Restaurant Switcheroo

Hot Austin pizza joint closes to make way for totally new restaurant

Be More Pacific Filipino Kitchen and Bar taco

Filipino cuisine is replacing pizza in North Austin.

Be More Pacific Filipino Kitchen and Bar/Facebook

North Austin, we hope you're hungry for a restaurant switcheroo. Rebel Pizza Bar has closed — but something new is on the way.

"Rebel Pizza Bar is proud to have served the North Austin area and is pleased to announce that it will reopen as Be More Pacific Filipino Kitchen and Bar," reads a statement posted to Rebel Pizza Bar's website.

Be More Pacific is a popular Austin food truck that has been serving up flavorful Filipino fare for six years. Co-owners and operators Mark Pascual and Giovan Cuchapin are planning a larger menu and "Filipino-inspired cocktails and beer" for the new outpost.

"It's been a journey, but we are grateful to have finally found the perfect space to continue our dream," Pascual says in the statement.

The former Rebel Pizza Bar spot, located above Suzi's China Grill, will be the first brick-and-mortar location for the Be More Pacific team. The restaurant space at 7858 Shoal Creek Blvd. boasts a large outdoor rooftop patio with plenty of seating and views of the Anderson Lane area.

Rebel Pizza Bar opened in 2015 with \thin-crust pizzas and craft drinks. The project came from owner Suzi Yi of the namesake Suzi's China Grill and consultants Frank and Nina Seely.

Be More Pacific is expected to open in October; the food truck will continue rolling in Central Austin. In addition to Be More Pacific, Anderson Lane has recently welcomed Eldorado Cafe and a new location of Jack Allen's Kitchen.

closings pizza openings

See You On the Other Cider

New East Austin coffee and beer haven opens weeks after cidery closure

Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Stargazer brings a fun new facade, but keeps the Austin Eastciders sign.

An entrepreneurial local couple has made a very quick flip in Austin, swapping a cider taproom for a coffee shop, bar, and more in just three weeks. Stargazer is opening to the public on Friday, November 15, with a big opening ceremony to get things going.

Austin Eastciders announced October 18 it would be closing its Collaboratory, but confused fans a bit with language promising "a year-round, multi-use destination" continuing on in its stead. The cider company clarified that it would still be operating out of Texas to make ciders, but a different vendor had committed to taking over the taproom space.

Things became clear sooner than anyone could expect, as Moya and Colin McIntyre — the couple who owns the neighboring event venue Springdale Station — stepped in.

Stargazer interior The signature barrels from the Collaboratory days have also stuck around.Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Anchored by a vintage rocket ship playscape that the couple is adding to make the space more kid-friendly, Stargazer combines all sorts of offerings for one big, all-day concept for any kind of guest. Visitors can enjoy coffee, cocktails, mocktails, beers, and ciders; they can sit inside or outside (at shaded tables); and they can order food from a variety of vendors.

Spicing up the coffee menu are some unexpected combinations: espresso, turmeric, and black pepper in one drink; espresso, lion's mane, and chocolate, in another. The cocktails are a bit tamer, but still tropical, featuring mixes like mezcal, lime, and pineapple, or rum, apple cider, lemon, and ginger.

Food options are all over the map:

Ice cream by Lick Honest Ice Creams
Pastries by Maaribu pastries
Grab-and-go health food by Lucky Lime
Tacos via the Santo Patio truck
Chicken tenders via the Dipping Springs Tender Co. truck
Pizza via Bambino, located next door

Stargazer food offerings Food from Stargazer's many partners.Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill

Stargazer brings a fun new facade, but keeps the Austin Eastciders sign.

Friday's opening festivities start bright and early at 7 am. From open until noon, coffees are buy-one-get-one. The first 50 children will get a free ice cream scoop. Then, frozen drinks are half-off during happy hour from 3-6 pm. Finally, from 6-10 pm, there will be more drink specials, a DIY flower bar, and live music by DJ Jah Karma and Blowcomotion Marching Band.

According to a release, the McIntyres wanted the new space to feel like Old Austin, and to be the kind of place they would want to visit.

Stargazer is located at 979 Springdale Rd., Suite 130. Operating hours are 7 am to 10 pm daily.

openings beer cocktails mocktails coffee closings