Look Inside East Austin’s New Casual Cajun Bar

Arrive East Austin Hotel is now open on East 6th Street in the city, and, along with it comes two new restaurants — Goan-Portuguese restaurant Vixen’s Wedding and casual Cajun spot Lefty’s Brick Bar. Both restaurants, curated by Lenoir chefs Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher, debuted inside the hotel on Friday, July 12. As Duplechan shared the story behind the restaurants, Eater Austin photographer Courtney Pierce captured the dishes and spaces.

Next up, Lefty’s Brick Bar:

Along with Vixen’s Wedding, Arrive East Austin hotel’s second restaurant, Lefty’s Brick Bar, reflects Duplechan’s upbringing in Richardson, Texas. The city includes large Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as Cajun influences.

To emulate that mix, Lefty’s main dishes are the “banh boys,” which combine Vietnamese banh mi and Cajun po’ boys. That results in sandwich combinations like fried Gulf shrimp with nuoc leo; and red curry mushrooms with collard greens, pineapple and a pate made of peanuts.

Elsewhere on the menu are two boozy sno-ball options: tiger’s blood or orange creamsicle; and ice cream sandwiches, like peaches and cream; sweet corn and blueberry; and one with chocolate, marshmallow, and almond.

The decor of Lefty’s, designed by Arrive co-founder Chris Pardo, focuses on exposed brick exteriors, elaborate murals, and a casual patio atmosphere. The team decided to keep the roll-up garage door windows as a nod to the BMX bike shop that once stood in the space.

As with Vixen’s Wedding, rounding out the Lefty’s team are director of restaurants/executive chef Zanotti (formerly of Portland restaurants Muselet and James Beard-nominated Castagna), sous chef Thomas Calhoun (former Lenoir pastry chef and executive chef of Aviary Wine + Kitchen), executive pastry chef Sarah (Prieto) Listrom (formerly of Barley Swine and Uchiko), beverage director Lindsay Drew (of now-closed Guild), general manager Adam Nystrom (Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York), and Lefty’s assistant general manager Robert Björn Taylor (Watertrade/Otoko).

Also included in Arrive East Austin Hotel is its new cafe, Cartel Coffee Lab, which opens this week, and an unnamed cocktail bar dedicated to gin also overseen by Duplechan and Drew, which should open in a few weeks. He teases the bar will be more upscale than the hotel’s other restaurants.

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Update, 5:04 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that Chris Pardo designed the space.

• Step Inside Arrive Hotel’s Colorful Goan-Portuguese Restaurant Vixen’s Wedding [EATX]
• Lenoir Chefs to Bring Portuguese-Goan Cuisine to East Austin [EATX]
• All Coverage of Lefty’s Bar [EATX]
• All Coverage of Arrive East Austin Hotel [EATX]