Coming attractions

Every anticipated Austin restaurant opening in fall 2019

For many Austinites, fall means the return of pumpkin spice lattes and layering. For the CultureMap staff, it means gearing up for an onslaught of new restaurant openings. September begins the busiest hospitality season of the year, with a slew of new concepts greeting the crisper air. From upscale showpieces to casual hangouts, here are the most anticipated restaurants opening in the coming months.

Bobo’s Snack Bar
A revival of sorts of Snack Bar on South Congress Avenue, this new concept landing on Airport Boulevard will focus on drinks and snacks sourced from local purveyors. Owners Bethany Andrée and Karl Gilkey are doing most of the work themselves and were setback by an August break-in. They're asking the community to help get Bobo's off the ground by donating to their GoFundMe.

Bull & Bowl
Bull riding, duckpin bowling, and comfort food like burgers and tacos will charge into downtown when this concept from local firm B&B Hospitality opens at the end of September.

Carve American Grille
This brand-new eatery from Perry’s Restaurants is on track to open sometime in the fall, according to a rep. Expect live fire cooking, smoked cocktails and desserts, breathtaking Texas Hill Country views, and four fireplaces to snuggle up during (hopefully) chillier weather.

Cluck-n-Burger
The July shutter of Turntable Eatery came with a silver lining when the owners of this popular food truck also announced they were taking over the space. The official word for opening is still fall 2019, although judging by the Facebook photos, it may open within weeks.

Gati
Jam Santichat, the proprietor of perennial Austin favorite Thai Fresh, will bring ice cream to the east side with this sunny new shop. Though there is no official word on the opening date just yet, occasional social media updates seem to point to an opening in the next couple of months.

Hestia
Mid-fall’s marquee opening comes courtesy of the team behind Emmer & Rye. The live fire restaurant in downtown’s new Third + Shoal building will feature a sleek interior and unique service model featuring the kitchen staff directly interacting with the guests.

Julie Myrtille Bakery
This farmers market fave will open its first brick-and-mortar at East Austin’s Springdale General in late fall. Austinites will surely say "oh la la!" to the selection of traditional French pastries, sandwiches, quiches, and beautiful desserts.

Nixta Taqueria
Edgar Rico and Sara Mardanbigi have been wowing locals with their handmade tortillas in 2019 at food events like the Austin Food & Wine Festival. Via a September 10 Instagram post, the team revealed October 5 would be the grand opening date.

Provision Austin
Co-owners Poeta Asher and Albert Gonzalez are spiffing up the former location of Red’s Porch at 4200 W. Braker Ln. in preparation for an October opening. North Austinites can expect a comfortable but upscale environment and a menu featuring lollipop wing, pork cheek tortas, farro bowls, and prime steaks.

Rebel Cheese
Husband-and-wife team Fred Zwar and Kirsten Maitland originally planned to open this deli and wine shop in Mueller’s Aldrich Street district this summer, but now it's looking like early fall. True to its name, it won’t offer any dairy-based cheeses at all, instead focusing on plant-based treats like vegan cheddar and mushroom charcuterie.

Salt & Time Cafe
Location, location, location was surely on Salt & Time Butcher Shop and Salumeria owner Ben Runkle's mind when he signed on to open the first restaurant in downtown’s Republic Square in mid-fall. The new concept will serve sandwiches, salads, breakfast bowls, and charcuterie for impromptu picnics.

Salt Traders Coastal Cooking
A former Texas Land & Cattle will have a fresh new look when chef Jack Gilmore opens the second location of this popular Round Rock seafood restaurant. South Austinites will be able to dive into Gulf oyster, Italian cioppino, and Southern shrimp in the early fall.

Spread & Co.
Married owners Rosemary and Austin Ewald started this business as a cheese board delivery service back in 2016. In early fall, it will bloom into a charming date destination with sandwiches, wine, and buckets of brie.

TenTen
This Japanese restaurant has popped off and on our anticipated list since first being announced in May 2018. Now, it is finally gearing up for a fall opening in the West Sixth Street Blueprint building in the fall, along with Victorian-themed nightclub Mayfair. For real this time.

Vic & Al’s
Nicholas Patrizi, the owner of revered food truck Patrizi’s, is taking over Unit-D Pizzeria’s old home to bring East Austin drinks and Cajun fare. Though the chef usually avoids media hype, he did tell CultureMap he expects to softly open in mid-to-late fall.

Nixta Taqueria will bring handmade tortillas to East Austin in October.

Nixta Taqueria/ Facebook

Nixta Taqueria will bring handmade tortillas to East Austin in October.

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Cat's Out of the Bag

Classic Austin dive bar Mean Eyed Cat opens new Driftwood outpost

Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

There ain't no grave can hold Austinites down when it's time to break in this new dive bar.

An Austin bar with a lot of personality has its eye on a new location. The Mean Eyed Cat is opening in Driftwood on Thursday, November 21.

This Johnny Cash-inspired bar has certainly always had the country aesthetic: the weathered wood, the live oak-shaded picnic tables, the black-and-white photos on the wall, and even the occasional taxidermy specimen. The same rustic vibes continue in Driftwood at 8750 W RR 150, Bldg. 100, according to a short press release.

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood interior This new bar already looks like it's been collecting antiques for decades.Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Good luck getting there on Google Maps. Right now, it drops a pin at the intersection of Ranch to Market Road 150 and Elder Hill Road. However, it appears to be next to Mad Rooster's Liquor Store — we can see the side of the building through the window and the same road signs. We've reached out to a spokesperson to get the proper directions.

The Austin original has been around since 2004, and this offshoot is only its second location. The promises "the same laid-back, offbeat charm that made the original bar an icon."

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood interior What's a dive bar without a pool table?Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Before the Austin location was a bar, it was a chainsaw repair shop that was aptly featured in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Chris Marsh was who converted it to a watering hole and Christened it the Mean Eyed Cat, and he later sold it to current owners Matt Luckie, Max Moreland, and Jed Thompson, placing it in a lineage that also includes Lavaca Street Bar & Grill, Sign Bar, Lala’s Little Nugget, and more locally beloved staples and oddities.

All the proper references are there in Driftwood, including several saw blades on the wall, Johnny Cash memorabilia, and lyrics on every available surface, including a picnic table that ominously says "HURT." First and foremost on the menu are whiskeys and classic cocktails, keeping things as simple as anyone would expect at a dive bar.

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood patio A spacious patio takes advantage of the Hill Country surroundings.Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Despite the relatively remote location, commenters on Instagram have already spotted people inside and started chomping at the bit. It sounds like opening day will be a lively affair.

The Mean Eyed Cat in Driftwood will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 2 pm to 2 am, and Fridays through Sundays from noon to 2 am. Happy hour will be weekdays from 4-7 pm.

dive bars whiskey cocktails openings driftwood