Hard Hat X

[amykragan]

Went to Davenport Village (Westlake) today and saw they are hard at work remodeling to put in Opal Divine's Davenport. That particular location has been several flops so hopefully this one can make it. No idea on the opening date. They have the neon sign up but are still doing demolition.

[sqwertz]

El Pollo Regio in the former Arby's at William Cannon and Congress. It's been a slow remodel - still not open.

They've pretty much vanished here in Austin according to their website but are huge in Dallas. Website only lists two locations in Austin - Burleson/183 and Berkman. Don't they have one on Oltorf/Burleson, too? North Lamar at Rutland, and I35 at Rundberg, too?

<shrug>

[slowcoooked]

I'm about a mile from the one on Ohlen and 183 (west side) and it's still smokin' strong.

[ssnclrk]

We get chicken from the one on Ohlen about once a month.

[topodrinko]

are you guys talk about Arby's vanishing or El Pollo Regio? Both have a location on/near Ohlen

[ssnclrk]

I think they were talking about El Pollo Regio here in Austin. If you look on the website it only shows a couple of locations. I live very close to the Arby's and El Pollo Regio at Ohlen Road. My grand children love the chicken there.

I noticed the little Cuban place next door to Twin Liquors at Jamestown/183 has a for lease sign in the window.

[verily]

Stuffed Cajun Market is adding a new location at Brodie Lane and 290. If I eavesdropped properly at lunch, it's going to be in the shopping center with BJ's and Petsmart.

[Rptrane]

Elevation burger by Costco is finally open for business. IF only it was a P Terry instead.

[TroyTempest]

that has got to be one of the worst intersections in town to put a drive thru in. Thanfully for traffic sake, it's not P. Terry. At least drive-thru traffic won't be in the street.

[Mike B]

Noticed that P. Terry's has started construction at Mopac & Parmer on the access road getting off at Parmer (heading North on Mopac)

[Rptrane]

Was going to post this. It's kinda hard to get to though coming North. I wonder if there's a good back way to access the location without doing a loop.

[Mike B]

Yes, that location can be a pain. You can get off at Parmer and take a right at the first road after the shopping center with the HEB. There is a road that runs through there that connects to the road in front of the medical center that takes you to the access road. Not sure if that would be any shorter though.

[verily]

Taco Shack on 620 (near Lake Creek) is finally open. I'm curious to see which local franchise sets up shop on 620 next...

[Optimista]

Aaaaand fresh from Addie Broyles' in-box: new Lucy's Fried Chicken going in at 5408 Burnet (old Austin Diner location) later this year. For you Lucy's fans, please let me know what you love there - I've yet to find my sweet spot.

[hlk]

The fried chicken livers. I think they're the best fried chicken livers I've ever had. The raw oysters are good, too, but in general I find the food to be uneven. Seemed like the regular fried chicken was a lot better when they first opened than the subsequent times I've had it.

[Optimista]

Thanks, hlk. I'll try those next time.

[Optimista]

Does anyone have solid intel on what is going in where Jorge's used to be on Hancock? I heard that it is going to be a Chuy's. Please tell me that rumor was wrong.

[TAF]

It is to be called La Mancha Tex-Mex Taverna.

From the Statesman: "In addition, the new owners of the Jorge’s site — who include Chuy’s co-founder Mike Young — said another Tex-Mex restaurant will open in its place that will retain an Austin flavor and blend with the neighborhood.

Veloz recently sold the 9,000-square-foot Hancock location off Burnet Road for an undisclosed price to a group of five investors who besides Young include Will Muntz, co-owner of Lucky Lounge downtown. Muntz will partner with John Korioth, who owns Hanger Lounge and Six Lounge, in the new restaurant, La Mancha Tex-Mex Tavern, which will debut in the spring, Muntz said.

Muntz said the building will undergo an extensive remodel, with design work by noted architect Michael Hsu, who offices within walking distance from Jorge’s. Muntz lives two blocks from Jorge’s, and Korioth grew up in the neighborhood."

[Optimista]

Aha, there's hope! Fingers crossed that it will be decent. Thanks, TAF!

