The long, long wait for the first phase of Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki's complex at the corner of Robert Martinez and Holly is almost over. Their new cafe Launderette has signage, landscaping, and even outdoor tables. A preview benefit dinner for the Austin Food and Wine Alliance is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, with tickets running $200 for the five course dinner. Sawicki and Ortiz previously told Eater the restaurant is slated to open this month.
Launderette will serve a menu of "seasonal and classics foods" for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant will later be joined by a grocery and Szechuan take-out restaurant called Angry Bear. Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki were previously the executive chef and executive pastry chef at La Condesa and Sway, where they both garnered numerous accolades, including being named James Beard semi-finalists.