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Spring is bounding into Austin very soon (perhaps a little too early with the bluebonnets out in full force already). In the midst of the current SXSW craziness, it’s time to look ahead at what the busy season will bring to the city.
Soon, power team Callie and Philip Speer will unveil their individual projects, the former’s downtown punk rock diner, and the latter’s neighborhood cafe. The Hunt brothers of Via 313 are getting into the bar game with Nickel City. Much-adored Veracruz All Natural is opening its first Austin-proper brick and mortar. Easy Tiger’s ginormous second location will debut with a coffee drive-thru, and so many more.
As it is Austin, there are some restaurant holdovers from the winter (permitting delays will do that), like kolache-obsessed Batch, fried chicken revival JT Youngblood’s, Hill Country-inspired Pitchfork Pretty, and others.
Know of any openings missing below? Let Eater know through the tipline.
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Bombshell Holy Roller
Location: 509 Rio Grande Street, Downtown
Key Players: Callie Speer
Projected Opening Date: April 2017 Late spring to mid-summer
A punk rock-inspired diner from Callie Speer makes perfect sense, especially when it involves ice cream, cocktails, and other casual and fun fare. She took over Wahoo's Fish Taco's last remaining Austin location right in downtown Austin. Update, May 9: Speer changed Bombshell’s name to Holy Roller, because she felt like it reflected the restaurant better.
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Bonhomie
Location: 5350 Burnet Road, Allandale
Key Players: Philip Speer, Sean McCusker, Darrin Ylisto, Jared Ferguson
Projected Opening Date: Late March 2017
Status: Now open
Pending inspections, Allandale will get a brand new neighborhood restaurant when Bonhomie opens, under the talented eye of Philip Speer, Sylvain/Barrel Proof’s Sean McCusker, and Darrin Ylisto. As it is meant to feel like a French bistro meets American diner, expect excellent burgers, ice cream cones, French onion eclairs, and more.
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Nickel City & The Delray Cafe
Location: 1133 East 11th Street, East Side
Key Players: Zane and Brandon Hunt
Projected Opening Date: Late spring 2017
The brothers behind Detroit-style pizza sensation Via 313 is trying something new with the bar and food truck. Nickel will serve up New Orleans-style frozen cocktails, along with an in-house single barrel spirits program. The food truck, Delray Cafe, or as the Hunts refer to it as, “the king of late night,” will serve up sliders and coney dogs.
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J.T. Youngblood’s
Location: 1905 Aldrich Street, Suite #120, Mueller
Key Players: Jeff Weinberger, Todd Duplechan, Shane Stiles, Jeff Haber
Projected Opening Date: Monday, March 20 27, 2017
Status: Now open
The acclaimed fried chicken chain’s revival is here with J.T. Youngblood’s. Once it opens, dig fried and rotisserie versions of the bird, yeast rolls, soft serve, shakes, and a lot of pies, plus take advantage of the takeout window for to-go orders.
[All Coverage of JT Youngblood’s]
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Pitchfork Pretty
Location: 2708 East Cesar Chavez
Key Players: Seth Baas, Max Snyder, Alexander Dubey, Chére Loris
Projected Opening Date: Early April May 2017
The Hill Country-inspired restaurant will kick things off with breakfast. The morning lineup will include bagels, spreads, pastries, juice, daily muesli, and its signature potato and egg roll sandwich made with fermented chilies. Joining the restaurant’s team is Chére Loris, who came from the now-closed Bar Congress, as the new bar manager.
[All Coverage of Pitchfork Pretty]
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Veracruz All Natural
Location: 9003 Waterford Centre Boulevard, North Burnet
Key Players: Reyna and Maritza Vazquez
Projected Opening Date: Saturday, May 20, Saturday, June 3 2017
Along with those popular tacos and tortas, Veracruz All Natural is going to branch out with different dishes for its first Austin-proper brick and mortar, teasing Veracruzana breakfast plates, enchiladas, and more, with a less casual atmosphere.
[All Coverage of Veracruz All Natural]
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Spokesman
Location: 440 East St. Elmo Road, Far South
Key Players: C.J. West, Trey Ramirez
Projected Opening Date: Early Spring 2017
Status: Now open
Once the South Austin coffee shop opens, the neighborhood cafe will serve up house-roasted coffees, beer taps, and food. The bike-friendly space will include bike racks and water stops for riders.
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Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches
Location: 3220 Manor Road, Mueller
Key Players: Noah Lit, Josh Lit, Jasmine Jones
Projected Opening Date: Late Spring 2017
Trust Jones to whip up excellent kolaches, she does know her baked goods, since she runs bread bakery I Knead That. The menu will span eight different kolaches, along with four rotating ones, including those Micklethwait Craft Meats ones (brisket, pickles, swiss cheese; pork sausage and cheese), and a couple of sweet options. This all pairs with local beers on tap, as well as over 400 bottles and cans available for purchase.
