Culinary House Party

Celebrity chef Brian Malarkey invites diners to eat until they throw in the towel at Searsucker

From the moment you meet Chef Brian Malarkey, co-star of TV series The Taste and a finalist on Top Chef, you know that he loves what he does. His passion for great food is apparent, whether leading a demonstration at the Austin Food & Wine Festival or being interviewed by Food Republic, sitting on the edge of his chair, grinning widely and bouncing with excess energy as he talks about his various culinary projects.

Fortunately, Chef Malarkey is bringing his enthusiasm to Austin by way of his upcoming restaurant in the Warehouse district, Searsucker. The restaurant, slated to open in early June, will be the third location for his popular new American cuisine concept and will offer a menu of small plates and larger entrees featuring playful takes on traditional dishes like farm bird lollipops, chicken and waffles and a beef tongue and cheek dish with agave. The menu is tailored for sharing, encouraging guests to socialize and linger as they sip hand-crafted cocktails, craft beer and select wines from around the world.

Malarkey and business partners James Brennan of the Enlightened Hospitality Group (EHGRP) picked Austin because of its dynamic restaurant and music scene. “We don't want to come in and be different,” he says. “We want to come in and be part of the Austin family.”

Searsucker is taking over the space previously occupied by Maria, Maria, a 7,000 square foot site that has had difficulty holding on to long-term tenants. Malarkey said the first thing Designer Thomas Schoos did was open up the space and highlight the natural beauty of the building — brick, beams and sky lights that were hidden in previous designs.

“We ripped out all the stuff that did that building injustice,” says Malarkey. “We tore down the dividing walls and made it a big open floor plan.”

Guests can now see into the formerly hidden kitchen, becoming part of the action. Diners looking for more adventure can sit at the chef’s counter where they can enjoy the Chef’s Whim package, during which the kitchen will serve counter guests special dishes until, in Malarkey’s words, “you throw in the towel.”

The restaurant also includes a space for guests to enjoy live music, creating what Malarkey hopes feels like an adult playground. “I want people to come early and stay late,” he says. “Come have a couple of bites at the bar or meet your friends, hang out on the couch, then go eat. It’s a big house party.”

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Searsucker is slated to open in early June at 415 Colorado St. and will serve weekday lunch, dinner daily, and brunch on Sundays, as well as a late night menu until 2 a.m. on weekends.

Chef Brian Malarkey

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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