News You Can Eat

5 things to know in Austin food right now: Quirky wine bar and restaurant opens at old Sala & Betty space

Rosé Gosé, open March 2, surprised food writers with an invitation and a whimsical menu.

Photo by Brianna Caleri

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

Rosé Gosé, a new restaurant in the Sala & Betty space at 5201 Airport Boulevard, earned itself a mysterious reputation by quietly arriving in the space and sending out a few invites a week before opening. The mystery quickly evaporated at a preview on March 1, which unveiled the warm and stylish wine bar. The menu and retail space boasts more than 250 wines and 50 craft beers, but the whimsical cocktails stole the show, including one topped with an apple foam and another served with a flaming rose. The "comfort food"-based menu is upscale and all over the place in a fun way, placing extra emphasis on poke bowls, a raw bar, and starters with a strong midcentury tone (intended or otherwise). This is the team's first restaurant outside of Belarus. The restaurant opens to the public on March 2 at 5 pm. Reserve on OpenTable.

Another vino venture, Flo’s Wine Bar & Bottle Shop, just opened on March 1 at 3111 W 35th Street, servicing the Tarrytown area. This retail space offers 190 bottles to take home, while the bar offers 20 to try by the glass. Pair that with the "Neo-New York style pizza" by Allday, plus other Italian snacks including a very rare Austin offering of soft serve (punched up even more with unusual toppings like olive oil and pretzels). The owners are lifelong friends, and the community support is already pouring out via tons of Instagram comments. Flo's hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm, and Friday through Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm.

Other news and notes

Popular Thai restaurantSway is celebrating a Buddhist holiday, Makha Bucha Day, with dinner specials alongside the regular dinner service on March 6. The lunar holiday celebrates purification and, according to a release, "letting go," which inspired the night's menu and activities. A live fire ceremony will allow guests to burn up intentions to surrender, while enjoying the cleansing benefits of a yellow curry, a lotus congee, and stir-fried green peas, plus some non-alcoholic cocktails and teas. Reserve on OpenTable.

Hat Creek Burger Company is launching a new spring burger with a giveaway. The "BBQ Burger" brings cookout vibes, with everything you might have on your plate on top of a patty; American cheese, barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and onion rings. This seasonal burger will be available from March 7 to May 1. From that launch date until March 7, social media visitors can enter to win a party in the restaurant with reserved tables and $500 to spend on food and other treats. Watch for the giveaway post on Instagram.

Making noodles is one of the equalizing experiences around the world, from luxury meals to grandma's house. A chef collaboration at Lutie's Garden Restaurant leans toward the former, but sets guests up for the latter with a noodle cooking class led by San Francisco chef James Yeun Leong Parry (The Happy Crane) and Lutie’s own chefs Susana Querejazu and Bradley Nicholson. A dinner on March 16 introduces the Chinese noodles, and a class on March 18 teaches the techniques. Book soon in case the high-profile events fill up fast.

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From the Ashes

Barbecue joint with Austin's oldest pit returns after 2020 fire

Photo courtesy of KVUE

The only thing that's not new is the pit.

It may have new walls, kitchen, and staff, but an old staple of Austin is making a comeback.

House Park Bar-B-Que in Downtown Austin reopened on Monday after a devastating fire burned down the long-standing restaurant in 2020.

“This is my baby. I’m happy to be back," Owner Matt Sullivan said. “It's just been a beautiful reincarnation of what we once had.”

The restaurant has been serving Austinites barbeque since 1943, using the oldest fire pit still left in town. Sullivan said the business was owned by the Noel family in the 1950s before it was sold to his parents in the 1970s and 80s. Sullivan then bought it in 2015.

“[Sullivan's father] wanted to save a little piece of Austin, and when I had the opportunity, I wanted to save a piece of Austin myself," Sullivan said. "In a city that’s constantly changing, it was very important for me to keep this place around."

However, in December 2020, a grease fire set the building ablaze.

“We had to rebuild everything from the ground up,” Sullivan said. “We had to replace the plumbing, we had to redo the electrical. The only thing we got to keep was our magnificent [barbeque] pit.”

Sullivan said it took two years just to get permits to rebuild and it was hard not to lose hope.

“After 18 months, it has you wondering if we’re making the wrong choice," Sullivan said. "I'm watching skyscrapers get built faster than I can renovate 1,000 square feet."

However, it was support from customers that kept Sullivan’s passion burning.

“They had the flood, the fire. I mean, basically any kind of natural disaster," Tom Picazo said. "They've been able to plow right through it and keep going."

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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