Rising from the ashes

Darling downtown Austin cafe finally reopens one year after devastating fire

Forthright has finally recovered from a 2018 fire.

After a morning blaze forced downtown darling Forthright to close in October 2018, co-owner Elizabeth Swail thought it would take four to six weeks to rebuild. A year later, the popular spot is finally making its return.

Swail tells CultureMap that the restaurant will reopen at 35 Brazos St. the week of October 14. Initially, the cafe will only be open for breakfast and lunch, but brunch will be added in the coming weeks.

The saga began when a fire broke out above the eatery’s stove around 10:45 am on October 25, 2018. Though it did not cause any injuries, it did cause major damage to the mostly white interiors. The team's plan to quickly reopen was soon dashed by a labyrinth of permits, contractors, and insurance claims.

Fans of Forthright can expect the same approachable, garden-fresh fare served before the hiatus. Favorites returning to the menu include avocado toast, chicken and waffles, and Benedicts served on house-made English muffins. Forthright will also continue to pour cocktails and Tweed coffee.

There will be, however, one major change. New executive chef Matthew Davis — a vet of Juliet — will be taking the reins from Ashley Neave, who was running the kitchen at the time of the fire. Swail says Davis has a few menu surprises in store.

“We are also putting the finishing touches on a handful of new items,” she teases. “Think Bananas Foster waffles, vibrant bowls, farm salads, and the like.”

The initial hours upon reopening will be 7 am-2:30 pm on weekdays. Over the next month, Swail says service will extend to 7 am-8 pm Monday through Friday, 8 am-3 pm Saturday, and 9 am-3 pm Sunday.

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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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