Austin's Most Anticipated Openings, Winter/Spring 2014

Only six days into 2014, and Austin is already booming with new restaurant openings. Today marks the opening day of cultishly loved Gus's Fried Chicken, and on Friday, January 10, Dolce Neve will bring authentic Italian gelato to South First.

Austin's most anticipated openings of the first half of 2014 run the gamut from elevated Southern at Olamaie to American-style Chinese food at AOK Chinese to hotly anticipated projects from Philip Speer and cochi superstars Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki. Plus, East 7th is transforming into a restaurant row. The full list is below.

Name: La V
Neighborhood: East Side
Address: 1501 East 7th Street
Major Players: Allison Jenkins, Vilma Mazaite
The Situation: Construction is wrapping up at this Mediterranean and Provencal-inspired restaurant opening up on burgeoning East 7th. Chef Allison Jenkins and managing partner Vilma Mazaite bring fine dining experience and an emphasis on wine to what they describe as a "neighborhood restaurant." Lauded pastry chef Janina O'Leary has also joined the team.
Projected Opening: January 2014
[All Coverage of La V]
[Photo: LaV/Facebook]
Name: The Hightower
Neighborhood: East 7th
Address: 1209 East 7th Street
Major Players: Chad Dolezal and Victor Farnsworth
The Situation: The former chef and GM of the shuttered El Arbol are bringing casual New American to East Austin. Expect affordable entrees, an approachable cocktail menu, and friendly service.
Projected Opening: January 2014
[All Coverage of The Hightower]
[Photo:Meghan McCarron/EATX ]
Name: Chavez
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 111 E Cesar Chavez St.
Major Players: Shawn Cirkiel
The Situation: The chef behind Parkside, the Backspace, and Olive & June continues to grow his mini-empire. Chavez is going into the old TGI Friday's space in the Radisson Hotel, though Michael Hsu's renovation and Cirkiel's southwestern-inspired cuisine should be a far cry from the previous resident.
Projected Opening: January 2014
[All Coverage of Chavez]
[Photo: Michael Hsu Office of Architecture ]
Name: Porter Ale House
Neighborhood: South First
Address: 3715 South First, Suite A
Major Players: Joe Bixel, Neil Joiner, Trevor Lane
The Situation: This neighborhood pub will feature comfort-food classics like pierogies and spaghetti and meatballs, as well as thirty beers on tap. Their menu is online, and construction is wrapping up.
Projected Opening: January 2014
[Porter Ale House]
[Photo: Porter/Facebook]
Name: Pleasant Storage Room
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 208 W. Fourth St., Austin, Texas
Major Players: Paul Hargrove, Alfonso Hernandez
The Situation: Paul Hargrove, previously of East Side Showroom, is behind the island-inspired food menu at this forthcoming downtown bar. Alfonso Hernandez will be devising their punches, which with be available by the glass and also in larger, shareable bowls. The Cuban-inspired decor should warm up even the chilliest winter evening; expect a ceviche bar and a rum-focused cocktail menu.
Projected Opening: Early 2014
[All Coverage of Pleasant Storage Room]
Name: Garage
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 503 Colorado Street, Suite 100
Major Players: Chauncey James, Conor Oman
The Situation: Former East Side Showroom bartender Chauncey James is helming this unique craft cocktail bar, which is housed inside of a parking garage in the iconic Starr Building. Metal artist Mickie Spencer designed the interior, and neon artist Evan Voyles created the sign. Garage was slated to open before the New Year; no word yet on a new opening date.
Projected Opening: Early 2014
[All Coverage of Garage]
[Photo: Meghan McCarron/EATX]
Name: Noble Sandwich Co.
Neighborhood: Brentwood
Address: 4805 Burnet Road
Major Players: Brandon Martinez and John Bates
The Situation: Noble Sandwich Co. has been hit by city delays that are pushing their opening back to 2014. Construction is still underway at their location, but a central Austin outpost of their beloved sandwich shop will bring duck pastrami to Burnet Road sooner rather than later.
Projected Opening: Early 2014
[All Coverage of Noble Sandwich Co.]
[Photo: Meghan McCarron/EATX]
Name: The Silo on 7th
Neighborhood: East 7th
Address: 1300 East 7th Street
Major Players: David Rightmer
The Situation: Whoa, East 7th will be getting a lot of restaurants in early 2014. The Silo on 7th is on the site of a historic tortilla factory, and has been in the works for over two years. Their Facebook page chronicles their plywood in epic detail, from water meters to battles with graffiti taggers. The restaurant will focus on burgers, local craft beers, and Texas liquors.
Projected Opening: Early-ish 2014
[All Coverage of The Silo on 7th]
[Photo: The Silo on 7th/Facebook ]
Name: Terry Black's Barbecue
Neighborhood: Barton Springs
Address: 1003 Barton Springs Road
Major Players: Mike Black, Mark Black
