Kanpai!

Hot Austin restaurant group to open brand-new concept in former Contigo space

The former Contigo space will transform into a new concept from the Tastu-Ya team — with a Texas twist.

When long-loved East Austin restaurant Contigo announced it would close permanently in December 2021, local foodies who treasured the ranch-style eatery were crestfallen and left wondering how any other concept could ever take its place.

It turns out that another beloved local restaurant group has plans to soup up the spot with a new restaurant featuring the Japanese soul food Austinites can’t get enough of.

On Wednesday, March 2, the team behind the visionary Tatsu-Ya restaurant empire announced it will take over the Contigo space with a new restaurant concept that will expand the “ramen multiverse” and merge the culinary crafts of ramen and barbecue.

The new restaurant, yet to be named, is scheduled to open at 2027 Anchor Ln. late this summer.

With a capacious and charming patio and easygoing Hill Country vibes, the former Contigo space has been coveted for years, so it likely won’t come as a surprise to locals that the property got scooped up so quickly by another restaurant family with deep Austin roots.

Indeed, since opening its first eatery in 2012, the Tatsu-Ya group has grown to include three local ramen shops and one in Houston, as well as its wildly popular Tiki Tatsu-Ya bar. According to the company, the new concept will include a “special regional Texas twist,” apparently in the form of Texans’ most cherished fare: barbecue.

“In Japanese, the word ‘en’ translates to ‘circle’ and means fate or karma, and this new project brings that to mind. It feels like coming full circle from when I cooked my brisket ramen in the Contigo kitchen for an episode of BBQ With Franklin that [Contigo chef] Andrew [Wiseheart] hosted seven years ago, and throwing it back to 2013 when the dish was born during a shift family meal,” says Tatsu-Ya chef and owner Tatsu Aikawa.

“I’ve always wanted to pursue the idea of Texas regional ramen,” Aikawa continues, “and when this serendipitous opportunity presented itself, I saw the chance to make it a reality. We’re excited to bring this concept to life with new creative energy and serve the community.”

Stay tuned to CultureMap Austin for updates on the new Tatsu-Ya project and visit the restaurant group’s website and Instagram for more info as it unfolds.

openings chefs east-austin barbecue

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.

nightlife hotels bars cocktails openings