First Look

New restaurant brings Latin flavor to burgeoning Austin foodie corridor

Eldorado Cafe, a new neighborhood spot serving hearty, Mexican-inspired comfort food, opened in the space formerly occupied by Alborz at 3300 W. Anderson Ln. After less than a week, Crestview, Brentwood, and Allandale neighbors are already flocking to this casual dining and drinking spot.

The design team completely transformed the space, with colorful decor that combines custom tile work, lounge seating, rustic tables and chairs, and art inspired by Cuba and coastal Mexican towns. Whimsical touches like framed, vintage, Latin LPs from the '50s and '60s reinforce the playful vibe and overall family-friendly atmosphere.

Owner and executive chef Joel Fried brings 28 years of experience at over 30 restaurants to the table, including old-school Austin faves Jean Pierre's Upstairs, Bitter End, and Vespaio, as well as Whole Foods Market, Angeluna in Fort Worth, Mezzaluna in Vail, and, for more than a decade, Tacodeli.

At Eldorado, Fried serves "hecho in Tejas" fare — classic Tex-Mex favorites of his and wife, Joanna's, with a personal spin from the kitchen team that includes chefs Esme Tejeda and Shaunna Mason. This Latin-inspired lineup is nothing fancy, but it's elevated by the use of fresh ingredients, judicious spicing, and details like house-made tortilla shells for the crispy tacos — no globs of canned cheese or cumin on everything here.

"Joanna and I have always had a connection and preoccupation with Latin American culture and the awesome people, many whom we consider family," Fried says. "That curiosity is something I got from my dad, who passed on his love of Latin American music especially. I came up admiring these incredible line cooks and kitchen managers who loved ingredients and traditional techniques. But for us, it's not about the food only. We love the color, the heart, and the soul of Latino culture."

Menu highlights include Fried's signature salsas, a sampler of a tangy avocado salsa, a salsa fresca inspired by the old Tamale House on Airport Boulevard, a roasted chile verde, a spicy salsa made with chile de árbol, and a fiery El Scorpio made with scorpion and habanero chiles. Be sure to try the Shiny Ribs, Fried's version of Chinese spare ribs, and the papas rellenas, golden potato cakes filled with goat cheese. The succulent guisos (braised or roasted meats in traditional sauces) include a warm short rib salpicón, flavorful pork green chile stew, and Cuban-style carnitas. The team caters to vegetarian and vegan customers with veggie-friendly options like a zucchini, yellow, and butternut squash dish with toasted pepitas, roasted garlic, and basil. For dessert, Eldorado offers sopapilla cheesecake, skillet cherry pie, and homemade cookies served with chocolate milk.

The beverage program, curated by bar manager Laura Beck, offers a selection of wine by the glass or bottle, Texas beers on tap, fresh lime margaritas, and playful cocktails like the Capt'n Bob, a Tiki concoction of Flor de Caña Rum, pineapple agua fresca, lime juice, and falernum with rum-spiced cherries. Non-alcoholic options include house-made agua frescas and horchata, as well as Maine Root sodas.

Eldorado serves full breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday. The team plans to engage with the Austin community through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.

Eldorado Cafe is quickly becoming a neighborhood favorite.

Photo courtesy of Eldorado Cafe

Eldorado Cafe is quickly becoming a neighborhood favorite.

openings tex-mex

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.

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