A Taste of Austin

5 surprising restaurant closures that shook up Austin this year

Editor's note: Austin's ever-growing food scene witnessed some surprising shutters in 2015. While this list is not exhaustive, these five closures represent the biggest changes to the food scene.

Bess Bistro
Celebrity-owned Bess Bistro was a staple of West Sixth Street dining for nearly a decade, but Sandra Bullock's restaurant bid adieu in September 2015. Sister concept, Walton's Fancy and Staple, remains open, offering casual counter service to downtown diners.

Fork and Taco
The Burnet Road taco shop called it quits in December, after just one year in business. While trendy fare couldn't keep this restaurant afloat, Burnet's still bursting with taco shops — Torchy's Tacos, Taco Flats, and The Peached Tortilla to name a few.

Freddie's Place
South Austin favorite Freddie's Place shuttered in late June after a decade of Bloody Marys, live music, and comfort food. Taking its place? A new outpost of Fresa's Chicken al Carbon.

St. Philip
Perhaps the most surprising shutter of the year comes from the Uchi Restaurant Group. St. Philip, the buzzed about pizza parlor that opened in November 2014, closed its doors after one year. The abrupt closure came shortly after the group ditched the bakery portion of the eatery to focus solely on pizza and dinner offerings.

Restaurant Congress
Signaling the growing trend of casual dining, Chef David Bull's fine dining concept, Restaurant Congress, will close January 1, 2016. After five years of service, Congress will make way for the expansion of sister restaurant, Second Bar + Kitchen, which has two more locations in the works.

St. Philip from Uchi Restaurant Group closed after one year in operation.

St. Philip/Facebook

St. Philip from Uchi Restaurant Group closed after one year in operation.

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Cat's Out of the Bag

Classic Austin dive bar Mean Eyed Cat opens new Driftwood outpost

Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

There ain't no grave can hold Austinites down when it's time to break in this new dive bar.

An Austin bar with a lot of personality has its eye on a new location. The Mean Eyed Cat is opening in Driftwood on Thursday, November 21.

This Johnny Cash-inspired bar has certainly always had the country aesthetic: the weathered wood, the live oak-shaded picnic tables, the black-and-white photos on the wall, and even the occasional taxidermy specimen. The same rustic vibes continue in Driftwood at 8750 W RR 150, Bldg. 100, according to a short press release.

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood interior This new bar already looks like it's been collecting antiques for decades.Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Good luck getting there on Google Maps. Right now, it drops a pin at the intersection of Ranch to Market Road 150 and Elder Hill Road. However, it appears to be next to Mad Rooster's Liquor Store — we can see the side of the building through the window and the same road signs. We've reached out to a spokesperson to get the proper directions.

The Austin original has been around since 2004, and this offshoot is only its second location. The promises "the same laid-back, offbeat charm that made the original bar an icon."

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood interior What's a dive bar without a pool table?Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Before the Austin location was a bar, it was a chainsaw repair shop that was aptly featured in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Chris Marsh was who converted it to a watering hole and Christened it the Mean Eyed Cat, and he later sold it to current owners Matt Luckie, Max Moreland, and Jed Thompson, placing it in a lineage that also includes Lavaca Street Bar & Grill, Sign Bar, Lala’s Little Nugget, and more locally beloved staples and oddities.

All the proper references are there in Driftwood, including several saw blades on the wall, Johnny Cash memorabilia, and lyrics on every available surface, including a picnic table that ominously says "HURT." First and foremost on the menu are whiskeys and classic cocktails, keeping things as simple as anyone would expect at a dive bar.

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood patio A spacious patio takes advantage of the Hill Country surroundings.Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Despite the relatively remote location, commenters on Instagram have already spotted people inside and started chomping at the bit. It sounds like opening day will be a lively affair.

The Mean Eyed Cat in Driftwood will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 2 pm to 2 am, and Fridays through Sundays from noon to 2 am. Happy hour will be weekdays from 4-7 pm.

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