Callie Speer’s Funky Downtown Brunch-All-Day Diner Is Now Open

Holy Roller, chef Callie Speer’s first solo restaurant offering brunch all day, is now open on Rio Grande near West 6th Street. The menu is casual all the way, serving up familiar comfort foods with Speer et al.’s inventive twists. The diner takes its inspiration from punk rock and religion, from the Iggy Pop portrait to the Sunday School brunch.

Of course the nostalgic dishes feature plenty of pastry components, like the migas kolaches (what Speer sees as her major upgrade to Trudys Tex-Mex's migas enchiladas), brisket biscuit sandwiches made with Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew, ice cream with French fries, and giant chocolate chip cookies.

Cocktails continue the all-day theme with an emphasis on refreshing drinks with punk rock-inspired names, and there's a large bubbles section. Actual Sunday brunch will include pitchers of spritzers and Bloody Marys.

Holy’s mornings are for the cafe’s counter-service, which transitions into regular lunch and dinner service, happy hour, and late night drinks and bites. It's open at 8 a.m. for counter service daily, the full menu is available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, the bar is open until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday brunch is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Holy Roller [Official]

Holy Roller/Official

The Holy Roller team is rounded out by Britt Castro as pastry chef, Jennifer Keyser as bar manager, Nicole Cruz as assistant bar manager, and Sarah Bevil as general manager.

Speer took over Wahoo Fish Taco’s last remaining Austin location for the diner. Via 313 owners and brothers Brandon and Zane Hunt are investors, too (they're in the midst of opening East 11th Street neighborhood bar Nickel City). It was originally called Bombshell, but Speer changed the name because she "wanted a better fit." Speer was previously the pastry chef of Hotel Van Zandt's Geraldine's, Swift's Attic, and Parkside

• 10 Austin Restaurants to Get Excited About in 2017 [EATX]
• All Coverage of Holy Roller [EATX]