Restaurants for Celebration
New and unique restaurants added to the Austin dining scene
The month of May gives us so many reasons to celebrate, Mother’s Day and graduation to name a couple. A wave of new restaurants has come on board in the Austin dining scene, with diverse menus and atmospheres giving us unique choices to celebrate these special occasions. We’ve rounded up Austin’s hottest new restaurants perfect for lunch with Mom and Grandma, an intimate meal with a loved one and a place to bring the entire family.
Elizabeth Street Café
Leave it to Larry McGuire, the chef and owner behind Lamberts, Perla’s and the newly opened Fresa’s Chicken Al Carbon, to fill a void in the Austin dining scene with Elizabeth Street Café, serving French-Vietnamese cuisine in a quaint setting in the former Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse space on South First Street. Moms will love the delicate decor with soft pastel colors of blues and pinks. Seating includes outdoor tables set for four, a marble-top bar perfect for a quick coffee and pastry, and thoughtful banquets in a dining area set off to the side. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu is composed of classic Vietnamese fare that is fresh and tasty. The chef recommends these (and I can attest) not-to-be missed menu items: the rice paper and vermicelli spring rolls; the Texas Akaushi beef carpaccio; a bahn mi, served on a crusty, house-made French baguette; and the noodle bowls accompanied by lettuce, herbs, cucumbers, carrots and roasted peanuts in a flavorful broth. Specialty French desserts include bonbons, eclairs, macaroons and cream puffs. Oooh la la! Elizabeth Street Café, 1503 S. First Street, 512.291.2881, elizabethstreetcafe.com.
Lenoir
Just a bit farther down the street, a new restaurant endeavor was opened by husband-and-wife team Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher, called Lenoir. Duplechan was the chef de cuisine at Four Seasons’ Trio and Maher most recently worked with Dai Due. The couple can be found in the intimate space that seats only a lucky few each evening. A three course menu is offered for $35 (an additional course can be added for $10) and is categorized as field, sea, land and dream. We fell for the chickpea panisse (field) with oyster mushrooms and poached egg; fish curry (sea); axis venison (land) and splurged on the Poteet strawberry pie (dream) with decadent malty riced milk and caramel rice flakes. The couple enlisted close friend and award-winning sommelier Mark Sayre of Trio to compose the interesting and well-priced wine list. While the restaurant is closed on Sundays, this is the perfect weekday or Saturday-night date spot for husbands to show their appreciation to the mother of their children. Lenoir, 1807 S. First Street, 512.215.9778, lenoirrestaurant.com.
Olive & June
Chef Shawn Cirkiel continues his group of successful restaurants (Parkside and Backspace) with this authentic Italian eatery in the Bryker Woods neighborhood. Cirkiel named the restaurant after his grandmother and his wife’s grandmother, and it’s definitely a place where the whole family is welcomed. The restaurant is housed in the former El Arbol space that was well-known for the massive three-tier patio and inviting interiors. Cirkiel left most of the structure the same, with just a few small tweaks to make everyone feel welcome. We especially loved the large white-leather banquettes and family-style dining table on the first floor with front-row views in to the kitchen. Cirkiel is joined by Chef Justin Rupp and Pastry Chef Steven Cak to offer diners true Italian fare, including menu offerings from the piccoli piatti (small plates) section, perfect for sharing. Try the fried artichoke and the crudo to start before moving on to the farm egg and pork meatballs. The meaty grilled swordfish was finished off with pistachio and capers, and we shared the family-style sides (contorni) of white beans and lacinato kale. Delizioso! Olive & June, 3411 Glenview Ave., 512.467.9898, oliveandjune-austin.com.
Share