Munchies on Mueller

Mueller development snags 5 hot Austin restaurants for next phase

Five new restaurants and bars are coming to the Mueller neighborhood.

Stella Public House/Facebook

The next phase of the Mueller development is drawing in a slew of hot Austin restaurants. New locations for Lick Ice Creams, Halcyon, B.D. Riley's Irish Pub, a revived J.T. Youngblood's, and San Antonio's Stella Public House have been confirmed for a blossoming area in the Mueller neighborhood.

These five concepts, which are expected to open by early 2017, will be housed on the ground level of a mixed-use development on Aldrich Street in front of Mueller Lake Park. Dubbed the Diamond Building, this 56,000-square-foot complex will also include residential units.

The Diamond Building will join other Aldrich Street gems like Thinkery and a previously announced Alamo Drafthouse location, which should open later in 2016.

"People may not realize they are already enjoying Aldrich Street when they visit Lake Park and the Thinkery, but they'll certainly recognize how they are part of Mueller's evolving town center when Alamo and these terrific local eateries start opening this year," said Greg Weaver, executive vice president of Catellus Development Corp., in a release.

The proximity to these local powerhouses will allow for the other concepts to play off of one another.

"We're going to incorporate a bit more color and playful elements to celebrate this location being directly across from the Thinkery," said Lick co-founder Anthony Sobotik in the release. "We've been so intrigued by the Mueller project and the Thinkery relocation for quite some time. Seeing its rebirth is exhilarating and we wanted to be a part of that, because we like to seek out locations within neighborhoods so we can grow with that community."

While we have another year to anticipate these new locales, opening soon in the same area are Bribery Bakery and L'Oca d'Oro in the Amli building behind Thinkery.

WHOM THE BELL SOTOLS

Poolside sotol bar splashes into high-end downtown Austin hotel

Photo by Jade Hammer

Cantero Austin.

Austin's thirst for desert spirits may not be precisely quantifiable, but there's no doubt it is on the rise. Over the last decade, several mezcal and tequila bars have popped up throughout the city. No wonder the Line Austin is eager to enter the game with its newest nightlife offering, Cantero.

Officially open as of November 12, it's the Capital City's first bar emphasizing sotol, a sibling spirit of mezcal made with the desert spoon plant instead of agave. The chic space, decorated with Mexican modernist neutrals, opens up to the downtown property's pool.

"When planning Cantero, we knew we wanted to highlight local ingredients and Texas spirits," explained Line head of creative Stefan Merriweather in a release. "Sotol, a regional gem, stood out as something we hadn't yet encountered in a dedicated bar, and we saw an opportunity to introduce our guests to something fresh and unexpected."

Although the bar stocks other spirits, it has one of the broadest sotol collections in the region. While Mexican brands like Flor del Desierto are featured, Cantero stocks Texan trailblazers like Desert Door and Marfa Spirit Co.

Guests can enjoy sotol via standalone tastings or mixed in signature cocktails like the Yucca with Aperol, lemon cordial, habanero bitters, and soda; or the Strelitzia with ginger, lemon, and lavender-honey soda. Other liquors anchor more sippers, like the Dahlia with mezcal, green pepper, sweet corn, and smoked chili bitters.

The lounge also enjoys proximity to the Line's outpost of Veracruz All Natural. Guests can soak up the booze with the entire taco and appetizer menu from the Austin favorite, located adjacent to Cantero.

Cantero is now open from noon to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am to midnight Friday through Saturday, and 10 am to 10 pm on Sunday.

Photo by Jade Hammer

Cantero is dedicated specifically to sotol.

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