Hummus where the heart is

Local Mediterranean restaurant bowls over Austin with second area location

The implosion of Vert’s/Noon/Daphne’s notwithstanding, build-your-own Mediterranean bowls are still a hot commodity in Austin, with big national brands like Cava drawing long lines at lunch. Now local brand MezzeMe is looking to bowl over the competition with a second area location.

A release reveals that a second location of the popular restaurant will open at 2530 Guadalupe St. on September 30 near the UT campus. The format will be the same as the original in the Triangle, which debuted in July 2017.

Like contemporary concepts, MezzeMe focuses on customizable bowls and wraps with a choice of base. The difference is that the brand crafts the menu around mezzes — small plates served in the Middle East, Balkans, North Africa, and Mediterranean countries like owner Mahmud Ugur’s native Turkey.

Choices like hummus, black eyed peas, tabouli, roasted carrot yogurt, and ezme (a spicy tomato-based dip) add zing to proteins like slow-cooked lamb, chicken shish kabob, and kofte meatballs. Diners' creations can be further tailored with toppings like crumbled feta, shredded carrot, pepperoncini, and kalamata olives and dressings such as tzatziki, lemon tahini, or the buttery house sauce.

In addition to the main fare, MezzeMe offers Turkish wine, beer, coffee, and tea. Non-imbibers can sip a selection of Maine Root Sodas.

The new location repeats some of the first storefront’s design elements, like bright turquoise banquettes and chalkboard panels, but has a sunnier feel. Local artist Mia Lucarelli contributed a Longhorns-inspired mural that is sure to be an Instagram star.

Starting September 30, MezzeMe will be open 11 am-10 pm daily. Happy hour will be served seven days a week with half-off mezze, draft beer, and wine.

Bright colors pop in the new campus MezzeMe.

Photo by Rick Cortez Photography

Bright colors pop in the new campus MezzeMe.

openings news-you-can-eat

Back to the Plow

Homey Austin jam and bake shop closing and returning to farmers market

Confituras/Instagram

Confituras Little Kitchen is closing its brick-and-mortar store, but feeling optimistic about the future.

A famers market find is returning to its natural environment after six years in a brick-and-mortar location. Confituras Little Kitchen, which specializes in locally sourced preserves, is closing its jam and biscuit shop after service on Sunday, December 22. However, it will continue selling goods at the Barton Creek Farmers Market and via retailers.

Confituras announced the change in a newsletter to its customers in December. The letter called the news "bittersweet."

"Although the brick and mortar will no longer be, the good news is that this will be a fresh new start for us – we are bursting with energy and creativity at the thought of being back out in the community where it all started for confituras," it said.

The kitchen is closing because the lease is up, and the team has decided to "give up the chase." The newsletter emphasized the ups-and-downs of business over the past several years — ones that were chaotic for just about any business, let alone a small, fairly niche food operation.

"So much has happened since we decided to open a brick + mortar – a wonderful kickstarter fundraiser, THE PANDEMIC, the AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, and an ever growing city," the letter says. "We tried so very hard but never really got our footing. We know we are not alone, many small business are in the same boat. We renewed our lease during the pandemic because we were hopeful we could make it work - the changing times had other ideas."

Finally, it shared how customers could keep enjoying Confituras creations:

The Barton Creek Farmers Market is open at 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
A list on confituras.net compiles retailers including Royal Blue Grocery, Farmhouse Delivery, and Antonelli's Cheese Shop.
Jam share and Table22 subscription customers will have more instructions coming soon about picking up their goods in January at the same space, 2129 Goodrich Ave.
Customers may also reach out to inquire about continuing to order meals directly.

The kitchen also hosted frequent events and workshops, but the letter did not address this aspect of the business.

A shorter message shared on Instagram has inspired 63 comments so far, five days later. Customers eulogized the shop for its community feel and providing a sense of regularity during the height of the pandemic thanks to weekend pick-ups.