Philip Speer Is Opening a Modern Mexican Restaurant in Downtown Austin

Details about chef Philip Speer’s forthcoming downtown Austin restaurant are here, as reported by Austin 360. The modern Mexican restaurant Comedor will open at 501 Colorado Street in April, starting with dinner and brunch service.

Rounding out the Comedor team are former Dai Due Taqueria chef Gabe Erales and chef Daniela Vazquez. Before Dai Due, Erales spent time at Noma in both Copenhagen and Mexico City. Vazquez had previously been the pastry chef of important Mexico City restaurant Dulce Patria. Speer will serve as the restaurant’s pastry chef. Teased dishes include hoja santa leaf-wrapped whole Gulf dorade (a small white fish) with mole verde and tortillas.

For Comedor, Speer is also partnering with William Ball and Conor Oman, both of next-door cocktail bar Garage (the cocktail bar team will oversee the drinks). The general manager will be Julian King, who helmed Los Angeles restaurants Simmzy’s and Tin Roof Bistro.

Comedor’s new building is designed by architect Tom Kundig, who worked on restaurants, wineries/breweries, and hotels in the state of Washington as well as Canada.

The Colorado Street address had been home to Speer’s coffee and food truck My Name Is Joe Coffee Co., which closed after a year of service last March. It focused on giving back to those recording from addiction, from donating partial sales to Serenity Star Recovery’s Comfort Cafe to employing those in recovery.

Speer also ran French-American neighborhood diner Bonhomie up in Brentwood, which opened in March 2017, but closed suddenly in May 2018.

This article has been updated to clarify that Speer will be Comedor’s pastry chef.

• Philip Speer announces downtown Modern Mexican restaurant Comedor [Austin 360]
• Philip Speer Is Opening a New Downtown Restaurant [EATX]