There’s been a lot stewing in the Allandale-area food scene lately. Backspace, the downtown pizzeria offshoot of Parkside, is opening an outpost on 1794 West Anderson Lane. They will be firing up Neapolitan pies sometime soon. In other pizza news, Austin’s Pizza took over the spot held by Brooklyn Pizza at Little Woodrows’ Burnet location. Another switcheroo happened when Far East Sports Bar replaced Street underneath Chinatown at 3407 Greystone Drive. And Tatsumi will take over the ever-changing Red Pepper space on Anderson Lane. Also closing is the world-class Teo Espresso, Gelato, and Bella Vita on West 38th due to rising rents. Not surprisingly, with the closure of Noble Sandwich Co., Spun Ice Cream closed.
Trudy’s has sadly been struggling, filing for bankruptcy to pay its employees. Trudy’s quality has been up and down lately, but we have many good memories there and hope it makes it. Restaurant announcements for the controversial The Grove development on the south side of the neighborhood are starting to drop with Rise, a Dallas soufflé spot, announced in January.
Honest Mary’s, fast-casual grain bowls (review this issue), just opened in late January as did Happy Chicks (also reviewed this issue). We’re still waiting for Tony C’s, Tea Amo, and Pho Saigon to open. Hopsquad opened in the Burnet-Braker Beer District with the Tsuke Honten omakase trailer. And if you’ve been wishing for a hair-of-the-dog at the First Watch breakfast and brunch spot, wish no more: First Watch now serves cocktails during its weekend brunches. And introverts will rejoice with the inclusion of Allandale in the territory of delivery-only Tso Chinese Delivery where you use an app to order and track delivery uber-like with no tips accepted (read the full review at austinwanderlist.com).
The Texas Craft Beer Report by Hopalytics ranked Pinthouse Pizza as the second best brewpub in Texas right after the iconic Jester King. The Austin American-Statesman named Barley Swine as one “Austin’s Most Important and Influential Restaurant Openings of the Past Ten Years.” Eater Austin named dipdipdip tatsu-ya their restaurant of the year. Eater Austin also helpfully listed The Allandale Salad at Cover 3, The Rainbow at Baby Greens, The Chef at Little Deli & Pizzeria, and The Country Club Fancy Chicken at Jack Allen’s as among the “19 Resolution-Friendly Healthy Salads in Austin.” Eater Austin also named the enchiladas around the corner at The Dart Bowl as one of “Austin’s Most Iconic Dishes” and Yard Bar as serving up creative nonalcoholic cocktails. And Austin Monthly included Lala’s and The Little Longhorn Saloon among “The 40 Best Bars in Austin.”
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