Swanky West Sixth Mediterranean Lounge Announces Opening Date

A swanky new downtown Austin lounge, Devil May Care, is moving into West Sixth later this month. It will open at 500 West Sixth Street (in the former location of Italian restaurant Sophia’s, which closed in September) on Friday, November 29.

Devil May Care will bring a “sexy” “dining-meets-nightlife concept” with “a healthy and shareable play on Mediterranean cuisine,” per a press release. (Sophia’s was also billed as a “sexy supper club,” though it focused on Italian fare). That means dishes like a whole branzino and hangar steak shawarma.

Devil May Care’s chef, Jon Oh, has a background in big-name New York restaurants, including as executive chef of Scarpetta (founded by celebrity chef Scott Conant) and culinary director of Zakarian Hospitality (the consulting group of celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian). He was also named one of the country’s most eligible bachelor chefs by Marie Claire in 2015.

In terms of drinks, the restaurant will serve cocktails with organic, house-made ingredients as well as wines from Lebanon and Greece.

The design comes from Lisa Escobar Design of Las Vegas, and will evoke “sexy mischief” with lots of art and antique mirrors. The restaurant is a collaboration between Sophia’s owners BDG Hospitality (based in Chicago) and Nova Hospitality, apparently the only locals involved in this endeavor.

Nova is also behind two nearby forthcoming downtown Austin restaurants: Japanese barbecue restaurant Ten-Ten and Victorian-themed nightclub Mayfair, opening sometime this year.

Devil May Care will be open Sunday through Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to midnight and Thursday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. Reservations for opening night will be available starting on November 27.

Letitia Smith

• West Sixth Italian Restaurant Sophia’s Is Closed [EATX]