With the first cold front having rolled through, it is now safe again for patio dining. Hallelujah! Speaking of patios, several new ones have opened in and near the ‘hood. Ian Thurwachter and Krystal Craig (Intero and Poeta) opened Emery, a steakhouse with pescatarian, vegetarian, and non-glutenarian options, at ye olde Gusto spot at 4800 Burnet. The Bride and I adore Intero, so our stomachs are already rumbling. Sumr Mac and Pops rolled their trailer of upscale mac-n-cheese and frozen treats into the trailer park at 5000 Burnet. Urban Egg’s concrete bruncheria is now sizzling at 7600 Burnet. Up the road is Never Better at 10025 Burnet from the folks at Better Half at the former Turnstile location. Better Half is amazing, so hopefully Never Better is just as good.
Local developers hope to renovate 2825 Hancock (across from the cemetery) into Highland Market featuring retail, restaurants, and services. Not in the neighborhood (but in the stomach-hood), highly-rated Cuantos Tacos is opening its first brick-n-mortar at 808 Justin in early 2027. Naomi Seifter closed Picnik at 4801 Burnet for about a month and reopened with a simplified, farm-to-table menu still focused on gluten-free, seed-oil-free, and minimally processed ingredients. Yummy Mommy Thai Cuisine is still working to sling their feisty dishes at 4707 Burnet. H-Mart and Allday are still on the way. Sadly, La Pâtisserie has closed both our outpost at 7301 Burnet and the original storefront in South Austin. Brentwood Social House is still rockin’ and rollin’, so keep goin’. I stopped into the new Dos Batos digs at 510 East Anderson for a pollo pirata fix. Although it’s not obvious, there’s an indoor space to order and eat, entered through the west wide.
Matt Odam, Austin’s second-best restaurant reviewer, released his Top 40 sit-down restaurants in Austin, and Barley Swine (#12), Bufalina Due (#25), Ă©picerie (#30), and Bartlett’s (#38) made the list. Yeni’s Fusion (#2) made his list of best trailers while Cuantos Tacos (#4), Paprika (#5), Ramen del Barrio (#8), and Tacodeli (#20) made his best tacos list. Bird Bird Biscuit, China Family, Eldorado, Tacodeli, Little Deli, and Poke Poke made his list of best meals under $20. Din Ho Chinese BBQ at 8557 Research made Michelin’s list of recommended restaurants, and Michelin recognized Barley Swine’s outstanding service.
Stay hungry my friends!
