Austin Motel Is Now Whipping Up Burgers and Frozen Drinks

Along with Austin Motel’s snazzy new renovations comes a new cocktail bar and food trailer, Fine Foods and Jo’s Burger Box. Both take over the former Snack Bar space along South Congress Avenue, which closed last October. Both are debuting with a big opening party on Friday, April 28.

Punches are the main focus of cocktail bar Fine Foods (notably not a restaurant). This means drinks like the Ann Richard’s Revenge with rum and apricot syrup and the Playboys Punch with Earl Grey bourbon and black tea. Other beverages include frozen Old Fashioneds, classic cocktails (think margaritas, Tom Collins, pina coladas, etc.) house ones (Bloody Marys, etc.), beer, and wine.

For food, there’s the on-site stationary trailer Jo’s Burger Box, helmed by chef Lou Lambert. The menu is simple: burger, cheeseburger, and veggie burger, with your choice of red sauce (spicy, smoky mayonnaise) or green sauce, french fries, onion rings, and the works. Check out the full menus for both Fine Foods and Jo’s below.

Nick Simonite

Nick Simonite

Fine Foods’ hours are from 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday to Sunday, and 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday. Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. with $1 off drafts and well drinks, and half-off punches. While Jo’s Burger Box has been sporadically open, it will fully launch starting on Friday, April 28. Daily hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Hospitality company Bunkhouse Group, run by hotelier Liz Lambert (Lou is her brother), took over the Austin Motel's management last year when Greenfield Partners purchased the hotel. Bunkhouse also oversees Jo's Coffee, Hotel San Jose, Hotel Saint Cecilia, and it seems to have taken over event space Fair Market, as well as hotels outside of Austin.

Jo’s Burger Box/Official

• Fine Foods [Austin Motel]
• See Austin Motel’s rad upgrades, revealed during SXSW [CAUS]
• Snack Bar Is Closing, Marking More Change for South Congress [EATX]