Nadia Chaudhury
is the editor of Eater Austin covering food and pop culture, as well as a photographer, writer, and frequent panel moderator and podcast guest.
Spring is almost here, which means it’s time to look ahead to see what restaurants and bars are opening this season in the midst of SXSW madness and beyond. Here are Austin’s most anticipated restaurant openings of the spring, with a few leftovers from the winter. Plus, take a look ahead to the rest of the year and further ahead. See any openings missing below? Send it along through the tipline.
Location: 214 West Ave., Downtown Major Players: Jason Stude, Jason Stevens, La Corsha Hospitality Group Projected Opening:Early Spring 2016pushed to summer Details: Austin awaits the transformation of the Seaholm Power Plant building into downtown’s next three-level restaurant and bar haven with a patio deck overlooking the water and a subterranean basement lounge. Expect Stude’s wood-fired entrees and spot-on drinks from Stevens. All Boiler Nine Bar + Grill Coverage [EATX]
Location: 23526 Highway 71 West, Spicewood Major Players: Taylor Hall, Adam Brick Projected Opening:Late spring 2016pushed to summer Details: Apis gets into the pizza-making game with the on-property pizzeria, dishing out classic Neapolitan pies made south a sourdough-fermented dough. Toppings will include cured meats and mozzarella, all made in the back, to be enjoyed on the long communal tables. All Pizzeria Sorellina Coverage [EATX]
Location: 506 West Ave., Downtown Major Players: Andrew Curren, Craig Collins, ELM Group Projected Opening:April May 2016 Details: Irene’s is set to feel like a dive bar dishing out comfort food like cinnamon rolls, meatball sandwiches, boozy punches, and banana pudding. The counter window will offer breakfast service with to-go pastries, coffee, and cigarettes. Expect good patio real estate. Status:Now open All Irene’s Coverage [EATX]
Location: 1300 South Lamar Major Players: Michael Sanders, Jessica Sanders Projected Opening: March 2016 Details: South Austin will get the cocktail bar it deserves from cocktail couple Michael and Jessica Sanders, the duo behind Drink.Well. The two-story bar will include a rooftop patio, staircase lounge, thoughtful drinks, and snacks. Status:Now open All Backbeat Coverage [EATX]
Location: 1900 Simond Avenue, Mueller Major Players: Fiore Tedesco, Adam Orman Projected Opening:Spring May 2016pushed to summer Details: Mueller will get an Italian destination with L’Oca d’Oro, which translates into "The Golden Goose." The menu will center on family-style service with handmade pasta, bread, cheese, cured meats, and plenty of wine and drinks. Tedesco knows his stuff: he worked at Franklin Barbecue and Bufalina.
Location: 4600 Mueller Boulevard, Mueller Major Players: Otto Phan Projected Opening:April, May 2016pushed to summer Details: Now that Kyoten the trailer is closed, Austin will have to wait for Phan’s sushi with the forthcoming brick and mortar. Along with lunch, dinner, and takeout, the restaurant will focus on an omakase menu with 20 mostly seafood dishes. All Otto Phan Coverage [EATX]
Location: 4715 South Lamar, Sunset Valley Major Players: Jay Jerrier Projected Opening:Late springpushed to summer Details: The Dallas pizza sensation took over the former St. Philip space in south Austin, along with the ice cream team of Cow Tipping Creamery, which will make the old bakeshop area its home. Coming soon will be Cane’s signature red pizza oven, being built on-site. All Cane Rosso Coverage [EATX]
Location:3800 North Lamar, Rosedale, 1700 South Lamar Major Players: David Birzon, Peter Gaudreau, Louis Cantu, Bryan Beneke Projected Opening:AprilMay 4, 2016 TBD Details: The Denver-based chain only has eyes for brunch, with a seasonal menu including various types of eggs benedict, breakfast pot pie, and pancakes. For brunch cocktails, find fish sauce Bloody Marys and mimosas made with hometown-import Infinite Monkey Theorem's sparkling wine. There is a second Snooze in the works for South Lamar, opening sometime this summer. Update, April 25:Turns out the South Lamar location will open before the North Lamar spot, but there is no set opening date yet. Status:Now open All Snooze Coverage [EATX]
Location: 1407 East 7th Street, Major Players: Laura Aidan Projected Opening:Late spring 2016pushed to summer Details: Boozy ice cream will have its moment in the spotlight with the newest sweets shop from Aidan, along with floats, shakes, and cocktails. Drink and eat up bourbon, whiskey chocolate, pineapple tequila sorbet, or triple bourbon shakes anywhere on the outdoor decks, bar, or lounge. Don’t worry: there are non-alcoholic, dairy-free, and vegan friendly options, too. All Prohibition Creamery Coverage [EATX]
