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South Austin gets funky new bar and restaurant, plus more food news

The Git-Out is the latest edition to South Austin's bar scene.

Courtesy photo

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. We have you covered with our regular roundup of the freshest Austin restaurant news.

A funky new South Austin bar has opened at 4930 S. Congress Ave., C-307. The Git-Out, from El Mercado vet Nate Kinney, serves craft cocktails and approachable fare like empanadas, wings, fried polenta sticks, burgers, and fish fries. After a soft opening on July 10, the concept is now open seven days a week from 4 pm to midnight, with extended hours until 1 am on Saturdays.

A new coffee trailer opened mid-July at 3307 Oak Springs Dr. in the same complex as real estate company Open House Austin. LeverCraft serves waffles and various coffee drinks made on vintage equipment, such as espresso lemonade and nitro cold brew with whipped milk. The tiny shop joins new-school taco trailer Trill Taqueria in the developing East Austin community space.

CultureMap Tastemaker 2019 award-winner Caer Ferguson and nominee Sharon Yeung have launched a Kickstarter campaign to take their Daijoubu cocktail concept on the road. The pop-up bar, which has taken over the Roosevelt Room and Nickel City this year, uses Asian culinary techniques as a way to highlight representation in the food and beverage industry.

Ben’s Friends, a national food and beverage industry support group for professionals dealing with substance abuse and addiction, has launched in Austin. The first weekly group meeting will kick off at 11 am on August 5 at Comedor at 501 Colorado St.

South Congress Hotel is bringing back its annual Ice Cream Showdown from 3-6:30 pm on July 27. Reigning champion Natalie Gazaui (formerly of Eberly) will battle Katie Fisher (Pitchfork Pretty), Maribel Rivero (Yuyo), Augusta Passow (Barley Swine), Krystal Craig (Intero), and Lindsay Flagg (South Congress hotel) for the people’s vote. Tickets for scoops are $3.

Summer’s most masochistic dining event is returning July 24-28. Barbecue trailer LeRoy and Lewis is rolling out Heat Week, its annual celebration of spicy foods featuring incendiary dishes like hot chicken, deviled Sichuan Scotch eggs, and an atomic hot dog with five-alarm chili and a habanero/panella link. Guests who finish all of the specials will be rewarded with a $75 gift card and swag. Special cooling desserts will be available to help get them through the ordeal.

Traveling booze event The WhiskyX is making a stop at East Austin’s Fair Market on September 13. The shindig offers tastings from some of the world’s most acclaimed spirit makers, as well as bites from Emojis Griller Cheese Bar, SXSE Food Company, Cajun Skillet, Tamale Addiction, and My Granny’s Kitchen. Tickers are $75-$125 and available here.

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Games on the Go

This outdoorsy mountain trolley is now a vintage arcade in Austin

Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The trolley still bears most of the markings from its past life in Tennessee.

Some classic arcade games are now on the go in Austin with the launch of the Austin Arcade Trolley. Housed in a renovated trolley car, this new mobile arcade shows off eight vintage 80s and 90s games, while keeping some of the transportation nostalgia intact, too.

Austin Arcade Trolley owner and ex-corporate salesman Trey Tschoepe said in a press release that the idea came about after attending birthday parties with his 6-year-old daughter. The parties inspired a desire to "keep Austinites young at heart." It wasn't intended as a business, but Austinites can now book it for their own events.

The vintage games include:

NBA Jam
Golden Tee
Ms. Pacman
Atari
The Simpsons
NFL Blitz
Mortal Kombat
Street Fighter II

Austin Arcade Trolley interior Even though the aesthetics are different, both halves of this bus are very retro.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

It's not just limited to those classics, though; a 55-inch screen will let guests play more than 30,000 other games. Minecraft, Roblox, and Tetris are a few of those offerings.

“Not only are we delivering nostalgic fun that accessible to all ages, but we’re also doing it in style with a vintage trolley car converted into a mobile arcade," said Tschoepe. "There’s truly nothing else like this in Texas or anywhere else.”

There certainly are other mobile arcades, but the trolley is unique not just for its vintage selection but a delightfully outdoorsy look. The back of the vehicle looks like an arcade, but the front and exterior sidestep the expected design elements — neon colors, envisionings of cyberspace — by keeping everything as-is.

Austin Arcade Trolley interior This part of the trolley basically looks like any other mobile arcade.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The wooden interior still has some passenger benches, and the outside even displays its original affiliation: the Tennessee town of Pigeon Forge, where it was designated a "Fun Time Trolley."

Tschoepe did put some work in, even though he kept the aesthetic intact. He purchased the decommissioned car in May 2024 and spent six months implementing custom woodwork and other design updates.

Now it can fit 15 guests in the arcade section, with space for 7 more in the seating section. There's also wifi and air-conditioning, and guests are encouraged to bring their own snacks and drinks onboard.

Austin Arcade Trolley interior This part of the trolley brings light to an airier side of gaming.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The trolley is available for hourly booking every day. The case price is $375 including delivery, setup, and unlimited play within the booking time, which happens in two-hour increments. It can travel around Austin as well as to Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, Dripping Springs, Bee Cave, Buda, Kyle, and Lakeway.

Tschoepe welcomes kids and adults for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, weddings, corporate and team-building events, and anywhere else it's needed.

“We’re excited to spread the fun throughout Central Texas," he said.

kids games arcade parties weddings