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Native
Location: 807 East 4th Street, East Side
Key Players: Michael Dickson, Antonio Madrid, Will Steakley, Virginia Pharr, Nathan Nyberg
Projected Opening Date: Early April 2017
Status: Now open
All-hours dining will come to East Austin courtesy of the upscale hostel. Run by chef Pharr, expect diner-inspired dishes: fried chicken sandwiches, Scotch eggs, housemade Twix bars, and grab and go items, alongside a classic drinks menu.
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The Halal Guys
Location: 2915 Guadalupe Street, Campus
Key Players: Muhammed Abouelenein, Ahmed Elsaka, and Abdelbaset Elsayed
Projected Opening Date: April Spring 2017
The famed Middle Eastern fast casual restaurant is finally coming to Austin, dishing out gyros, rice, falafel, and other halal dishes right on the Drag. It’ll become a late night haven for UT students and Austinites alike.
[All Coverage of The Halal Guys]
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Easy Tiger
Location: 6406 N Interstate 35, The Linc
Key Players: ELM Restaurant Group
Projected Opening Date: May Fall to winter 2017
Easy Tiger’s expanding and getting a lot bigger with its second location up in North Austin, with a much larger bakery. It’ll include a beer garden, inside bar, and drive-thru coffee window. Customers will be able to see the baking, sausage, and meat curing and smoking magic happen through the many glass windows.
Also tracking:
— Xian Sushi will sling bao in Mueller with Bao’d Up in early May and dim sum in the Domain with Xian Noodles and Dim Sum sometime in the spring.
— One of Austin’s first breweries is returning this spring with Celis Brewery, brewing up Belgian witbier.
— The Dallas taco chain, Velvet Taco, will start slinging the goods up in the Domain Northside in March. Status: Now open
— Austin’s getting a third Easy Tiger location, along with another JuiceLand, with the debut of the city’s first 365 by Whole Foods (the affordable version of the supermarket) on Wednesday, April 26 in Cedar Park. Status: Now open
— Mueller’s getting a whole slew of new restaurants: Lick Honest Ice Cream (April), Halcyon, B.D. Riley's Irish Pub, Stella Public House, and Southern-inspired Colleen’s Kitchen. Status: Lick and B.D. Riley’s are now open
— Houston bakery and brunch spot Tiny Boxwoods expands to Austin this season with cookies, outdoor seating, and a dedicated private dining room in Bryker Woods. Status: Now open
— While 40 North is no longer, he will showcase his pizza skills up in Round Rock with PS 35, debuting in April or May. Status: Now open
— Pending inspections, revered vegetarian restaurant Veggie Heaven should be up and running as a vegan spot very, very soon on West 5th Street. Status: Now open
— Jam makers Confituras will debut its bakery, retail shop, and community kitchen on South Lamar this spring.
— Come spring, Austin’s first Still Austin Whiskey Co. will make its mark on St. Elmo Road with a tasting room, whiskey garden, and food truck.
— Wooten will get a neighborhood bar with Night Owl soon, pouring out beer, cocktails, and wine, with bar snacks in hand. Status: Now open
— South Lamar Spanish tapas restaurant El Chipiron is looking at a late April debut.
— Kula Revolving Sushi Bar will pick up the pace when it opens along Airport Boulevard this month. Status: Now open
— Austin coffee shop Epoch is eying spring openings for its two new cafes, one in Far West and the other within Plaza Saltillo
— Steel City Pops will pop onto campus with a brick and mortar dedicated to the popsicles.
— TLC is rounding out Lamar Union with seafood boils, porch swings, and drinks.
— The historic Stonehouse Coffee & Bar will become a coffee shop and restaurant with an adjoining food truck from early morning to late night. Status: Now open
— Austin Film Society’s new digs will include a menu created by chef Jorge Hernandez with it debuts sometime in the late spring, with upgraded takes on hot dogs and popcorn.
Summer 2017: Austin Daily Press; The Brewer’s Table; The Brewtorium; Il Brutto; Intero; Jack Allen’s Kitchen (North Shoal Creek); Noble Sandwiches (Georgetown)
Fall 2017: Fareground (with third Easy Tiger); Guild; Peli Peli
Rest of 2017: 24 Diner (Rock Rose); Cookbook Cafe; H Mart; Home Slice (North Loop), Sway (West Lake Hills, Rock Rose); Unnamed Stiles Switch BBQ restaurant
2018: LeRoy & Lewis
Unknown: Central Health’s public market; Employees Only; Fluff Meringue; Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