats in kolache (OK, klobásník) form at spin-off trailer Kerlaches, found at 2505 Weberville Road. Kerlaches opened in April following the successful occasional sales of the meat-stuffed pastries at Kerlin over the years.

[kingkirbythe....]

It's a very tongue-in-cheek rivalry between San Antonio and Austin. San Antonio and Austin are so close geographically and so different culturally that comparison is inevitable.

If someone pokes fun at Austin, especially from San Antonio, and it gets you all riled up, it's time for a little self examination.

[kingkirbythe....]

This one is for a few of you in the crowd. Maybe yall are right.





Leave it to Austin to screw up what every other Texas city manages to get right

https://www.expressnews.com/food/art...n-17395052.php

Albert added: “Not just slightly raw – it’s like this chicken wasn’t even touched by any sort of heat. Unfortunately, I ate it in my dark car so I didn’t realize it until it was too late. Be wary about this location.”

Austin has the highest percentage of below-average Whataburgers in Texas, according to an Express-News analysis of Google data. The best are in El Paso.

In search of the best and worst Whataburger locations in and around Texas, the Express-News pulled Google Map ratings on 905 restaurants listed in the company’s directory. Locations needed to have at least 100 ratings to qualify for our analysis.

For this story, the Express-News identified seven Texas cities with at least 20 Whataburger restaurants.

Among the cities with the highest percentage of average or better Whataburgers, Corpus Christi is ranked second, followed by San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas, respectively.

The average rating of a Texas Whataburger is 4.1 stars on Google.

At 80 percent, Austin has the highest percentage of Whataburgers with a below average rating on Google. The city has 20 locations.

By comparison, just 10 percent of San Antonio's Whataburgers were below average.

In Austin, among the major issues noted by customers on Google were concerns over long wait times and cold food. Others complained that their orders were incomplete or incorrect.

[kingkirbythe....]

South Austin's Crema Bakery & Cafe set to close in September

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...-in-september/

Crema Bakery & Cafe announced on Instagram that it will be closing its doors for good on September 17.

The South Austin bakery, located on 9001 Brodie Lane Suite B3, posted on Instagram to let both the community and its followers know the reasoning behind the closure. The owner cited the pandemic, rising costs of supplies, and staffing issues being the root cause.

"The final nail in the coffin was our landlord requiring a minimum five-year lease," the post explained. "We can't even pay rent right now, so I just couldn't do it."

Crema will be creating a "fill the freezer" menu, wherein the bakery will be batch-making fan favorites from the last few years for those that would like to "hold onto the magic for a little longer."

[kingkirbythe....]

Olamaie’s Rowdy Southern Cousin Settles In on South Congress

Austin’s famously touristy avenue welcomes a new steakhouse with a celebratory spirit.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/ma...aurant-review/

A decade ago, Michael Fojtasek found himself on a succession of Greyhound buses traveling throughout the American South, a long and winding road that took the then 32-year-old chef through Athens, Charlotte, Nashville, and other key cities. He had become fascinated with Mississippi food writer John T. Edge’s book Southern Belly, a look at traditional foods, and was eager to eat at restaurants headed by a cadre of chefs—galvanized by Sean Brock, of Husk, in Charleston—who were breathing new life into the region’s beloved but sometimes stodgy dishes. That effort came to fruition four years later, when Fojtasek and his then–business partner, fellow chef Grae Nonas, opened a lovely Austin restaurant serving creatively updated Southern classics in a quiet neighborhood near downtown. The owners gave it a sweet, old-fashioned name, Olamaie (“Ola-may”), in honor of four generations of women in Fojtasek’s family. In a matter of months, it was amassing a rapturous local fan base. The next year it received a James Beard Award nomination for best new restaurant in the country.

[kingkirbythe....]

The London bar that revolutionized shuffleboard is electrifying Austin

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...ustin/#slide=0

Shuffleboard isn’t usually the focus of the evening — or anything, really — but that’s the point: It’s unobtrusive enough to schedule just about any outing around it. Electric Shuffle, a bar and games venue out of London, is coming to Austin to hold that space and more this fall.

Electric Shuffle seems like a paradox, as shuffleboard is an antique activity, not really something people are racing to innovate. But the London bar did it, implementing custom-built “high-tech shuffleboard” with cameras to track and map each puck, keeping score for up to two dozen people, and making tournaments especially easy. Despite the arcade-ification of this classic bar game, it still seems to work the same mechanically, so analog experts need not worry.

