Call it what you will (covid fatigue?), but we finally ventured out and ate at a restaurant for the first time since March, partaking of the ample patios at Fresa’s on South First, Texas French Bread near campus, and Kinda Tropical in Far East Austin. It was kinda wonderful to be back at a table again! While eating at a restaurant outdoors is not risk-free (the highest risk is probably from who you eat with and guests unable to follow instructions to wear a mask when leaving their table), it was nice to taste some normalcy. A number of Allandale establishments have also been making good use of their outdoor eating accommodations or, like The Peached Tortilla and Taco Flats, enhanced their offerings.
Speaking of Allandale eating, the hip Chinese restaurant Old Thousand is now open for take-out at 4805 Burnet. I also just noticed that Tatsumi, a Japanese restaurant at 2700 West Anderson, is also now open after a long, covid-induced delay. A burger speakeasy located inside Zen at 2900 West Anderson recently opened and is called Lucks Wagyu Burger Shoppe. If you can find the menu at Zen’s webpage, Lucks Asian-forward burgers and chicken sandwiches are available for pick-up or delivery. Kitchen United Mix now sports Bubble House, Pastabilities, Hurricane Wings, Buffalo’s Express, and Fatburger. I also just noticed during a walk that Brooklyn Pie Co. has taken over Do-Rite Barbecue’s former location at 2207 Justin Lane next to LaLa’s.
Shortie’s Pizza and Grinders, baking up New England Greek-style pizza, is set to take over Be More Pacific’s spot at 7858 Shoal Creek any day now. Meanwhile, we wait with unsated breath for Rise (The Grove), Wingstop (2900 West Anderson), Tony C’s Pizza & Beer Garden (2900 West Anderson), Three Little Bears Clubhouse (2900 Anderson Lane), and Bird Bird Biscuit (1401 West Koenig) to open.
Kudos-wise, Eater Austin shouted out to The Peached Tortilla and Tso Chinese Delivery as two of “38 Standout Dining Destinations in Austin” and Kitchen United Mix and Jewboy Burgers (now at 5111 Airport) as two of “19 Exciting Austin Restaurants to Check Out Right Now.” Thrillest identified the “The Wundershowzen” at Juiceland, “Southern Fun” at The Peached Tortilla, “Lovely Day Egg Sandwich” at Bird Bird Biscuit, “Oy Vay Guey (Way) Burger” at Jewboy Burgers, and “Coconut Cream Pie” at Chez Zee American Bistro as among “The 30 Most Essential Austin Experiences.”
With new openings at Kitchen United Mix comes some closures there as well, including (sadly) El Dorado Torta y Taco Co., Hawt Chicken, and Sustain Burger. Eater reported the impending closure of Seoulju’s outpost at The Mix by November 21st (but it’s still open as of the 28th). Our Yogurtland (2525 West Anderson) closed as well.
Speaking of being covid’d, our little neighborhood newsletter has been hurting for ad income, so we’ve had to go on a diet around here (something that is anathema to us at Quick Bites Inc.). As a consequence, we’ve not been able to publish a restaurant review with each issue. But rest assured, my hungry foodie fans: you can find full reviews of The Chicken Salad Shoppe and Kitchen United Mix, and much more, at www.austinwanderlist.com. I’ve also included a review of our neighbor’s restaurant, Kinda Tropical, at the site. If you live in Allandale proper and own or chef at a restaurant elsewhere in town, please let me (bubba67@mac.com) know, and I will give your kitchen a shout-out (if not, at some point, a review). Support our local restaurants!
I wrote this for the Allandale Neighbor.
austin wanderlist 