Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the what’s what and who’s who of Austin food. But we have you covered with our roundup of the freshest Austin restaurant news.
The Seventh Street building that housed much-missed restaurant laV is getting a new lease on life courtesy of hospitality group Parkside Projects. The new event venue, 7co, kept much of the bones of the restaurant (such as the signature glass bubble hanging fixtures), but Austin firm Office for Local Architecture opened up the space to accommodate greater traffic flow. Like Parkside Projects' other event space, 800 Congress, the catering will be overseen by culinary director Justin Rupp.
Speaking of Parkside Projects, the group's namesake Sixth Street restaurant, Parkside, is celebrating 10 years in business with half-price oysters and bubbles through January 31. Along with the deals, each day will feature a $10 throwback dish, like fluke with lemon and almond, doughnut holes, and baby back ribs with jalapeños.
While you have the birthday candles out, help Quality Seafood celebrate 80 years in business on Sunday, January 28. The festivities will include a chef reception at 3 pm and an open house at 4 pm.
To celebrate Irish Coffee Day on January 25, East Austin bar Nickel City is rolling out special souvenir cups, giving out samples of Chameleon nitro cold brew, and a pop-up from Little Brother. We haven't heard of it either, but a mixed beverage permit and mixed beverage late hours permit were filed in late December for a new bar at 89 Rainey St. to be called — you guessed it — Little Brother.
Also of interest in recent filings, earlier in January Takoba owner Jose de Loera applied for a mixed beverage and late hours permit for the recently closed restaurant, giving fans some hope that the eatery will indeed return.
Some clues to the identity of the mysterious Rosewood restaurant opening in the Victorian house formerly occupied by East End Wines can also be found in the permit applications. The eatery popped up on the radar in September 2017 through a historic review filing from design firm Mark Odom Studio, but no further details were given about the concept. The names attached are Chas Spence and former Geraldine’s sous chef Jesse DeLeon, who run in-home dining service Victoria Provisions.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family of McGuire Moorman Hospitality Group director of operations Steven Allen Ridge, who tragically died January 21 after a heart attack earlier in the month. The donations will help pay outstanding medical bills and provide for his two young children.
Via 313's original food trailer is moving — but not very far. Owners Brandon and Zane Hunt are rolling their pizza business down East Sixth Street to the former home of Collide ATX, which will become the location of a new Via brick-and-mortar in the spring. January 31 will be the last of service at the Violet Crown Social Club. After no rest at all, the truck will resume operations at 1802 E. Sixth St. on February 1.
Lucky Robot is bringing something new to Austin’s beverage scene. The South Congress eatery has hired Austin’s first saké sommelier Lora Blackwell to launch a new in-depth saké program. Check out her work for yourself on January 30 at a Saké Soiree featuring paired bites from executive chef Jay Huang.
The Fort Worth location of popular downtown Southern restaurant Fixe has opened its doors at the Shops at Clearfork. Now our friends up north can enjoy the pot pies, grits, and addictive biscuits that made the Austin location so popular.
Locally owned chain Pluckers Wing Bar is continuing its quest for world domination with the opening of a location at 7101 W. Hwy. 71 in Oak Hill. The fast-casual joint will be open for lunch and dinner starting February 5.
Lauded New Waterloo pastry chef Amanda Rockman will be vying for bragging rights at 9 pm on January 25 on Food Network’s hit show Beat Bobby Flay. Rockman will battle Flay and chef Vicki Wells in front of judges Ted Allen and Busy Phillipps.
The AT&T Hotel and Conference Center has had a chef shuffle, bringing on new executive chef John Herdman (formerly of the Éilan Hotel & Spa in San Antonio), executive sous chef Bradley Turner (Omni Shoreham Hotel), and new chef de cuisine Kyle Barham (most recently at Uchi Dallas). The trio will be responsible for all of the center’s food and beverage programs, including those at Gabriel’s, One Twenty 5 Café, and The Carillon.
In other staffing news, Rainey Street destination Geraldine’s and Hotel Van Zandt has hired Janice Bond as the director of music and social programming. Geraldine’s has also launched a new happy hour featuring bites like hot honey and garlic chicken wings from executive chef Stephen Bonin and drinks like the Aperol-based Guinea Punch from bar director Caitlyn Jackson.
Fonda San Miguel's 2018 guest chef series kicks off February 4 with Pablo Salas of celebrated Toluca restaurant Amaranta. The prix fixe meal is $150 and includes pairings. Reservations can be made by calling 512-459-3401.
Austin barflies, rejoice. Starting February 1, east side neighborhood pub Gourmand’s will open at 7 am, seven days a week, with breakfast, the full lunch and appetizer menu, and a full bar (Sunday liquor after 10 am). There will be coffee service, too, in case you don’t have time for an afternoon nap.
On January 25, Favor is partnering with local burger joint P. Terry’s to bring cheeseburgers to the masses. From 11 am-9 pm, the delivery service will be giving out free burgers with no delivery fee. All customers have to do is pay a $2 or more tip.