South Austin New American Restaurant Expands Into North Shoal Creek

District Kitchen + Cocktails, the New American restaurant down in the Circle C neighborhood, is expanding with its second location up in North Shoal Creek. It’s taking over pan-Asian restaurant Suzi’s China Grill at 7858 Shoal Creek Boulevard. The new District North is set to open in spring 2019.

Suzi’s, which opened back in 1997 from Suzy Yi, officially closed on Saturday, December 15.

As for District North, chef Amir Hajimaleki will offer up the same New American menu, like scallops and risotto, prime wagyu steaks, burgers, and a raw bar, plus newer dishes too. It’ll serve lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Rounding out the new restaurant’s team (nicknamed District North) is chef de cuisine MacKenzie Viglianco from District Kitchen’s other restaurant, the gastropub Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar, and executive pastry chef Dennis Van, who also oversees the same department for District and Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar (another one of Hajimaleki’s restaurants).

The District North space will be designed by interior design firm Design Hound, with a similar look to the original District Kitchen with warm wood tones, pops of color, and more greenery out on the patio. Above the restaurant, which resides on the street level of the building, is Filipino restaurant Be More Pacific, which had taken over what was Suzi’s pizza restaurant Rebel Pizza Bar.

Hajimaleki and his brother Ali Hajimaleki opened District Kitchen in Circle C in 2013, followed by bar and grill Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar in 2015 in far northwest Austin.

Hajimaleki is also working on opening a Persian restaurant at the same time. Though it doesn’t currently have a location, Roya will focus on Iranian food, like kabobs. To get ready for that, he’ll host dinner pop-ups leading to the eventual opening.

This article has been updated to correctly reflect when Suzi’s China Grill opened.

• All Coverage of District Kitchen + Cocktails [EATX]