Lawrence Kocurek is OUT at Counter 3.Five.VII

Lawrence Kocurek, owner and executive chef of innovative tasting room restaurant Counter 3.Five.VII, is leaving the restaurant to spend more time with his family, according to an email he sent. "While I still believe in the concept I brought to Austin and I’m really proud of the restaurant I helped build," he wrote, "it has taken me away from my first love which is my growing family." He and his wife plan on opening a pig farm in northeast Texas. There is no word on who will become the new executive chef. Update, July 27: Damien Brockway, previously the chef de cuisine, took over as the restaurant's new executive chef.

Counter 3.Five.VII centers on providing diners a full interactive experience with the chefs, with no servers, tipping, or tables. Korcurek opened the counter-only restaurant in early March. The restaurant recently added a bar menu available for a la carte snacks in the wine bar.