“We are so excited for Austin to be the next spot we call home,” said Electric Shuffle USA CEO Gene Ball in a press release. “The city is a hub for innovation and hospitality with a deep love of good vibes and great music while being home to some of the coolest and weirdest concepts in the world. We cannot wait for Electric Shuffle to be a part of this community and culture while adding our own little piece of uniqueness to the city.”

The Austin bar will reside where an upscale, retro bar games spot gone high-tech makes sense: Rainey Street. It will be housed in The Quincy, a mixed-use complex between The Fairmont and the Hotel Van Zandt.

The bar itself is visually stunning — at least it is in Dallas, the closest and only other United States location — with an eclectic mix of art deco lighting, exposed brick, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and colorful velvet seating. While dive bars can be plenty of fun for late night games, this is not one. The Austin location is not just the second in Texas; it’s the fourth city in the entire chain, which is operating in London, Dallas, and Leeds coming this fall.

The elevation reaches through the decor and into the kitchen, which sends out a long list of snacks and even full meals to share, including roasted shishito peppers, sampling platters, seven types of pizza, and more.

It’s not just good for an evening hang, either. Electric Shuffle serves an over-the-top brunch with a bottle of prosecco for each guest (or a nonalcoholic alternative), other cocktails, live DJs, a charcuterie-like “Ultimate Brunch Board,” and bacon jam pizza. Huge parties are more than welcome, with reservations available for four to 24 guests, and opportunities for private events of up to 250.

[kingkirbythe....]

Austin bar pops the cork on 2 immersive fairytale cocktail experiences

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...p-ups/#slide=0

Falling through a mirror or being held hostage in a castle is, frankly, a lot of commitment. But getting dressed for another casual bar night is, on the other hand, a little boring. Wanderlust Wines is teaming up with local events company Hidden to host two fantastical pop-ups that will turn a simple night out into a celebration of whimsy. And you can’t beat the glassware in these two stories.

The Alice, the Alice In Wonderland experience, is about halfway through its tenure at Wanderlust, ending September 18, and subsequently transitioning to Beauty & The Beast on September 28, a similar cocktail activation. A visit to The Alice takes the form of a tea party (at least figuratively), while maintaining a focus on cocktails. What’s in the teacup varies: everyone gets a chance to make two bespoke cocktails with wine based spirits.

The experience is not unique to Austin, but since it relies on local businesses to host, each one is a little different in layout and decor. All locations are dripping with flowers hung from the ceilings, mounted on walls, and blooming out of crafty show-stopping trees. The magical, maximalist gardens include plenty of photo ops with neon signs and tufted furniture, creating a whimsical anachronism to suit whatever wacky outfits guests arrive in.

[kingkirbythe....]

Another Jo's Coffee appears to be in the works

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...lr-filing.html

Jo’s Coffee shop, known for its picturesque green wall with "I love you so much" written in red, may be expanding further into South Austin.

A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing states that Jo’s Coffee will begin renovations on a building located at 5532 Menchaca Road starting next month. It’s slated to finalize the work at the end of the year, according to the filing.

The building is nearly 2,200 square feet, located near Crockett High School, Austin Community College, Austin Java and other restaurants. Cost for the work is estimated at $487,500, but these filings are not always accurate.

Jo's Coffee is part of the Bunkhouse portfolio, which also includes Hotel San José, Austin Motel, Fair Market, Hotel Saint Cecilia and Hotel Magdalena. Additionally, the company has other hotels in its portfolio outside of Austin, including The Phoenix Hotel in California, Hotel Havana in San Antonio and Hotel San Cristóbal Baja in Mexico, according to its website.

Information in TDLR filings is preliminary and subject to change. Representatives of Jo's Coffee couldn't be reached for comment.

[kingkirbythe....]

San Francisco ramen shop noodles into town

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...s-into-austin/

One of the most popular of many San Francisco ramen restaurants, Marufuku Ramen, just announced it is coming to Austin on October 5, making this the second Texas location after Frisco. This franchise specializes in Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen, made with bone broth and thinner-than-usual noodles. Serving sizes also appear slightly smaller than the gut-busting bowls currently found around Austin. The menu extends to other grilled and fried items such as karaage (fried chicken) and chashu (pork belly) buns. More information about the Mueller restaurant (1900 Aldrich Street Suite 180) as it becomes available at marufukuramen.com.

[kingkirbythe....]

