Walk this way

East Austin walk-up 'bodega' opens with to-go daiquiris and notary public

Wicky's Walkup offers New England-style shrimp rolls in both regular and vegetarian options.

Photo by Alison Narro

Have you ever wanted to order a breakfast sandwich, a to-go cocktail, and get something notarized at the same time? Well folks, do we have the place for you.

Wicky's Walkup, the newest concept from the all-star team behind The Cavalier and Taco Fuego, is opening on March 22 at 2400 Webberville Rd. Dubbed a "swamp-tiki walkup bodega," Wicky's is a fast-casual walkup window and patio where patrons can order sandwiches, cocktails, and breakfast biscuits, as well as purchase bodega essentials and notary public services.

Muffalettas and New England-style shrimp rolls, both served on Easy Tiger bread, are the stars of the menu, and available in vegetarian and vegan options (beets for the muffaletta and Jamaician-jerk jackfruit for the shrimp rolls). Rounding out the food offerings: salads, breakfast biscuits, sweet treats, and a section devoted exclusively to tater tots.

With Webberville Road designated as an open-container space, to-go frozen daiquiris — including a New Orleans-style Hurricane — are available, along with canned cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages like sodas and sparkling waters.

A small menu of "bodega essentials" — wine, beer, cigarettes, and liquor — are also on hand, as well as a notary public, which can be purchased for $4 per stamp, or is free with a purchase.

Though the concept is undoubtedly fun, owners Rachelle Fox and Chadwick Leger have had a serious battle to keep their family business afloat the last 12 months. During the early days of the pandemic, The Cavalier pivoted into a grab-and-go market for essentials before eventually reopening the patio with an updated menu of crave-worthy bar fare and cocktails. In December, the pair also launched Taco Fuego, a pop-up composed entirely of former Taco Bell items that have been removed from the fast-food chain's menu.

cocktails openings east-austin

A Meal at the Orchard

New modern American restaurant elevates dining along I-35 in Round Rock

Photo courtesy of Grey Orchard

This salmon dish shows off one of Chef Cole Fitzgerald's top skills: beautiful plating.

An upscale "modern American" restaurant has taken root in Round Rock. Grey Orchard, by owner James Sun and chef partner Cole Fitzgerald, will start its soft opening phase July 9 at 2700 N. Interstate Hwy. 35.

Austinites may already be familiar with Chef Fitzgerald from Fig Italian Kitchen & Bar, a fine dining restaurant that opened on South Lamar Boulevard in August of 2024. The young chef arrived in Austin with Michelin Guide credentials — a "recommended" listing for Atlanta restaurant the White Bull, where he was the executive chef — and Fig was a nominee for Best New Restaurant at the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

Chef Cole Fitzgerald Grey Orchard Chef Cole Fitzgerald is under 30 with two Austin restaurants under his belt and a prominent prior role in Atlanta.Photo courtesy of Grey Orchard

Sun also opened Fig with Fitzgerald, bringing experience from the famous Eleven Madison Park in New York City, among other restaurants. He also opened Cedro Scratch Italian & Bar and Mia Italian Tapas & Bar in Austin, starting in 2014.

The new concept, Grey Orchard, focuses on seasonal American food "shaped by subtle Asian influence," press materials say. It's all about the ingredients, whether that's obvious, as in the wild mushroom salad, or less so, as in the double smash burger or the fried chicken with Alabama white barbecue sauce. Some of the more Asian dishes include tempura fried bang bang shrimp, a duck bánh mì, and basil fried rice.

Grey Orchard interior The main dining room at Grey Orchard.Image courtesy of Grey Orchard

One of the "wow" factors at Fig was artful plating, and it looks like that practice will continue at Grey Orchard, with lots of bright colors and garnishes.

It'll really pop against everything at Grey Orchard, which is almost entirely decorated with warm neutrals. An organic layout with partitions creates more intimate sections and choices for visitors — a few clusters of bench seats and chairs for one-on-one dining, tables touching or apart, plus a prominent bar. There is also a semi-private dining room for small groups and larger group bookings will also be available.

$Grey Orchard\u200b interior$ This wide shot shows some of the different experiences diners can have by choosing a different table.Photo courtesy of Grey Orchard

Grey Orchard's formal food and interior signal an interruption of its surroundings along the side of I-35, including chain restaurants with Austin roots like Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Pinthouse Pizza, and DoubleDave's Pizzaworks, or more broadly Texan chains like Whiskey Cake and Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q. Smaller, but growing local restaurants like Jack Allen's Kitchen and Salt Traders Coastal Cooking — the most similar to Grey Orchard, but still more casual — are also part of the cluster.

Reservations at Grey Orchard are available on OpenTable via greyorchard.com. Current hours are 3-9 pm Sundays through Thursdays and 3-10 pm Fridays and Saturdays. As this is the restaurant's soft opening, some things may be limited or change before the full opening later this month.

openings chefs michelin guide american cuisine asian cuisine