Austin Restaurant Pros' Much-Missed Shutters

Harlan Scott, Parkside Projects director of operations
I'm disappointed Pleasant Storage Room was so short-lived. I think a lot of people may have thought it was all about the tiki drinks, but the food was solid. The Cuban, the corn and ceviches were outstanding. The cocktail program, the food and the concept were all original in the sense that they "weren't". They weren't making cocktails with green chartreuse and a burnt twig and calling it mixology. They weren't dehydrating food, making foams or beating you over the head about local and organic; the food was just really good. And while the place had a Hemingway theme, it wasn't overly thematic or contrived. They made ordering a rum and coke cool again. Did you try their house made rum and coke?

Eric Wilkerson, Tacodeli co-owner
That's easy: GM Steakhouse and their cheeseburger. They charged you MORE if you ordered a burger WITHOUT cheese. And they'd give you plenty of shit about it, too. Classic!

Elaine Martin, Eastside Cafe’s chef and owner
From a rep: Carmen’s La Tapatio, a phenomenal restaurant that popularized Tex-Mex in Austin and closed its doors after 43 years of business in East Austin back in 1993. Her two other most missed Austin restaurants are Tortugas and Good Eats Cafe, both of which she worked at and loved dearly.