Tracking Temporary Austin Restaurant Closures During the Coronavirus Pandemic

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, Austin restaurants, bars, and food trucks are taking it upon themselves to close temporarily, whether to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus, to pause and regroup before reopening, or because of the lack of business, all with the goal of reopening eventually.

Currently, Texas restaurants are able to reopen for dine-in service now with COVID-19 mitigation guidelines in place (social distancing, limiting indoor capacity to 50 percent, mask requirements). All restaurants and food trucks can also stay open for takeout/delivery/curbside pickup services too.

However, many restaurants are choosing to stay closed temporarily (no takeout service either) during this time, with the idea that they will reopen once it is safe and viable to do so. Eater is tracking these places below.

There are also restaurants that have closed permanently because of the pandemic. For restaurants switching over to only takeout/pickup options, Eater has it covered over here.

Austin Restaurant/Food Truck Temporary Shutters

• Spicewood Springs restaurants Apis and Pizzeria Sorellina closed in late March for now after offering takeout service for a bit.
• Downtown restaurant Arlo Grey is temporarily closed in the Line Austin Hotel.
• The downtown location of Biderman’s Deli is temporarily closed, but its other two restaurants in Northwest and Westlake Hills are open.
• South Austin Italian restaurant Botticelli’s temporarily closed as of mid-July.
• Downtown French restaurant Chez Nous has remained temporarily closed, aiming to reopen on September 30.
• Since the Austin Public Library is closed for in-person services still (though it is still offering curbside books), on-site restaurant Cookbook Cafe is closed as well.
• Diner Counter Cafe closed its North Lamar location for now, but its West 29th Street and East Sixth restaurants are open for takeout service and dine-in patio service.
• Japanese curry bar Domo Alley-Gato also paused its takeout service and is temporarily closed as late May.
• South Lamar American restaurant Eberly closed for now too.
• Three of the five vendors in downtown food hall Fareground are temporarily closed: Contigo, Dai Due, Italic.
• Texas-Japanese izakaya Kemuri halted its takeout service and is temporarily closed as late May.
• East Austin barbecue truck Kerlin BBQ is now closed temporarily too, but it’s aiming to reopen no later than early September, as noted in mid-May.
• Peruvian-inspired truck Killa Wasi has temporarily closed after relocating to Independence Brewing Co. in Southeast Austin.
• Downtown Italian restaurant La Traviata is now temporarily closed as of August 15, but owner Marion Gillcrist will offer catering for small events and private dinners in the meantime.
• New Waterloo’s downtown French restaurant Le Politique remains still closed for now.
• Rosedale cafe Pacha has temporarily closed since late July.
• East Austin Hill Country-ish restaurant Pitchfork Pretty is temporarily closed as of June 4 when it paused its takeout service. It should be noted that executive chef Max Snyder left the restaurant and has opened his own grain bowl food truck on Manor Road.
• Quarry restaurant Provision closed temporarily as of late June after offering curbside pickups for a bit.
• Micklethwait’s taco truck Taco Bronco is closed for now (but the original barbecue truck remains open).
• East Austin winery The Infinite Monkey Theorem has temporarily closed as of mid-July, but it still offers shipping.

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