Austin's Crow Bar burns down, blaze investigated by AFD arson unit

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/lo...n-17451534.php

Early Sunday morning, September 18, Austin Fire Department responded to a blaze at Crow Bar, a dive near St. Edwards University on S Congress Avenue. Austin Fire Department arrived at 4:20 a.m. to find the bar's patio completely destroyed, with other damage to the building sustained. As of Sunday afternoon, that fire is being investigated as incendiary in nature, meaning it was intentionally set.

Austin Fire Department's Arson Division is working on a criminal investigation into the Crow Bar fire, plus a nearby fire at the 4200 block of S First Street and around 15 grass, trash, and dumpster fires in the area. The building at South First is a former auto repair shop that is currently a vacant commercial building, according to AFD.

There is a GoFundMe created for Crow Bar staffers who will be out of work for the immediate future. According to Aryn Black, a staffer who organized the GoFund Me, "We don’t have a timeline as to when we can even begin repairing the damage to our building."

[kingkirbythe....]

Police arrest arson suspect accused of setting Crow Bar, commercial building on fire

https://www.statesman.com/story/news...s/69504270007/

Austin police arrested a man on Sunday accused of intentionally setting fires over the weekend that left one South Congress Avenue staple torched.

Police arrested John Adam Henry, 42, on Sunday evening and booked him in the Travis County jail on two felony charges, one in connection to the fires, the Austin Fire Department said Monday.

Henry is suspected of having started a fire in the 2000 block of South Congress Avenue, near the Habana Restaurant and Bar, as well as being involved in over a dozen grass, trash and dumpster fires from late Saturday into early Sunday morning, fire authorities said.

The ongoing investigation also includes two structure fires, one that left Crow Bar on South Congress Avenue with serious damage throughout the two-story bar and another in an abandoned commercial building about one mile south on South First Street.

"We believe that a minimum of 15 incidents are connected to this suspect and expect to file additional charges as we work to complete our investigation," Austin fire spokeswoman Lisa Cortinas said in a statement.

[kingkirbythe....]

Downtown hot spot ATX Cocina debuts sister restaurant in Austin's Arboretum

https://austin.culturemap.com/news/r...um-atx-cocina/

One of downtown Austin's favorite hot spots just welcomed a new sibling: Bulevar Mexican Kitchen is the sister concept to ATX Cocina, and is now open at 9400 Arboretum Blvd.
Bulevar is the newest project from Guy + Larry Restaurants, the team behind Roaring Fork, Salty Sow, Tumble 22, J Carver’s, and Red Ash, in addition to ATX Cocina. Sourcing from leading purveyors and utilizing a wood-fired grill, the restaurant celebrates the simple pleasures of premium seafood, prime steaks, organic chicken, and heirloom vegetables — all sourced from leading purveyors and wood-grilled over live coals.
An operating partner at ATX Cocina, Kevin Taylor is the Executive Chef at Bulevar, where the menu will revolve around "masa, meat, and margs," according to a press release. Masa is a cornerstone of Mexican cuisine, and Bulevar's comes from small family farms in Oaxaca, trucked in by Masienda. Taylor and his team practice in a 100 percent gluten-free kitchen using modern approaches combined with traditional, regional Mexican techniques.
“I was lucky enough to be raised in a family-operated Mexican kitchen, and I often take immersive trips throughout Mexico where I learn from and cook with locals. I’m always excited to share my appreciation and respect for Mexican cuisine with the City of Austin when I return. Each dish on the Bulevar menu is a combination of what my travels have taught me, my upbringing in a Mexican kitchen and my inspiration from the legends of Mexican cuisine,” said Taylor in a release.
As in traditional Mexican homes and restaurants, the dinner menu is intended for sharing, with highlights including the hand-pressed tortillas, big steaks and fish cooked over a live fire, refreshing crudos, fresh oysters, and an organic half chicken with corn butter.
In addition to a variety of whiskeys, gins, and a selection of Mexican and American wines, the bar program features 150 mezcal and tequilas from premium distilleries in Mexico. The impressive list designates the region of origin for each mezcal, as well as its NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana), a four-digit number noting exactly where the spirit was produced.
Housed in what was previously the second location another downtown concept from Guy + Larry Restaurants, Z'Tejas, Guy Villavaso and Larry Foles had the unique opportunity to return to the restaurant they built back in 1995. Along with a massive wood-fired grill, the space features tall ceilings, expansive glass windows, and gorgeous views of the Austin sunset from the patio.
Open daily at 4 pm for happy hour until 6:30 pm and dinner until 10 pm, Bulevar is now taking reservations. Lunch and brunch services are soon to follow.