Before the pandemic, in far simpler times, we still had restaurant news: so here we go! William Ankeney of Tiny Pies appeared on Food Network’s Chopped Sweet in February (Tiny Pies is still delivering). Roberto Espinosa of Tacodeli was invited to a (now canceled) taco party at the Beard House in New York (Tacodeli is still slinging, now until 8 pm!). Speaking of James Beard, Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine was oddly (and criminally) not nominated for the new Texas category despite six consecutive years of being nominated for the broader Southwest award (closed while considering take-out service). Be More Pacific brought its Filipino cuisine to a second location in the Heights down in Houston (open for take-out and delivery).
Trudy’s has pulled itself (literally) from the ashes of bankruptcy and is back in operation after looking touch-and-go (providing take-out and delivery). The Pit Barbeque at 4707 Burnet is now Big O’s Pit BBQ (open for take-out) under the new ownership and management of Orlando Arriaga, owner of Taco Shack (open for take-out). I was able to enjoy a plate of brisket and sausage before the coronavirus took off and found it to be really dang good (review coming in a future issue). The Best Taste of Pho Saigon (not to be confused with Pho Saigon over on Lamar) is now open at 5222 Burnet and has been getting rave reviews for food and service on Yelp (appears to be open for take-out and delivery). Tea Amo at 2525 West Anderson (on the east side of the mall) is now open serving up boba and other items (appears to be open for take-out and delivery). Jan Chi Korean BBQ opened at 3808 Spicewood Springs in the former space of Hai Ky (open for take-out and delivery).
A number of places are still upcoming. Kitchen United Mix at 8023 Burnet, a workspace for to-go only food, appears closer to opening (shame they haven’t open already since we now live in a to-go only world). Backspace (1745 West Anderson), Rise (at The Grove), Tatsumi (in the former Red Pepper), Tony C’s (2900 West Anderson Lane), and Old Thousand (4805 Burnet Road) are still under development or construction. Three Little Bears Clubhouse, an indoor sports and recreation spot serving, at the very least, wine and beer, is going in at 2900 West Anderson Lane. The old Nighthawk/Frisco has sat empty for a while, but now there appears to be some activity: Norris Design filed a pre-plan development consultation with the city in February to review heritage trees on the site, suggesting a serious redevelopment. The owner of the property at 7113 Burnet, present home of The Local Post and Austin Kolache and Koffee, among others, has applied to the city for a zoning change to MF-6 for a proposed project of 360 residential units.
The (hopefullly) disease-free eaters at Eater Austin gave props to Phonatic (open for take-out and delivery) and Honest Mary’s (open for take-out) as part of “13 Austin Restaurants Perfect for Vegetarians” and tagged Rosedale Kitchen and Bar (open for take-out and delivery) as among the “8 Hottest New Brunches in Austin Right Now.” Thrillest included District Bar + Kitchen (open for curbside) of “Where to Eat a Badass Brunch in 13 Austin Neighborhoods” and shouted out to Draught House (closed), Pinthouse Pizza (open for take-out and delivery), and Growler Room (open for take-out) as “The Best Beer Bars in Austin Right Now.” Check websites and facebooks for the latest on food availability.
I wrote this review for the Allandale Neighbor.
future location of Backspace at 1745 West Anderson
Rise will rise up somewhere in The Grove
austin wanderlist 