Closing Up Shop

Bottomless mimosas dry up with latest Austin restaurant closure

Sagra restaurant Austin Italian interior place setting table plate

Sagra's last day will be Sunday, May 29.

Sagra/Facebook

Another Italian restaurant is closing up shop, taking with it a brunch that boasts bottomless mimosas. On Tuesday, the owners of Sagra announced that Sunday, May 29, will be the last day of service.

"After serving Austin for the last nine years, with a very heavy heart I am sorry to announce Sagra is closing," said owners Gabriel and Sarwat Pellegrini in a statement. "Austin is a great place with an incredible food scene, but the costs of maintaining a large location downtown were just too much for us."

The Italian trattoria debuted downtown in 2007. A dispute over outdoor patios caused the landlord to terminate the restaurant's lease five years later, and the space is now home to Olamaie. Sagra returned in 2013 with its beloved brunch, all-you-can-eat mussels, and fresh-baked pizzas, this time on East 11th Street.

"I want to give thanks to all of the people who have helped us over the years," the statement continues. "It saddens me that we will no longer be there for your proposals, bridal showers, weddings and rehearsals, and all your other joyous celebrations."

Sagra joins a growing list of restaurants that have closed this year, including fellow east side Italian eatery Al Fico. We've also seen the departure of Gardner, Arro, laV, and Mettle.

There may, however, be a light at the end of the tunnel for Sagra fans. The announcement ends on an optimistic note: "We will keep you updated with what the future brings us."

dinner chefs lunch east-austin closings

Refill, revere, rejoice

Austin distiller refills Kentucky Bourbon bottles for $1 in UT gameday stunt

Photo courtesy of Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Still Austin is filling up empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles and adding its own label in a display of Texas dominance.

Cheap bourbon isn't usually something people line up for, but in this case they know it's good. Still Austin Whiskey Co., a favorite Austin distiller, is offering $1 refills of its own Cask Strength Bourbon on empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles on November 23.

The promotion celebrates the Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats football match the same day. This is a highly anticipated game because the two teams have only been matched up once, back in 1951. Kentucky coach Mike Stoops reportedly also upped the ante by saying the Longhorns have "no weaknesses."

Essentially, this is a parallel challenge by Still Austin: Replace your Kentucky Bourbon with our Texas spirit and watch the Lone Star State win again.

"Why would I ever taint your bourbon with dried up Kentucky juice[?]" asked a (frankly, terrifying) customer on Instagram.

There is a misconception that bourbon has to be made in Kentucky. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association itself points out that, "According to the 1964 Congressional Resolution, in order to have “Bourbon” on the label it must be made in the United States of America and meet all other federal “standards of identity” for Bourbon."

Still Austin CEO and co-founder Chris Seals is setting the record straight with a little snark, inviting both fans and "skeptics" to stop by to take advantage of the deal.

“We’re deeply grateful to Kentucky for inventing the stuff, but after 200 years of the same old bourbon, people want something new,” said Seals in a press release.“The idea that great bourbon can only come from Kentucky is a myth based on decades of misinformation. We’re inviting everyone still holding onto this old guard notion to ‘Kentucky Fill Up’ to experience the difference for themselves.”

The product he's chosen to represent the brand, the Cask Strength Bourbon, is described as "a deeper more 'metal' version of our beloved straight bourbon." It's 116 proof (58 percent ABV) and has won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition twice, in 2022 and 2023.

Still Austin will only refill 500 bottles. Here are the rules: The bottles have to be 750 milliliters, clean, intact (with the original cap on hand), and they must have originally contained bourbon from a Kentucky Distillery. There are two time slots for refilling at 9 am and 11:30 am. Patrons can get tickets ahead of time at stillaustin.com.

In addition to the fill-ups, Still Austin will host a watch party starting at 2:30 pm. More Texas-Kentucky crossover will include Frozen Texas Julep cocktails, Texas fried chicken, and an armadillo derby race. There will also be exclusive merch and giveaways. Still Austin is the official corporate partner of Texas Athletics.

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Fans of Austin sports and Austin food and drinks can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm December 12 at Distribution Hall. Find out more about it here.

whiskey university of texas longhorns