[TAF]

The remodeling certainly looks promising. A new, large patio roof has gone up, and a new facade. They are now hiring staff, so it shouldn't be long! I shall report in once they open.

[dinaofdoom]

teji's has a sign posted that they're opening a location on campus. 21st and guadalupe iirc.

[Ashforth]

A couple of new chain restaurants are coming to Sunset Valley: Noodles & Co. and Zoe's Kitchen. They are going into the new building that replaced the torn down Marie Calendar's.

Noodles & Co. is a slightly weird concept to me. A menu with Mediterranean, Japanese, Thai, American and Italian-American dishes isn't cohesive just because each dish has noodles. It makes me expect that no dish will be more than mediocre. I hope to be wrong!

Zoe's Kitchen sounds more promising, with a greek-leaning menu with hummus made on site, sides of roasted fresh vegetables, mayo-free potato salad, pasta salad and coleslaw. I'm hoping it will be good.

[Optimista]

I've been to both. There are several other Noodles & Co. locations in town, and one more Zoe's Kitchen.

I'd say both are a little hit-or-miss. If they have the truffled mac 'n' cheese at Noodles & Co. when you go, that is hands-down my favorite. It's worthy of company (in fact, I ordered a huge pile of it for a gathering I had at my house, once, and one of my most talented chef friends took some leftovers, so I don't think I'm alone in my adoration for it). But it's seasonal. There are a few other decent things on the menu. I wrote a really long post about a tasting I did there on my blog, if you're interested.

I don't think I ever got around to blogging about Zoe's and I've only been a handful of times, but I'd say there are some great things and some things that lean more toward mediocre.

[sqwertz]

Word is that Hong Kong Market (Ohlen/183/Peyton Gin) has finally reopened after a fire a couple years years ago. Not only did I totally miss the opening and closing of their Parmer and Metric Superstore, I also missed the fact that their original store had a fire and had been closed all this time.

In somewhat related news, HEB will be closed all day Easter. Which I don't understand. They're open part of the day on Christmas and Thanksgiving Days, but closed on the lesser holiday of Easter ??

-sw

[Frankie_Candido]

Easter is in no way a lesser holiday. It is the very crux of Christianity!

[sqwertz]

It is the least commercial and the least celebrated holiday of the other two. Maybe if they moved it to Monday.... ;-)

Get your leg of lamb from CostCo today or tomorrow as there is a very good chance they will be sold out later in the week! (Sam's Club lamb has been dumbed down to be more Americanized while CostCo's still has the gamier NZ/Australian flavor).

[sasebastian]

I went in to the Hong Kong Market on Friday and was disgusted. The veg was in seriously bad shape. The green and jalapeño peppers were shriveled and wrinkly, the eggplants were rotten and oozing, potatoes were squishy and sprouting. That put me off the whole place.

[sqwertz]

That's too bad. It used to be that was the best store in town, IMO. That was back in 2000-2002. Then came New Oriental Market, My Thanh's replacement superstore (MT Supermarket), and now Hana World Market in the failed Hong Kong Market spinoff space.

They may be down for the count. A combination of bad timing and bad marketing off their superstore. The only thing going for them is that they're the closest Asian market to 3/4's of Austin. But at only a couple more miles you can get a much better selection.

[sqwertz]

Another VERTS (Berlin style kebap/pitas) going in in one of those new high rises on mid-south Lamar. Haven't tried the one on the drag yet.

Opening "soon", there's something on their website about "Free Food... MARCH - One Free Entree Per Person" but when you try and click on the details you're led to a dead end.

-sw

[jwynne2000]

For all my west Parmer Lane kin.... Saw a sign posted on the door of the former Old School Bar & Grill: "Coming Soon - Margarita's!"

Hey, I could live with even an average Mexican joint slingin Tequila Slurpees if it's walking distance from the house :)

[dinaofdoom]

that spot needs a good place, but it's totally jinxed.

[verily]

If Curra's couldn't make it, I don't hold out much hope for a generically named Mexican joint. But I suppose it could surprise me.

