Netflix hit Queer Eye finally debuted its sixth season set in Austin on New Year’s Eve, with several Austin restaurant personalities prominently featured. In addition to the “heroes” who are made over — a honky tonk instructor, a bakery owner, a seafood restauranteur, and a cattle rancher — the show was also filmed in many restaurants in Central Texas.
Queer Eye centers on the Fab Five — style expert Tan France, food expert Antoni Porowski, stylist Jonathan Van Ness, design expert Bobby Berk, and culture expert Karamo Brown — as they help various Austinites improve their lives. The team arrived in Austin in March of 2020 but had to pause filming due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (Porowski starting a quarantine cooking show during the break). The show resumed filming in April 2021.
Although none of our predicted restaurants were featured on the show, the Fab Five did stop by many locally owned restaurants, without a national chain in sight. Here they are, featured in order of appearance on the show.
As with all businesses right now, be sure to call ahead to make sure each business is still open or if there are updates on current offerings and service models, as things are changing constantly. Be sure to wear a mask, tip well, and, if you’re ordering delivery, try to order directly from the restaurant themselves.
Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.
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