Tex-Mex to Married

New Lake Travis wedding venue transforms space left by longtime eatery

Union Pointe on the Lake is a new upscale wedding venue, where Lake Travis's Iguana Grill used to sit.

Photo courtesy of Union Pointe on the Lake

Austin is a city full of venues — music venues, hotels, bars, clubs, galleries — but it doesn't have a ton of dedicated wedding venues. Luckily, a transformation of the longtime Austin restaurant Iguana Grill has added a new option the short list, as Union Pointe on the Lake opens with the same famous Lake Travis views.

The modern waterfront venue has an upscale feel, both indoors and outdoors, and can also be used for other private events and community gatherings. It's tucked away along the shoreline of Lake Travis (about 30 minutes from downtown Austin), where the Old Austin favorite Iguana Grill resided for two decades before closing in 2016.

In addition to its sweeping view of the lake, Union Pointe features a spacious lakeside lawn, an airy and open main hall with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the all-too-often overlooked necessity of ample parking.

Exterior Union Pointe on the Lake Union Pointe on the Lake features an indoor hall and outdoor space, perfect for a wedding and reception combo.Photo courtesy of Union Pointe on the Lake

“We wanted to create a space that feels elevated but welcoming,” said general manager Crystal Smith in a press release. “A place where people can celebrate, connect, and take in the natural beauty of Lake Travis.”

Guests who rent the space can expect hundreds of chairs, dozens of tables, full access to both a groom and bridal suite, full access to the onsite catering kitchen, an onsite venue manager, and 10 hours of event time, plus an additional hour of rehearsal time. Guests must choose from the venue's list of preferred caterers, rather than bring in their own.

Union Pointe has already begun hosting events and taking reservations, but it'll host an official open house for local event planners and vendors on July 13, featuring light bites, drinks, and a first look at the space.

For those looking to plan a wedding, Union Pointe advises guests to book at least 6-12 months in advance.

openings weddings wedding venue

News You Can Eat

A new Japanese ritual and a Tex-Mex eatery open in Austin food news

Photo courtesy of Kappo Kappo

Like the other restaurants at the Austin Proper Hotel, Kappo Kappo goes for elegant presentation.

Austin is a pretty straightforward place, but its food scene runs on fusions and collabs. Whether that's French-prepared Japanese food, a classic take on Tex-Mex, or ice cream and wine, Austin restaurants are doing it all this week.

Openings and closings

A new hotel restaurant at the Austin Proper breaks the mold with an unexpected offering: Japanese cuisine made with French technique, prepared tableside. Open as of November 28, Kappo Kappo (named after the cooking style) is now serving 11-course meals featuring wagyu beef, seafood, and desserts. It's all thanks to twin chefs Haru and Gohei Kishi, who see ritual as an important part of the experience. Kappo Kappo is located at 600 W. 2nd St. Operating hours are 6-9 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 5-11 pm Fridays and Saturdays.

After the fall of Z'Tejas Avery Ranch, the last location for the longtime chain, a new restaurant is now open in its place (14900 Avery Ranch Blvd. B100). The Tex-Mex theme lives on at Blue Agave, a restaurant and bar serving an expansive menu featuring burritos and chimichangas, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, combo platters, and more. On the beverage side, guests can expect signature margaritas and other cocktails, tequila flights, wine, beer, and nonalcoholic drinks. Blue Agave is open for daily dinner, weekday lunch and happy hour, and weekend brunch. Hours are 11 am to 10 pm Mondays through Thursdays, 11 am to 11 pm Fridays, 9 am to 11 pm Saturdays, and 9 am to 9 pm Sundays.

Get ready for a lot of buzzy place names: California-based Nashville hot chicken chain Angry Chickz is expanding to 25 new franchise locations in Texas and New Mexico, including at least one in Austin. That would bring the chain to 58 locations in total. No address has been shared for the Austin spot, but all of them are expected to open in 2026.

Angry Chickz dishes A very saturated look at spicy chicken and sides.Photo courtesy of Angry Chickz

Other news and notes

The Austin chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier is seeking applications for scholarships and grants to women in hospitality, food, and beverage industries from now through January 18. Last year's awards totaled $50,000 to 14 women. More information at ldeiaustin.org.

Shokunin, a new concept by the group behind Sushi By Scratch, has thrown a bone to diners who can't seem to get a seat at the 20-seat bar. Now, there's a waitlist that shows how long it should take for seats to become available. It's not a surprise that Shokunin was flooded with customers, considering that the idea was to open a more accessible alternative to its fancy, hard-to-book sister restaurant. The waitlist will open with the restaurant at 5 pm, and tables will be held for 10 minutes after guests are notified.

South African wine bar Cape Bottle Room is hosting a sweet pairing pop-up December 9, matching up wines and ice cream flights by Chef Jack Fanelli of the original Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club. Flavors and pairings are a surprise, but a photo teaser shows a hefty topping. Tickets ($54 including a 20 percent service gratuity) are available at capebottleroom.com.

Cape Bottle Room Jack Fanelli ice cream pop-up Cape Bottle Room is pairing ice creams and wines December 9.Photo by Jack Fanelli

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