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

News You Can Eat

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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Property Showcase

Austin earned top 10 rank for highest number of build-to-rent homes last year

THE RISE OF THE RENTAL

With the increasing demand for housing and rising popularity of constructing homes for rent, Austin has earned a top 10 position in a new analysis of American metro areas with the highest number of single-family rentals built for all of 2022.

A total of 324 build-to-rent homes were completed in Austin in 2022, which is a 10-year high, according to the study by RentCafe. The newest findings put the Texas Capital three places higher than in 2021, when the city ranked No. 13 in the nation.

"Austin was named the second fastest growing city in the U.S. by the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise," the study's author wrote. "That came after the city recorded a 4.3 percent rise in its GDP in 2022 to $216 billion, following the Bay Area."

The study analyzed build-to-rent data from RentCafe's sister site, Yardi Matrix, for communities that had at least 50 single-family rental units.

Dallas nailed the rankings this year by earning the top spot with nearly 2,800 single-family rental units completed last year. Phoenix (which outpaced Dallas last year) ranked No. 2 with only 1,527 units completed. After Phoenix, single-family rentals in other American metro areas only went into the triple digits, with Atlanta, Georgia (No. 3) at 808, Greenville, South Carolina (No. 4) at 584, and Charlotte, North Carolina rounding out the top five with 475 units completed.

The metro areas that complete the top 10 for the most build-to-rent homes in 2022 include:

No. 6 – Detroit, Michigan
No. 7 – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
No. 8 – Panama City, Florida
No. 9 – Charleston, South Carolina
No. 10 – Austin, Texas

Austin had the seventh highest number of single-family rentals completed in the country within the last five years, totaling 1,096 units. The Texas cities that ranked higher were Dallas (No. 2) and Houston (No. 4). San Antonio ranked below Austin at No. 8. Phoenix took the No. 1 spot with over 6,000 build-to-rent homes completed in the same time period.

The study's findings support a growing demand for flexibility among renters who may not want the high cost and maintenance associated with home ownership, RentCafe says.

“More and more people are deciding they want the best of both worlds: the flexible lifestyle of the renter, with no maintenance commitments and costs, and the comfort and privacy offered by living in a house,” the study’s author wrote. “In this case, build-to-rent homes check all of the boxes, while high home prices and rising interest rates make them even more appealing.”

The number of single-family rentals is expected to continue rising dramatically in 2023. Currently, 945 units are under construction in Austin. Overall, there are 44,700 build-to-rent homes being built this year throughout the nation; three times more than the number of completed homes in all of 2022, the study says.

Shuttered Salvation Army shelter in downtown Austin will get new life

Salvation Army

When the Salvation Army shelter on East Eighth Street shut its doors back in April, Austin City Council member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri (District 9) said it was unfortunate to see as an Austin resident and leader.

"The Salvation Army kind of abruptly stated that they were pulling out without much of a notice to the residents of the shelter in the district – a shelter that largely houses or housed women and children," Qadri said. "So, you know, that was a huge disappointment for us."

Now the City of Austin has reached a compromise and solution that Qadri believes will help those experiencing homelessness. The Austin City Council on Thursday, June 8, approved a 12-month lease agreement for the former Salvation Army shelter that will cost more than $1 million.

The site will be operated by California-based nonprofit Urban Alchemy, which also provides services at the ARCH, or the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless. The council also approved a contract for Urban Alchemy to add more funding, extend the ARCH program and run the former Salvation Army shelter, providing 150 beds.

Urban Alchemy will get more than $4 million.

Later this summer, City leaders will also consider a temporary emergency shelter that will provide around 300 more beds for people experiencing homelessness.

ECHO, or the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, estimates there are thousands of people experiencing homelessness in Austin. Since the city's camping ban was reinstated in May 2021, many of these individuals have spread out throughout the city or gone into hiding, making it harder to connect them with services.

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

Tenacious D will play the best song in the world in Austin this fall

Spicy Meatball

America's favorite (only?) comedy rock duo is back on tour, and lucky for Austinites, they've announced the addition of three Texas dates this fall. Of course, we're talking about none other than Tenacious D, comprised of Jack Black and Kyle Glass.

The duo's Spicy Meatball Tour is currently underway this month in Europe, with newly extended dates including Houston (September 13), Grand Prairie (September 14), and Austin (September 15).

Supporting acts are yet to be announced, but tickets are on sale as of Friday, June 9, at 10 am. Fans can purchase tickets HERE.

According to a release, the tour dates come on the heels of the recently-released recorded version of Tenacious D’s viral, fan-favorite live cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” The single is accompanied by a video directed by longtime D collaborator Taylor Stephens, and features our dynamic duo in a glorious, romantic romp by the sea. Last month, they released their first new song in five years, “Video Games,” which has been streamed over 18 million times across all platforms in less than a month. The animated music video, created by Oney Plays, brings video game-ified versions of Black and Glass to life in classic and hilarious ways.

In addition to the single releases, Tenacious D will be the special guest at this year’s Video Game Awards, happening on June 25 at the Hollywood Bowl, where they will perform their new single.

But of course the burning question remains: Will Black perform his equally viral "Peaches" from the recent Super Mario Bros. movie? There's only one way to find out.

Full Tour Dates are below (new dates in bold font):
6/7/23 Berlin, Germany @ Zitadelle
6/8/23 Nickelsdorf, Austria @ Nova Rock Festival
6/10/23 Milan, Italy @ Carroponte
6/12/23 Zurich, Switzerland @ The Hall
6/13/23 Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
6/14/23 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Ahoy
6/16/23 London, England @ O2 Arena
6/18/23 Clisson, France @ Hellfest Open Air Festival
6/25/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl (Video Game Awards)
9/6/23 Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
9/7/23 Franklin, TN @ Firstbank Amphitheater
9/9/23 Indianapolis, IN @ All IN Music Festival
9/11/23 Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
9/13/23 Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
9/14/23 Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre
9/15/23 Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater

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