[dinaofdoom]

anyone try kohnami yet at 183 & anderson mill?
(think it's in the old hoover's spot).
yelp review are usually unreliable after an opening.
i just liked their facebook page, but it doesn't have a lot of information like the menu, or happy hour, etc.
"yakitori bar" is on their sign, so i'm hoping it's good.

[snowymt]

went for lunch on Saturday. Really nice renovated interior, really upscale. We thought we could get the lunch specials but after ordering (and being served the miso soup) were told we had to pay full price. Example: beef bulgogi lunch price $12-13, dinner price $18. Also, there was a buy one roll get the other roll free coupon but also told later that it did not apply on Saturdays. So that part kind of sucked. If you want to go for lunch go M-F!

Food was good, fish was fresh for my sushi, I just think the prices are pretty steep and my favorite Midori is right across the road with excellent food already (for less cost)

[dinaofdoom]

good to know. thanks for the update!
we will be going to check out the happy hour food.

[verily]

Trader Joe's is apparently planning to open a second store in the former Sprouts on Bee Caves near MoPac since the Seaholm one is going to take a while to open.

http://www.statesman.com/news/busines...

[dinaofdoom]

wish they had one further north!

[hlk]

They will.

[tdombrow]

I second that emotion

[verily]

A new contemporary Japanese restaurant called Soto is opening up soon in the Lakeline shopping center (between Party City and Hancock Fabrics). It looks like it's getting close to opening, though I didn't see a sign indicating a date.

The area seems pretty saturated already with Japanese restaurants focusing on sushi, so hopefully this one lives up to the contemporary/fusion spin.

http://sotoaustin.com/home

[dinaofdoom]

wow, this corner of northwest austin is turning into sushiville.
midori, momiji, osaka mansun, and the new kohnami.
plus, kobe and ajishin also serve sushi.

[verily]

And then around 620, you've got Nagoya, How Do You Roll?, Umiya, and Daichi.

[Sweet_Cheeks]

Anyone heard anything about Blackfinn Ameripub opening up at the Domain? Is it a chain?

[Chicago Wine Geek]

It is a chain. There is one here in Naperville. It's ok, trying to be a more upscale Fridays....

[jwynne2000]

It can't be any worse than The Park.

[dinaofdoom]

hate that place. my coworkers love it, so it's often chosen for after work functions. the noise is deafening.

[SlickTheCat]

What is up with that place, anytime I'm at the Domain on a Sunday it is cranking music and appears to be pretty crowded.

[Rptrane]

I was thinking the same thing. I assumed it was some kind of private party the crowd was so big. Everyplace else was a ghost town

[verily]

Sambets is apparently reopening as a trailer on Burnet.

Hill's BBQ has closed.

[amysuehere]

I would assume at the NATY?

[paternite]

In the lot next to Pinthouse Pizza. I tried the gumbo yesterday. It was great !!

[missmitzi]

We hit up the new Sambet's trailer today. Had the gumbo, crawfish etouffee and the shrimp poboy. The gumbo and etouffee were slightly better than I remember, both with a little more heat and flavor. We both still really like them. The poboy was also still good. The bread was different, softer and thicker (from what I remember). I was able to pull off hunks of the bread and sop up some gumbo juices and still have plenty for the poboy. Think the sandwich is a little smaller. They are definitely not up to speed yet (he said it was just their 2nd day open) but the food is just as good as it was before.

[TroyTempest]

Wow, Hill's didn't last very long

[High_Boost]

I don't think there are too many Round Rock people here, but there is a new Torchy's going in just west of grimes on 79.

[missmitzi]

There is also a Torchy's going in at 1431 and 183A (across from the Ranch 1890 shopping strip).

[Rene]

Just noticed something on the sign of the former Red Robin on 183 near Anderson Mill... Does anyone know what's going in there?

[beercoop]

I think it said Third Base.

[cstrombe]

Third Base is correct, saw the sign this morning as I drove in to work.

[TroyTempest]

I saw a sign today for Spicewood Tavern coming soon in what i believe used to be Mirabelle.

[amysuehere]

Hmm. The "new" incarnation of Mirabelle died? That's not surprising, though.

