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7 things to know in Austin food right now: Jo's Coffee gives away free coffee at its newest location on May 8

Jo's Coffee is giving away free coffee on May 8 to celebrate its new South Austin location.

Photo by Chad Wadsworth

Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of Austin’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings

Monday mornings can be tough, but Jo's Coffee is making next Monday just a little bit easier: To celebrate the grand opening of its newest South Austin location on May 8 (5532 Menchaca Road, at the corner of Menchaca and Stassney), the cafe will pass out free drip and and cold brew all day long. The new spot features a drive-through, indoor seating, and the menu we all know and love.

After an initial announcement during South by Southwest (no shame here if you missed it in the mayhem), Bill's Oyster is officially opening its doors in the 2nd Street District on Friday, May 5. Featuring a daily selection of East and Gulf Coast oysters — and much more — the specialty seafood restaurant and cocktail bar will serve dinner to start, with lunch and weekend brunch to come.

CARVE American Grille will celebrate official grand opening of its newest location in Central Austin on Thursday, June 8, making good on its anticipated summer 2023 opening. The new spot will be located inside the mixed-use community at The Grove (2613 Perseverance Drive); this location will be the concept's second Austin location after opening in South Austin in December 2019.

Healthy eatery The Well has expanded to a second downtown location: Located inside Studio Three (501 Brazos St), The Well’s grab-n-go cafe features the 2nd Street restaurant’s popular, functional smoothies, salads, juices and more, available to order ahead before class and pick up after for the perfect post workout fuel.

Bento Picnic (and adjoining wine shop Saba San) announced the sad news of a pending closure back in February, but the news is not all bad: Sushi | Bar ATX announced this week that it is doubling in size, taking over the entire east Austin bungalow. The Second Room at Sushi | Bar ATX will provide space for an additional 30 guests per evening with three seatings in the new 10-seat space.

Anniversaries

Two Austin institutions are celebrating milestones this month: On Friday, May 5, Kerbey Lanewill celebrate 43 years of slinging skillets with an exclusive Birthday Pancake (a buttermilk cinnamon swirl pancake topped with sprinkles, whipped cream, and vanilla drizzle) — available throughout the month of May at all Kerbey Lane locations.

A little later in the month, Uchiwill mark its 20th anniversary with a 12-course omakase on May 20 and 21 featuring original Uchi favorites such as Uchi Shots, Avobake, Madai & Kurodai, Gyutoro and more.

Basil And...

Pflugerville chef brings Vietnamese eats to Hutto with new concept

Broth & Basil/Instagram

Basil & Bites, a new concept by the owner of Broth & Basil, is opening in Hutto in spring 2025.

A Pflugerville chef is circling Austin and opening a second, new concept in Hutto. Basil & Bites, which fuses Vietnamese cuisine with Texas influences, will open in fall 2025 at the junction of TX 79 and CR 119, according to a press release.

The new restaurant by the chef behind Broth & Basil is part of the Townwest Commons development, owned by NewQuest Properties. The same company also promised this summer to bring a new Chuy's to the same development by early 2025. It says in the Basil & Bites release that Chuy's is on track to open in January.

Basil & Bites has claimed half a building, totaling 5,500 square feet of space. It's across from the EVO Entertainment — a movie theater, bowling alley, arcade, bar and restaurant, and more — that the developer has been using as an anchor in promoting the new business park. It also maintains its "original anchors" Lowe's and the YMCA.

Phen T. Diep owns Broth & Basil, and was already familiar with in NewQuest because the restaurant is located in another one of its properties, Stone Hill Town Center in Pflugerville.

The release offered few details about the restaurant itself, including what would be on the menu. At Broth & Basil, as the name suggests, pho is a main offering. And like Basil & Bites, the existing restaurant also takes pride in its Texas heritage, offering Texas Wagyu Beef from Ranger Cattle, which is based in Austin.

Other menu offerings include a variety of meats served over vermicelli or rice, and a few specials like Wagyu bo luc lac (shaking beef) cooked on the hot plate it's served on.

According to the Broth and Basil website, Diep started out as a home chef. He's committed to traditional Vietnamese dishes, even though he's added some Texan elements, and the bone broth simmers for 10 hours so no additives are needed.

"We recruited him because of the yearslong success of his first restaurant, which was the first one in Austin to feature Pho Wagyu," said NewQuest leasing director and senior vice president Josh Friedlander in the release. "It's now one of the most popular dishes on the menu."

openings asian cuisine hutto pflugerville