The Situation: The fourth generation of the famous Black barbecue family is striking out on their own Austin. After years of working behind the scenes at Black's Barbecue in Lockhart, Mike Black told Eater that he wanted to return to his grandfather's "old school" way of cooking, which he felt the original Black's had deviated from. His twin brother Mark will join him in serving up pit-smoked meats and scratch sides. The restaurant is named after their father, Terry.
Projected Opening: Early 2014
[All Terry Black's Barbecue Coverage]
[Photo: Mike Black]
Name: Olamaie
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 1610 San Antonio Street
Major Players: Michael Fojtasek, Grae Nonas, Ben Hickerson
The Situation: Another anticipated fall opening pushed back to winter, Olamaie has won hearts and stomachs around town with their pop-up dinners. This southern food super group combines their experiences at Los Angeles's Son of a Gun and New York's Lincoln Ristorante to bring Austin high-end, playful southern cuisine.
Projected Opening: February 2014
[All Coverage of Olamaie]
[Photo: Google Maps/Andrea Grimes/EATX]
Name: A-OK Chinese
Neighborhood: South Lamar
Address: 1509 S. Lamar Blvd.
Major Players: John Bullington, Jerry Reid
The Situation: If 2014 is the year of Chinese cuisine in Austin, AOK Chinese will be first out of the gate. Longtime Alamo Drafthouse chef John Bullington has teamed up with partner Jerry Reid to bring counter service and takeout-focused "high quality" American-style Chinese food to South Lamar. The team recently told Eater that due to permitting issues, their opening date has been pushed back to March.
Projected Opening: March 2014
[All Coverage of A-OK Chinese]
[Drawing: Kevin Stewart, Architect]
Name: Bribery
Neighborhood: East Side
Address: Not Yet Confirmed
Major Players: Jodi Elliott
The Situation: Jodi Elliott's popular bake sales at Foreign & Domestic will now have a more permanent outlet. Bribery will be a bake shop during the day and a dessert bar at night. Expect sweet and savory treats, plus coffee in the bake shop, and plated desserts and cocktails in the evenings. Elliott has yet to confirm a location.
Projected Opening: Early 2014
[All Bribery Coverage]
[Photo: Jodi Elliott/Official]
Name: Tacodeli
Neighborhood: Crestview, Westlake
Address: 7301 Burnet Road & the Village at Westlake
Major Players: Roberto Espinosa and Eric Wilkerson
The Situation: This beloved taco mini-chain will be opening two new outposts in the first quarter of 2014. These locations are also test cases for further expansion, both within Austin and perhaps to other cities as well.
Projected Opening: Early 2014
[All Tacodeli Coverage]
[Photo: Tacodeli/Facebook]
Name: Dai Due
Neighborhood: Cherrywood
Address: 2406 Manor Road
Major Players: Jesse Griffiths, Tamara Mayfield
The Situation: The seven-year-old supper club and farmers' market staple is slated to open a butcher shop and restaurant on the booming Manor Road strip this spring. Griffiths and Mayfield will maintain their hyper-local approach to seasonal Texan cooking. Expect lots of local beers, dairy, and other products as well.
Projected Opening: Spring 2014
[All Dai Due Coverage]
[Photo: Dai Due/Official]
Name: St. Philip
Neighborhood: Sunset Valley
Address: 4715 South Lamar
Major Players: Philip Speer, Tyson Cole
The Situation: Uchi pastry chef and director of culinary operations Philip Speer will helm this new casual restaurant focused on all things bakery. Speer recently told Eater that the project won't be Italian, but instead it will feature "dough as our canvas." The menu will be built around Uchi-style small, sharable plates with "more accessible ingredients and price points."
Projected Opening: Late Spring 2014
[All St. Philip Coverage]
[Photo: Cannoli Joe's/Facebook; Raymond Thompson/EATX]
Name: Mongers Market and Kitchen
Neighborhood: East Cesar Chavez
Address: 2401 East Cesar Chavez
Major Players: Roberto San Miguel, Shane Stark
The Situation: Gulf fishmonger Roberto San Miguel is partnering with former Kenichi chef Shane Stark to bring local, fresh seafood to the east side. Fish will be available to take home, and the kitchen will feature rotating chalkboard specials for dining in as well. Construction has just begun on their all-new building.
Projected Opening: Summer 2014
[All Mongers Market + Kitchen Coverage]
[Photo: Google Maps/EATX]
Name: Launderette
Neighborhood: Holly
Address: 2115 Holly Street
Major Players: Rene Ortiz, Laura Sawicki, Margaret Vera, Tracy Overath
The Situation: Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki are slated to open this neighborhood cafe and grocery in a former laundromat and convenience store in East Austin. The complex will also house Angry Bear, featuring Ortiz's take on Szechuan cuisine. Approachable food and lots of ice creams from Sawicki is primed to compliment a booming neighborhood, soon to be home to the new Holly Shores park.
Projected Opening: Summer 2014
[All Launderette Coverage]
[Photo: Meghan McCarron/EATX]
· All Spring Tracking [EATX]