new steakhouse in town

Famous BOA Steakhouse opening first Texas location in downtown Austin

BOA Steakhouse is opening its first Texas location in Austin on June 3.

Photo by Richard Casteel, courtesy of IDG

This brand new restaurant coming to downtown Austin is all about the meat. BOA Steakhouse is carving its way into its first-ever Texas location set to open Monday, June 3.

The steakhouse concept, led by award-winning Innovative Dining Group (IDG), was made popular due to its signature 40-day dry aged New York strip steak and its A5 Japanese Wagyu. The swanky interior and artsy plating has also drawn celebrities and influencers.

The new restaurant, a sister to Austin's recently opened Sushi Roku, will be located in an 8,000-square-foot space at the corner of 300 W. Sixth St. and Lavaca.

Longtime Austinite and acclaimed chef James Flowers – who has extensive experience leading restaurants at The Four Seasons, the Austin Proper Hotel, and Hopfields – will be the driving force behind the kitchen at BOA.

Though steak is this restaurant's claim to fame, guests will be able to savor delicious starters and raw bar delicacies like the roasted wagyu bone marrow, smoked steak tartare, and a king crab ceviche. Select pasta entrees will also be available, such as the lobster bolognese featuring hand cut fresh spaghetti, San Marzano tomatoes, and topped with fresh basil; or the tagiatelle of asparagus with pistachio, basil, and whipped goat cheese.

If a guest's main goal is to enjoy one of the signature steak offerings, those can be accompanied by delectable (and shareable) side dishes like the grilled lamb lollipops with spiced labneh and pomegranate molasses. Austin's vegetarians won't be left in the dust, as BOA will provide delicious meat-free options like a mushroom "Wellington" with spinach and beurre rouge.

In addition to overseeing the restaurant's regular menu, Chef Flowers will also be charged with providing some Austin-exclusive flair. New dishes that will only be available at the Austin location include a pork belly confit, a corn crème brulee, and tallow steak fries.

BOA Steakhouse Austin Austin-exclusive menu items include the pork belly confit with roasted cauliflower and topped with a perfectly fried egg. Photo by Richard Casteel, courtesy of IDG

BOA Steakhouse meals can be complemented with one of their signature cocktail offerings; Guests can also pick from the sweeping wine list – curated by Tony Scholtzhauer – or enjoy a refreshing craft beer from local breweries Austin Eastciders, Live Oak Brewing Co., or Austin Beerworks.

No meal is complete without a mouthwatering dessert, of which BOA will have several, including the goat cheese baklava and a carrot cake with cream cheese mousse.

IDG currently operates three other BOA Steakhouse locations in California: West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Manhattan Beach.

In a release, IDG partner and co-founder Philip Cummins said the company sought out Austin as its first non-California expansion after Sushi Roku's success.

"Though Texas is synonymous with steaks, we look forward to sharing our imaginative spin on steakhouse favorites, all within a beautifully designed space with exceptional hospitality that is perfect for an intimate date night or a blowout celebration,” said IDG co-founder Lee Maen.

BOA Steakhouse Austin The dimly lit dining area contains rift cut oak and blackened steel built-in furniture, gray felt ceiling fixtures, and tropical plants.Photo by Richard Casteel, courtesy of IDG

The main dining room can comfortably seat 185 guests across the 8,000-square-foot space, and a private dining room can host 50 additional guests, according to the release.

Once open, BOA Steakhouse's operating hours will be Sundays through Thursdays from 5-10 pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-11 pm. Guests can park in the garage ($25) with an entrance on Lavaca north of West Sixth Street, or they can take advantage of the restaurant's valet service ($13) or find street parking.

Reservations can be made starting Friday, May 24, via BOA Steakhouse's website, and walk-ins are welcome when available. OpenTable reservations are scheduled to launch in June.

austin steakhouse restaurants openings

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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