An old Austin Food Year Passes, and a New One Awaits!
It is hard to put the enormous changes in the Austin food scene over the past year into perspective; and harder still to anticipate what impact the 2015 openings will bring. Bottom line, we are as on point food-wise as I’ve ever seen us. And it makes my job all the more pleasurable.
While we still may be a bit thin on the ethnic front, long gone are the days when virtually every opening was either Tex Mex, a Burger place, or BBQ. While we still have our share of those, there is now so much more. Just looking over some of the openings in 2014 validates my last comment. LaV brought a gorgeous French restaurant to the east side along with a 7,000 bottle wine list. Paul Qui opened his namesake restaurant with a menu so eclectic and wildly original it literally defies a one-sentence description. Olamaie opened to solid reviews while offering vintage southern dishes. And Garbo’s gave Round Rock, of all things, a spot for Maine fried clams and lobster rolls. We even got a east-coast style sandwich joint on the Drag called Fat Sal’s. Jerry “Turtle” Ferrara from Entourage is one of the owners.
Our good friend Sap Apisaksiri opened a second location of his namesake Thai joint at 2222 and Burnet. And the inestimable Ronald Cheng rolled back the clock 30 years and reopened the original Chinatown in its initial location on Bee Caves Road.
And that’s just a few. No Tex Mex or BBQ to be found on the list.
St. Philip was another opening by the Uchi gang that featured sandwiches, baked goods and pizza. On first bite, the vibes were spot-on.
And that was just last year! In 2015 there’s more in store. You like bees? You’re gonna love Apis Restaurant and Apiary out in Spicewood. Owner Taylor Hall has built over 20 hives which will be the focal point of many of his plates. Vox will feature new American small plates from chef Joe Anguiano. And the famous Shake Shack will have an Austin location on South Lamar in early Spring. I’ve been to one and this is the bomb. And our old friends Emmit and Lisa Fox are back on South Lamar (has this become white hot or what?) with an Italian concept not unlike their famous Asti in Hyde Park. Cantene will open in the Spring. And Swift Attic pros C.K. Chin and Stuart Thomajin will be back at it with modern Chinese Wu Chow at the bank of the IBS Bank building. C.K. has been bursting at the seams to do this concept, and if it’s anything close to Swift Attic, this will be a hit.
And after we all paused a moment to lament the closing of Kenichi at 5th and Colorado, a new restaurant has already lined up to fill the space. Ft. Worth chef Tim Love is about to open Lonsesome Dove Western Bistro. Don’t expect a clone of Love’s metroplex smash, but expect things to be big, grandiose, and larger than life. Did I mention that I tried his wares at this year’s Austin Food and Wine Festival? Dude can bring it!
Also coming, one of my personal heroes, Rene Ortiz (La Condesa) and Laura Sawicki (Sway) are teaming for an all-day diner (Launderette and Angry Bear) which will also feature a takeout window for Chinese food with an attitude. I’m betting this will be a hit.
Shane Stark is simply too goof a chef to be out of the game for long. So the former Kenichi wiz welcomes you to Monger’s Market and Kitchen, a restaurant plus retail concept that will, like many newer restaurants, grace the East side. You love fish and shell fish? This joint is for you.
And my good friend and Elmar Prambs’ student Todd Duplechan (also owner of the soon-to-be-in-our-Top 20 Lenoir) will bring you Youngblood’s Fried Chicken at 38 1/2 street. Glad to see long-time pro Jeff Weinberger (Jeffreys, Shoreline Grill) back in the game, as well. Got some serious talent here folks. Gus’s better be ready.
So the old Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times. I think this year it might actually be a blessing. Phew! Got a lot of eating to do. 🙂