[TroyTempest]

BTW, I have been to Spicewood Tavern 3 times since December, all good. No time for a real review (not 2 mention my memory for details lacks a little after a few weeks) , but i had shortribs, shrimp Po-boy twice. All very solid. One daughter had butternut squash ravioli,which she liked and my son had some sort of a burger that looked good. It was big and he llked it. My other daughter had the fish and chips. I had the fish, pretty sure it was cod, don't remember the chips, damn memory.

[PappyAustin]

I live in the neighborhood and tried to go there once with a party of 6. They refused to push together two empty four tops that were next to one another. Plus they were less than pleasant about it. I can't speak to the food because I've still never eaten there.

[amysuehere]

Living/working near there, we had to try it out. We all agreed it was perfectly fine food (actually, thought the wings were pretty pedestrian). However, Cover 3 is MUCH better at the same price point and just down the road.

[TroyTempest]

That's good to know. I still haven't made it to cover 3, though I plan to. Spicewood is within walking distance which is one of the good things about it.

[amysuehere]

Great lunch special of 1/2 ruben and onion soup. Hickory burger and buffalo chicken sandwich are my favorites. Best chicken fried chicken I've had in a long while (I sub out the shoestring fries for the mashed taters). Steak salad, while expensive, is fresh and flavorful.

Also, on weekend mornings they have a build your own Bloody Mary bar that's quite extensive (several starters, shrimp, pickled veggies, lots of hot sauces and tiger-type sauces, plenty of celery and olives).

[Homero]

Just to clarify for the readers above, amysuehere is talking about Cover 3 and not Spicewood Tavern. Unless I am mistaken?

[TroyTempest]

Yes.

[amysuehere]

Yes, Cover 3; not Spicewood Tavern. Thank you, Homero.

[TroyTempest]

I just recently got a 10 gift cert and free desert for my birthday from spicewood in the mail. Don't know how they got my b-day, but i'n gonna use it. I like that place. Yeah, that's probably the kiss of death.

[sqwertz]

Gourdough's is opening up a storefront somewhere in the strip mall at Manchaca and Lamar. They'll reportedly be serving some real food - you know - with vegetables and stuff.

Keep hearing about a burger joint across from Black Sheep Lodge in the old tire shop, but Black Sheep is protesting. Same landlord owns both properties.

The Slaughter Lane/Great Britain food trailer "court" has a new tenant of unknown cuisine. There's more than one shed building there but I think only one tenant. Banh mi people are gone from what I've seen.

Has any Chinese/Asian restaurant south of Oltorf that has been oepn 5+ years ever closed? (Subsins, Chicken place behind HEB on Congress don't count - those locations are jinxed)? It seems they've all been here for 15+ years.

-sw

[Alan Sudo]

Gourdough's is taking over the old Kirby Lane Cafe - should be open later today for Halloween.

[sqwertz]

Our neighborhood newspaper reported that it was going into the NEW Kerby Lane location (or somewhere in that strip mall). It seems every time they report a restaurant opening, they're a mile or so off.

-sw

[TroyTempest]

That's great.
How the heck would it be going into the new Kerby Lane, Kerby Lane is there?

[popvulture]

Anybody have any idea what's going on with the old La Reyna space on S.1st? I assume La Reyna's gone... while it was still open, it had banners advertising new management, but was always empty. Plus they're really doing a big cosmetic overhaul on the building... looks like new owner/new money/new business.

[Alan Sudo]

The Scrumptious Chef website is reporting that La Reyna will become El Guapo, a new restaurant from Marisela Godinez of El Meson.

[TroyTempest]

I hear that East Side Kings is taking over the kitchen at Hole in the Wall.

[Rice Checks]

Just found out that Bud's Po' Boys, the trailer behind the farmer's market on Burnet is in the process of moving to the farmer's market near the former Mueller Airport.

[ChristineR]

What is the asian place opening on Burnet, on the west side, i want to say near Hancock? Looks upscale.

[mollyjade]

Is this what you're talking about? http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/856296

[topodrinko]

What opened up in the El Greco space?

[magicbus]

Wildwood Bakehouse. (Haven't tried it.) http://www.wildwoodartcafe.com

[ftf]

Mangia on Lake Austin re-branding as Pizza Bistro. They've been shut down recently with lots of remodeling. http://www.statesman.com/business/man...

