Sad shutters
Acclaimed Austin sandwich shop shutters only remaining brick-and-mortar
One of Austin’s most respected restaurants is closing its last brick-and-mortar. A employee has confirmed to CultureMap that September 28 will be the last day of business for Noble Sandwich Co. at 4805 Burnet Rd., citing increasing costs at the address.
Chefs John Bates and Brandon Martinez, both culinary graduates of Corpus Christi’s Del Mar College, originally founded the brand at 12233 Ranch Rd. 620, Ste. 105 in far Northwest Austin. First named The Noble Pig, it was a harbinger of a new type of dining in Austin.
Bates (formerly of Wink and Asti) and Martinez (a vet of Whole Foods Market) applied their upscale training to the sandwich, curing their own meats, preparing their own condiments, and baking their own bread. That commitment to quality quickly made it a national sensation, including segments on Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
In April 2014, the team opened Noble Sandwich Co. in a rundown strip center at 4805 Burnet Rd. Though the focus became less on pork, it still remained a critical favorite, including landing a spot on CultureMap's best new restaurants 2014 list.
Bates and Martinez next turned their attention to smoked meats in summer 2018 with pop-up Interstellar BBQ. Based on the success of that venture, they closed the original Noble location in December 2018, reopening it as an Interstellar storefront in January.
Though the Burnet closure marks the end of an era, the Noble Sandwich brand will still live on. A location at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is still in the works, and the mobile truck will continue participating in events like Marfa’s Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love.
According to the employee, Noble will be given a proper send-off on September 28 with discounted sandwiches, sides, and beer while supplies last. CultureMap has reached out to the owners for further comment.
