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2017 is here, and with the fresh start comes a whole bunch of new restaurants ready to feed Austin for the year. The city’s impending crop will feature wood-fired cuisine, diners that lean casual, first time ever food hall, smoked food, and others. Locally lauded chefs, namely Tyson Cole, Philip Speer, Callie Speer, and Todd Duplechan, are either opening solo projects, such as Bonhomie and Bombshell, trekking into different culinary territories like Loro, or lending their expertise to newer spots with Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew’s unknown restaurant and the revival of beloved fried chicken chain J.T. Youngblood’s. There is even a food truck-to-brick-and-mortar transformation in far South Austin (congratulations, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ).
For a more focused look at winter’s highly anticipated winter openings, peruse that guide here, and the national one over here.
Everything below is listed in projected chronological order. As always, if there’s a major spot that Eater isn’t aware of, shoot over a tip.
Bonhomie
Location: 5350 Burnet Road, Allandale
Key Players: Philip Speer, Sean McCusker, Darrin Ylisto, Jared Ferguson
Projected Opening Date: Mid-February 2017
Philip Speer’s return takes the form of a chill neighborhood restaurant, mashing up the styles and fare of a French bistro and American diner. Darrin Ylisto, who helmed from McCusker’s Sylvain and Barrel Proof out in New Orleans, will oversee all beverages. Expect to find French onion eclairs, roasted chicken, and what's promised to be an awesome burger.
Pitchfork Pretty
Location: 2708 East Cesar Chavez
Key Players: Seth Baas, Max Snyder
Projected Opening Date: March 2017
California comes to Austin with Pitchfork Pretty, the city’s next wood-fired restaurant focusing on Hill Country fare. That means meats, vegetables, fruits, and, yes, fried chicken. Snyder left his position at Old Bus Tavern in San Francisco for the project. There are even plans for a garden.
JT Youngblood’s
Location: 1905 Aldrich Street, Suite #120, Mueller
Key Players: Jeff Weinberger, Todd Duplechan, Shane Stiles, Jeff Haber
Projected Opening Date: March 2017
The once-gone fried chicken chain is being revived thanks to a bunch of Austin restaurateurs. The casual restaurant will include fried chicken (naturally), rotisserie birds, pies, yeast rolls, soft serve, shakes, and other sides. The takeout window will be handy for those Mueller picnics, too.
Bombshell
Location: 509 Rio Grande Street, Downtown
Key Players: Callie Speer
Projected Opening Date: April 2017
2017 is really the year of the Speers: the pastry chef is opening what she describes as a punk rock diner right in downtown Austin. During the day, it'll serve up a solid casual menu, and evenings will transform the space into a fun bar. Amazing, funky desserts are a given.
Nickel City
Location: 1133 East 11th Street, East Side
Key Players: Zane and Brandon Hunt
Projected Opening Date: Spring 2017
The pizza brothers are making a good thing out of an unfortunate situation by turning the historic but shuttered Longbranch Inn into a whiskey bar. Don't expect anything too fancy: the vibe is supposed to be old school with draft beers and cocktails. While pies aren’t in Nickel’s future, the Hunts are opening an on-site food trailer, Delray Cafe, serving up Detroit classics like chili-topped Coney dogs, sliders, cheese fries, and fish fries.
The Brewer’s Table
Location: 4715 East 5th Street, East Side
Key Players: Jake Maddux, Zach Hunter, Jorge Hernandez, Drew Durish, Ali Sabzevari, Bill Mann
Projected Opening Date: Summer 2017
It makes sense that beer-obsessed Maddux is opening his own brewery and restaurant with The Brewer’s Table. The all-star team (alums of Qui, Fixe, and Live Oak Brewing) will turn their attentions towards wood-fired food and oak fermented beer. Pop-ups at Franklin Barbecue and Olamaie featured swordfish belly lardo, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, crispy rice, and the sweet saison baba.
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Loro
Location: 2115 South Lamar Boulevard
Key Players: Tyson Cole, Hai Hospitality Group
Projected Opening Date: Fall 2017
Hai Hospitality, the restaurant group behind nationally acclaimed sushi restaurants Uchi and Uchiko, finally revealed its third Austin restaurant. Loro will serve as an Asian smokehouse, spotlighting smoking and grilling techniques. Owner and chef Cole stated that he wants to experiment with "clean, bright, acidic, and healthy" flavors with different types of techniques and food.
Fareground
Location: 111 Congress Avenue, Downtown
Key Players: ELM Restaurant Group
Projected Opening Date: September 2017
Austin’s first proper food hall takes over the lobby of the downtown office building with the help of ELM Restaurant Group, which is selecting the six food vendors slotted for the space. This will include Easy Tiger’s third location, after it expands to the Linc in the spring. The rest are yet to be announced. The bi-level food court will have a dedicated to-go stall with selected items from all vendors. Similarly, ELM is opening a cookbook-themed cafe within the Austin Central Library in the spring.
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ’s brick and mortar
Location: 11500 Manchaca Road, Far South Austin
Key Players: Miguel Vidal
Projected Opening Date: Late 2017
The much beloved Tex-Mex barbecue trailer is finally getting its own brick and mortar all the way down in far south Austin. More space means pitmaster Vidal can expand the menu with other dishes and speciality smoked meats, along with indoor seating. For now, the food trailer relocated to the address, making use of the new pit.
Unnamed restaurant from Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew
Location: West Highway 290 and Nutty Brown Road, Belterra Village, Dripping Springs
Key Players: Shane Stiles, Lance Kirkpatrick, Todd Duplechan
Projected Opening Date: Late 2017
This isn't a second location of the popular Brentwood barbecue joint. Rather, it's a brand new restaurant that will serve up barbecue and Southern-style food. There are plans for a pit, indoor and outdoor seatings, several bars, and event space.