[rudeboy]

I've noticed a lot of drainage work going on on 183 northbound at the location where "Austinville" was going to be built. So I looked it up and found this:

http://impactnews.com/articles/austin...

I was most excited about Hog Island Deli before, but now that doesn't appear to be in the cards.

[willtryanythingonce]

There's a "Donn's Texas BBQ" opening in the old Kettle restaurant building on the N I-35 frontage road between Oltorf and Woodward. I assume it's an extension of the Donn's in Oak Hill based solely on the name, does anyone know otherwise?

[richardd_x]

Anyone know whats going on next to where Simplicity Eats was on Burnet? Whatever it is, it has some brewery lookin' tanks in the window that I noticed today....

[jimmiex3]

Pinthouse Pizza. https://www.facebook.com/PinthousePizza

[richardd_x]

Great, thanks for the heads up....Definitely could use some good pizza in the hood.

[singlemalt]

The 'hood is getting better and better. Support your local hot dog vendor.

[rudeboy]

At the end of my street, an apartment complex is being built (you can see the link on the Pinthouse page above). Next to that, on the corner of Houston and Burnet, there's talk of a Little Woodrow's opening. A rep is going to speak to our neighborhood association about it. I think that they plan to serve food at that location.

[singlemalt]

rudeboy, what neighborhood assoc. do you live in? Mine is the Allandale.

[rudeboy]

Brentwood......right across Burnet. Woodrow's will be on Burnet/Houston/Clay.

[singlemalt]

There is a Hill's Cafe offshoot open,, or opening, in the new building just north of the Lowe's on Shoal Creek Blvd. I am told is is a BBQ joint but there is nothing about it on the Hill's Cafe website. FYI for all the bold eaters out there. More info to come after I go to Lowe's today. AmySueHere are you up to the challenge?

[ret3]

A couple intrepid Chowhounds have already made an early visit: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/862707, and the site for the BBQ place is linked dead-center on Hill's frontpage (although the signs do look very similar, so you might not notice the "BBQ" in the new one).

[singlemalt]

Glad to see some positive early reports since it is about a mile from my house. Unfortunately, they have only the "Bubbaland" selection of beers. What a shame when there are so many good brews available now.

[singlemalt]

and the site for the BBQ place is linked dead-center on Hill's frontpage (although the signs do look very similar, so you might not notice the "BBQ"

How do they expect me to see it if they put it right in front of me? I am a man , afterall.

[TroyTempest]

You know, that is a hard location to find. I was heading to Lowe's one day, and wanted to see where it was. I don't exactly know what it is. It's just not where you expect it to be. I had to circle around the block twice.

[verily]

I thought I spotted a BBQ sign as I was driving into the Lowes from Steck a month or so ago. It's in the building with the consignment shop, right?

[singlemalt]

That's the one. Hill's is in the corner where the building makes a 90 degree turn. However, if you want a good hot dog go to the trailer in front of Lowe's. Although limited in selection he gets his dogs from some place in Brooklyn, or thereabouts, and grill onions to put on top of them ( or one can opt for kraut).

[amysuehere]

You know I've often wondered about that stand. There's always at least two or three people waiting in line every time I've walked by, but I've always just eaten lunch. I keep wanting to try the gyro.

[amysuehere]

Sure! That's just around the corner from work. I'll try it this week.

[willastn]

According to ad in community newsletter, In the Buns Burger Joint is "evolving" to Jamaz Cafe.

[dinaofdoom]

feh. i didn't like the last "evolution". *shakes fist grumpily*

oh lawdy. the name is actually JAMRZ. as in "jammers".

http://inthebuns.com/simplemachinesfo...

[cstrombe]

Yeah, the evolution away from cheese-embedded-in-the-patty was a bad idea. New name even worse idea. Awful!

[elpaninaro]

Lupe Tortilla's in Westlake finally getting close (shopping center at 360 and Bee Cave across from the HEB and Office Depot.) I see parking lot signs and their Christmas lights being strung inside. Here's hoping they open soon- I cannot wait!

