Philip Speer Is Opening a New Downtown Restaurant

Bonhomie chef Philip Speer and Garage owner William Ball are turning their attention to a brand new downtown restaurant now that the duo closed down charitable coffee trailer My Name Is Joe. The unnamed restaurant will be found in the lot where My Name Is used to be parked at 5th and Colorado streets, as uncovered by Austin Towers.

Speer confirmed the new restaurant to Eater. While the permitting refers to the space as Garden Bar, that is in fact not the final name of the restaurant. It will be a one-story standalone restaurant though with no attached apartments or mixed-use developments. According to plans, it will feature a cocktail lounge and garden patio right inside of the restaurant. The space will be designed by architecture firm McKinney York. The area is under construction right now.

My Name Is Joe Coffee Co. opened in February 2017 with the goal of helping recovering addicts where partial sales were donated to Serenity Star Recovery’s Comfort Cafe in Smithville. It’s a mission that is important to Speer (who is in recovery himself). While the trailer shuttered last month, Speer will continue to raise funds for Comfort through events and dinners.

Speer helped revamp Garage’s food menu back in 2016 along with chef Jared Ferguson (the food menu is now under chef Tim Lane). Speer also opened Brentwood neighborhood restaurant Bonhomie in March 2017.

• Restaurant and Bar Project Headed to Fifth and Colorado’s Empty Corner [Austin Towers]