The Acclaimed Team Behind Suerte Is Opening a Mexican Seafood Spot

Hot Mexican restaurant Suerte owner Sam Hellman-Mass and executive chef Fermín Núñez are going to open a new Mexican seafood restaurant in Cherrywood. Este will be found on 2113 Manor Road, the former home of 31-year-old classic Austin restaurant Eastside Cafe, starting sometime in late 2020 or early 2021.

Este (Spanish for “east,” presumably a nod to the restaurant’s predecessor) will focus on Mexican coastal cuisine, making use of local, sustainable fish and shellfish, as well as a charcoal grill.

Hellman-Mass and Núñez were inspired by research trips through Guadalajara, Ensenada, and Puerto Escondido regions in Mexico. Núñez, who won Eater Austin’s chef of the year award in 2018, will oversee both Este and Suerte as executive chef.

Martin opened the restaurant in 1988 with Dorsey Barger, making it one of the first Austin restaurants to really focus on farm-to-table dining. Barger left in 2011 to open East Austin urban farm Hausbar. Because Martin wanted to retire, she closed the restaurant and its on-site cafe Elaine’s Pork & Pie, and sold it to Hellman-Mass in January 2019.

Before construction would begin on the eventual restaurant, farmers market stand Mum Foods took over the Pork & Pie space as its temporary deli. The spot opened in April 2019, serving pastrami sandwiches and pies, until it closed at the end of February 2020. Its farmers market stands remain open.

Hellman-Mass was one of the founding partners of esteemed Austin restaurants Barley Swine and Odd Duck, before he opened Suerte in March 2018 with Núñez. The modern Mexican restaurant quickly garnered accolades, including Eater’s best new restaurants list in 2018 and a James Beard Awards semifinalist nomination in 2019 under the best new restaurants category.

Before Suerte, Núñez worked in Austin restaurants including downtown Mexican restaurant La Condesa, Japanese restaurant Uchiko, and East Austin spot Launderette.

• Este [Instagram]
• 31-Year-Old East Austin Restaurant Institution Is Closing [EATX]
• All Coverage of Suerte [EATX]