[elpaninaro]

Looks like soft opening is underway at Lupe's in Westlake- there were lots of cars and people standing outside today!

[dinaofdoom]

an egg & i is going in near the lakeline plaza target.
they're rehabbing the mattress store space.

[cashhh]

A ramen place is opening up in the 360 Cafe location adjacent to Pho Van. I believe it is called Ta Tsu Mya? I tried googling but no luck on any info!

[RamenTatsu_ya]

Hey there, Ramen Tatsu-ya here! We're in the process of finishing up final renovations etc...but we'll be opening very soon. Feel free to follow our facebook page for more info and updates: http://facebook.com/ramentatsuya ... Thanks for your comment, cashhh!

[ssouth]

Brio Tuscan Grill coming to the old TGIF location in the Arboretum. Building is just a shell right now so it will probably be a few months. Looks to be a chain from a quick web search.

[sqwertz]

Subsin's on Manchaca and Stassney has morphed into yet another Thai restaurant. I forget the name... begins with an M with an unlikely word after it.

That location is jinxed. I feel sorry for anybody that moves into that spot without tearing it down first - and making it look really different. It's doomed. I fear.

[popvulture]

Yeah, I drove by there a couple times recently and noticed that. I liked Subsin's... I have a Thai friend in town who said it was one of his favorite places.

It was grungy but tasty... the new place looks pretty much the same. I'd love to hear if it's good, should anybody end up checking it out.

[sqwertz]

It's "M. ThaiTown", FWIW.

Also note that the Sunflower/Newflower has officially morphed into a Sprouts. So we'll only be getting one flyer in the mail now. They were practically identical anyway.

-sw

[austexgal]

The building that was most recently the former north location of Hoover's Cooking (Anderson Mill & 183) is becoming a Kohnami Japanese Restaurant.

[Defman]

I'm almost never on that side of town, imagine my horror to discover that my jonesing for fried pork chops goes unresolved!!!

[dinaofdoom]

now that it's been a few months, anyone have any intel on kohnami?
i noticed there are some locations in padre and macallen, plus santa fe.
wondering if it's the same people, or something else.

[dinaofdoom]

ok, i drove by and that place is not even remotely close to opening.
it's still the completely deserted hoover's, with no outward signs of getting it ready for an opening.

[LakeLBJ]

French Quarter Grille is opening their second location at the former Gumbos of Round Rock location on 620. August time frame according to Facebook.

Gumbos of RR will be reopening off of 79 just east of 35.

[amykragan]

no way, that's great news. any word on where GUmbo's moved and when they'll open?>

[LakeLBJ]

From gumbos web site:
Gumbo’s of Round Rock will reopen this summer at 910 Heritage Center Circle. If you want to be notified and invited to the opening week of festivities and music, please sign up for our VIP email list today and we will add you do our list for grand re-opening festivities.

[dinaofdoom]

well, summer is almost over.
any news on when the new gumbo's RR site will open?

[LakeLBJ]

Lots of drama on the gumbos Facebook page, but they posted on August 16th that they'll be going to the Georgetown Square, the RR location they were working on is no more....
I did read that French Quarter Grille, owned by an ex-Gumbos Chef, is open at the old Gumbos of RR location on 620.

[dinaofdoom]

thanks! my coworker friend was anxious for the re-opening.
bummer they are going to georgetown square, though, and not RR.

[cashhh]

East Side Pies is opening a third location at 1809 Anderson Ln., where the ol' creepy Pizza Peddler used to be. Another awesome win for our neighborhood!

[Rice Checks]

That's right in my neighborhood. Looking forward to the East Side Pies. I ordered from Pizza Peddler once or twice... Was unimpressed. But, I'm curious. What made it creepy?

[cashhh]

My roommates and I live close by and we would get a whole lot of their flyers on our door and we always found the cartoonish pizza peddler drawing to be really really creepy. We always made jokes that when we jog at night, the pizza peddler would be following us. It's silly, but that drawing was weird lol.

[richardd_x]

Looks like it's open. Noticed it on Friday when I stopped into the Craft-Beer mini mart next door. Wasn't a fan (at all) when I tried it some years ago. Will have to give it another shot. They still doing the cracker-type crust?