Another Closing

Celebrity chef's downtown restaurant latest victim in Austin's summer of shutters

Searsucker is the latest Austin restaurant to throw in the towel.

Photo courtesy of Searsucker

In what is becoming a sad tradition this summer, another Austin restaurant has decided to fold. On June 24, owner Hakkasan Group told CultureMap that its popular downtown eatery Searsucker will close by the end of the month.

The new American concept opened in June 2013 under the helm of Brian Malarkey, a finalist on Top Chef and a judge on the first season of short-lived ABC cooking competition The Taste. The celebrity chef sold a majority stake in Searsucker and sister concept, Herringbone, in 2014, but he still remained involved in the project until March, when he left to concentrate on his own San Diego-based hospitality group, Puffer Malarkey Restaurants.

“As part of our everyday business practice, we are constantly reviewing and analyzing each of our restaurants,” the group said in a statement to CultureMap. “While we have been very proud of Searsucker Austin, we have made the decision to close the restaurant at the end of June.”

If the cost of maintaining and staffing the 7,000-square-foot space was a factor in the decision to close, Hakkasan isn’t saying. In the statement, a rep only said that the restaurant will continue to focus on its other global culinary and nightlife projects, including several lavish concepts in Las Vegas.

The cavernous Warehouse District space at 415 Colorado St. has seen a revolving cast of concepts since the late ‘90s, most notably Miguel’s La Bodega, Ringers Sports Lounge, and Maria Maria — the Carlos Santana-owner interior Mexican Restaurant with former Fonda San Miguel chef Roberto Santibañez.

Searsucker’s closure is just one of several shutters that have shocked Austin over the last few months, including Philip Speer’s Bonhomie, El Chile Group’s Alcomar, Parkside Projects' Bullfight, cocktail bar Backbeat, and Chicon from the owners of Contigo. At least two of those concepts will be replaced by new projects, with Backbeat turning into Tiki Tatsu-Ya and Chicon being turned over to an unnamed new operator.

closings

Near and Deer

Vespaio-trained chef serves venison from trailer at Austin's Sign Bar

Photo courtesy of Sign Bar.

Born and Braised, specializing in native ingredients and braised meats, is now open at Sign Bar.

Born and Braised, a food trailer specializing in native ingredients and braised meats, has just opened for business at Sign Bar. Chef and owner William Woodland, a.k.a. Woody, says so far things are going great.

"They're doing a great job promoting us at Sign Bar. I feel really special," says Woodland.

This is a big change from several years ago when sign bar first opened and Woodland says he "pestered" the folks behind the cool new space.

"I think at that time they wanted to see a couple of years of good experience," says Woodland. "And now my reviews are insanely good — so I think that helped!"

Born and Braised started out at Lustre Pearl back in 2022, and then quickly moved over to Sage Brush where it stayed for more than a year. More recently, Woodland has been operating out of Bastrop and is happy to be closer to town again at Sign Bar, which is located in East Austin. It's still a bit of a drive for many, but not as far south.

Some of the menu items include birria tacos, homemade birria ramen, and multiple venison-based dishes: chili, a smash burger, and bratwurst. There's also grilled cheese, street corn, and other sides.

"I think it's one of only a couple of places in town where you can get venison any time," says Woodland. He adds that the main focus of any foods he prepares is minimal waste and using good, quality, native ingredients. "I'm kind of an ingredient hippie," he laughs.

These cooking roots can be traced back to Woodland's days at his grandparents' out in the country, where his uncles butchering deer in the garage was the norm, and venison was always on the table. As an adult, Woodland got his "formal" education in the kitchen at Vespaio under the tutelage of Ryan Samson.

"He gave me his culinary book from when he went to school and quizzed me everyday; basically took me to culinary school through that job," says Woodland. "I cry thinking about him all the time. Great guy; a really good mentor."

Born and Braised is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 4 pm to 2 am, and Saturdays from 11 am to 2 am, at Sign Bar Austin (9909 FM 969, Bldg. 3). The bar, decorated with more than 75 retired signs from legendary local businesses, offers a variety of beers, wines, and cocktails.

Sign Bar Holiday Tree This miniature Zilker Tree is the newest permanent installation at Sign Bar. Photo courtesy of Sign Bar

As of early December, guests can enjoy all Sign Bar has to offer next to the Sign Bar Holiday Tree. This 64-foot tall tree is an homage to the Zilker Tree, and unlike most holiday displays, this tree will be up year-round. Guests can even spin under this mini-Zilker Tree — but may want to give it a minute after a bowl of venison chili.

openings food trucks bars burgers tacos ramen