California Tex-Mex Diner Opens Inside the Austin Motel on South Congress

Joann’s Fine Foods, the new restaurant found within the Austin Motel with a California-Tex-Mex menu, is now open on 1220 South Congress Avenue, as confirmed by a staffer. The new restaurant teams up McGuire Moorman Hospitality with the hotel’s managing company Bunkhouse Group (helmed by Liz Lambert).

On deck is an all-day menu with bright and light dishes like Gulf shrimp and octopus ceviche, spicy chilled clams, and salads. Heartier items include hash browns, sandwiches (turkey club, patty melt), tacos, chicken fried steaks, enchiladas, gorditas, and much more.

During the mornings, there is an array of breakfast tacos and sandwiches, along with classic diner and Mexican dishes like French toast, omelettes, migas, and barbacoa with eggs and flour tortillas. Dinner will expand with the pecan-grilled dishes like Gulf snapper, pork loin chops, and steaks.

MMH pastry chefs Alex Manley and Jennifer Tucker will whip up sweet rolls, biscuits, and a vegan banana bread, along with cakes (pineapple upside down and double chocolate sprinkle). MMH beverage director June Rodil’s drinks include sangrias, copitas of tequila and mezcal, as well as cocktails, wines, and beers.

Nadia Chaudhury/EATX

As for non-boozy drinks, there will be coffee (made with Intelligentsia Coffee, which seems to be Bunkhouse’s new coffee partner replacing the previous Stumptown offerings), juices and juice combinations like watermelon-mint and pineapple-cilantro (with options to add shots for a boozier splash), and milkshakes, including a vegan horchata.

The space will be very stylish as it is both the MMH and Bunkhouse ways, all with retro touches. The bright indoor dining room features a colorful skylight, booths, and a counter with marquee signage. a bar Out on the patio is the dressed up palapa-style bar.

Joann’s is open from 7 a.m. to midnight daily, with breakfast served from 7 to 11 a.m. on the weekdays and until 3 p.m. on the weekends and the additional dinner section served after 5 p.m. The restaurant will also operate the pool bar and a courtyard bar found behind the restaurant.

The Austin Motel restaurant space was previously home to patio cocktail bar Fine Foods and longtime restaurant Snack Bar.

Next up for McGuire Moorman Hospitality is the company’s revamp of Clarksville bakery Sweetish Hill, which will be renamed Swedish Hill Bakery Cafe & Deli, in December, and the dining and beverage programs for downtown hotel and apartment high-rise Austin Proper next year.

Bunkhouse’s next Austin project is Hotel Magdalena which will include a restaurant and bar. It’s opening across the street from Joann’s on Academy Drive, next to its other hotel, Hotel Saint Cecilia.

• Austin Motel Is Opening a Tex-Mex-Influenced Diner on South Congress [EATX]
• All Coverage of Joann’s [EATX]