Russian Restaurant to Open on East 5th Downtown
A hearty Nazdorovye for all fans of Russian cuisine. The Russian House which is about to open on E. 5th has an extensive menu ranging from the familiar Borsch and Beef Stroganoff to more esoteric fare such as the Tsar’s Ukha (a soup made of rooster, small fishes, sturgeon, crawfish and perch and of course […]
Japanese Styled Mizu in Lakeway to Finally Reopen
First there was the electrical fire which brought operations to a halt. Then there was the lengthy repair period (too lengthy for some skeptics) and finally the infamous FOR LEASE sign that appeared in front of the restaurant with on of the best views in the city (turns out the sign had nothing to do […]
Salty Sow Opens on Manor
The seriously talented team behind Moonshine and Hopdoddy is at it again with the Salty Sow (Austin’s ongoing infatuation with all things porcine) on Manor Road at the site of the former Red House Pizzeria. Larry Foles and Guy Villavaso, and the two newly-minted gazillionaires from the sale of Eddie V’s have come up with […]
Rivals Steakhouse Opens Downtown on East 5th
Can Austin handle yet another steakhouse? Well owner Bryan Soltis is betting that it can. Soltis, who hails from a successful run at Iron Cactus is shaping his restaurant toward Ray LeMay’s (Ray’s Steakhouse) old philosophy. If you’re paying $40+ dollars for a steak, then the salad and sides should come with it. I like […]
The Range Golf Club and Sports Bar Opens at the Domain
This is a new concept to be sure: an upscale golf-themed restaurant built around six virtual golf courses (you know, you tee up your ball and whack it into a screen which simulates certain famous golf holes and courses). The menu seems way past bar food though and actually appears to be quite thorough and […]
Riviera Bistro Opens Gluten Free Restaurant in Bee Cave
No sooner had Apatite Café closed in December than another chef-driven restaurant opened in its placed. The name: Riviera Bistro. The chef is named Shoel and he is a neat guy, well-trained and very enthused about the idea of providing a 100% gluten free environment. Riviera plans to expand to the space next door creating […]
Mizu in Lakeway to Reopen in Several Months
The “For Lease” sign in front of Mizu is NOT for the restaurant. It’s for an adjacent office. This according to a call we received from the exec chef who told us that the time it took to repair the damage from the electrical fire was much longer than they had anticipated. He told us […]
Royal India to Open Next to Holiday Inn Express on 290 West
At the site of the former Estancia Churrascaria next to the Holiday Inn Express on Highway 290 on the way to Oak Hill, the owners of the popular Star of India restaurant on Anderson are about to open a sister restaurant. The new name is Royal India and the opening should be within the next […]
Pictures at an Exhibition: Chisos Grill
I couldn’t resist the artful pun in the title, and after taking a look at some of these dishes I hope you’ll agree. Chisos Grill at Galleria may look like a chain, but it is most definitely owner-operated. They’re scheduled for an upcoming review, but we wanted you to have a quick look at some […]
Roll on Sushi Diner Opens on Burnet
Man if there was ever a moment where the “keep Austin weird’ vibe morphed into a Sushi restaurant, it’s got to be the new Roll on Sushi Diner on Burnet. This is sushi unencumbered with traditional rules or even pricing strategies. You can get everything from a BBQ Roll to a Chicken Fried Steak Roll […]
Houston Chain Lupe Tortilla Opens at Arbor Walk
As if the Arbor Walk Mall didn’t need more traffic, a new chain from Houston, Lupe Tortilla, has opened there at Mopac and Braker. They are supposed to be well known for their fajitas and enchiladas, and when I drove by a lunch today [Tuesday], the place was packed. And the traffic at the Arbor […]
First Bites at Swift’s Attic
Got a chance to finally try the new Swift’s Attic on Congress at the site of the former Kyoto. There’s been a lot of hoopla about this opening and on a first tasting, we were quite pleased. I loved their take on the Korean classic Kimche and absolutely adored the Onion Rings (interesting presentation). There […]
Dan Haverty Takes the Helm at Bistro Mirabelle
I was pleasantly surprised when I heard that Dan Haverty, for many years the exec chef of The Shoreline Grill, had taken over the kitchen at the new Bistrot Mirabelle on Mesa. I can’t ever recall a bad meal at Shoreline and I still remember the time that I first tasted his amazing Mediterranean Shrimp […]
Shawn Cirkiel Opens Olive and June at Former Site of El Arbol
Shawn Cirkiel established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Austin culinary world with Jean Luc’s. Then he topped himself with Parkside. Another innovation was Backspace where some of the finest Neapolitan style pizza in the city can be found. Shawn’s latest project is Olive and June which opened after Valentine’s Day […]
Elizabeth Street Café Opens off South 1st
If you like cuisine with a French-Vietnamese flair, then you’ll probably like the Elizabeth Street Café at the site of the former Bouldin Street Café at 1501 South 1st. You’ll probably like it even more because it has Larry McGuire behind it (Perlas, Lambert’s, Bridges Ranch). The fare ranges from Pho, noodle dishes, and the […]