Location: 2711 La Frontera Boulevard #320, Round Rock Major Players: Reyna Vazquez, Maritza Vazquez Projected Opening: April 2, 2016 Details: Finally Veracruz All Natural gets the brick and mortar it deserves all the way up in Round Rock. The new spot will serve the food truck menu (those migas tacos) alongside daily lunch specials (like pollo frito and enchiladas de mole) and weekend brunch, which will change depending on what ingredients are available. Status:Now open All Veracruz All Natural Coverage [EATX]
Location: 10420 Metric Boulevard, Far North Austin Major Players: Dale Katechis Projected Opening:April 20, Early May 2016pushed to summer Details: Another Colorado expansion, the brewery will open with beer, music, and a taproom this spring. Oskar is bringing its well-known Burning Can Beer Festival, too, with sports competitions like beer relay, and music, on Saturday, April 23. This is the third location in the country, including a second one out in North Carolina. All Oskar Blues Brewery Coverage [EATX]
Location: 360 Nueces St., Downtown Major Players: Ruston Richardson, Karina Lopez Projected Opening:Aprilpushed to summer Details: The former Mulberry site will become home to the new seafood restaurant inspired by the California and Gulf coasts. Dishes will ranch from elote fish tacos, scallop and croquettes with pork shoulder, and borracho apple pie with horchata ice cream. Look out for late night drinking, too. All Coast Coverage [EATX]
Location: 2427 Webberville Road, East Side Major Players: Patrick Pierce, Lorenzo Perkins. Projected Opening: March 2016 Details: The shop from the coffee vets is finally on its way this month, featuring roasts from Madcap, as well as throughout the continent. The special menu includes coffee drinks made with botanicals and other ingredients. Status:Now open
Location: 1914 East 6th Street Major Players: Ben Edgerton, Andrew Wiseheart Projected Opening: March 2016 Details: Edgerton and Wiseheart decided to shutter Gardner and revamp the space into Chicon, a new restaurant without a known concept yet. What is known: expanded bar menu, and there will be an Contigo aesthetic with more open space. For now, Gardner’s furniture and accessories are for sale during the restaurant’s last week. Status:Now open All Chicon Coverage [EATX]
— Buzz Millthe sequel is set to open near South Congress in anywhere from three to eight weeks, depending on city permitting. Three food trucks will park on site, including the Frontier trailer, serving meats from Broken Arrow and North Star ranches, Kogi Q, and the shop's own brand new Yardbirds, focusing on chicken.
— Get a sneak peek of West 5th sports barBaseCamp, which will host some SXSW events before fully opening. Former Uchi and Peached Tortilla alum Eric Kuypers takes over the kitchen for an American/Texan menu, alongside beer and cocktails. Status:Now open.
— Corner Bar owner Jonathan Lochrie’s East 6th bar Revelry Kitchen and Bar is set to make its debutthis March this spring.
— Longtime sushi favorite Musashinorelocates to West Campus, taking over Fino’s former address, sometime in May.
— Taking over East Side King’s spot at Hole in the Wall is Michi Ramen with a yet-to-be announced concept. Status: The new spot, Yatai, is now soft open.
— Rock Rose’s next slew of restaurants, bars, and expansions include St. Genevieve, Lavaca Street Bar, Turf N Surf, and Salvation Pizza in March, followed by Jinya Ramen, Mad Greens, 77 Degrees in April, and then The Rose Room in May.
— Construction finally begins on Horseshoe Lounge’s anticipated relocation to East Riverside.
— Picnik’s brick and mortar takes over Fork & Taco’s vacated spot on Burnet. Expect bone broth tonics, superfood refreshers, butter coffee, and gluten-free sweets.
— The return of Baby Greens is on track to bring back salads, with drive thru and walk-up options on West Anderson Lane.
— The Beer Plant’s vegan-focused gastropub is set to open in May with chef Laura "Lou" Mustachio up in Tarrytown.
— Second Bar + Kitchen’s Congress expansion will finish annexing Congress this March.
— Burnet gets an El Chilito starting on April 1. Status: Now open.
— Superfood restaurantTrue Food Kitchen delays the opening of its Austin location to mid-March. Status: Now open.
— The thirdChi’Lantro further up on Burnet comes with a new change for the Korean-Mexican fusion restaurants: cash won't be accepted starting in April. Status: Now open.
— Hopdoddy Burger Bar’s hops to a fourth location in the Triangle.
— Cured meats and fish come to Austin in mid-March with the opening of Lox, Box, and Barrel, helmed by Celtic Fare's Sebastien Caillabet. Status: Now open.