Uptown Sports Club and Meanwhile Brewing team up for summer cooking series

Austinites are fresh off the first day of summer vacation and feel like summer is in full swing. That can mean long, lazy days, but it can also mean sweltering heat and a rush. Either way, a few tacos will help.

Openings and closings

Since there was no food news column last week for the 4th of July, we start with an extended In case you missed me (In case you missed it) Section:

Italian restaurant It’s Italian Cucina in South Lamar has won a 2024 Wine Spectator Restaurant Award. We visited its new sister restaurant, Pizzeria Sportivato chat about the weekly free wine tastings and check out the new room with thick-crust Roman-style pies.

Austin’s famous Tex-Mex classic Chuy’s is expanding again, this time to Hutto. This is the first location in this Austin suburb. It’s an early addition to an emerging shopping center.

This is a double pack: The dead rabbita highly regarded Irish pub in New York City, opened its highly anticipated Austin location on Sixth Street on July 4. We learned from the owners about the Irish culture they hope to highlight that already exists in Texas—perhaps more than most people realize.

The Dead Rabbit team also announced a sister restaurant, Neighbourhood Caféright next door. This is the American debut of this Belfast brunch spot known for decadent takes on classic dishes like French toast. The team hasn’t announced an opening date yet, but it’s coming soon.

In other sister restaurant news, things take a sad turn for Diner Bar and that Grey marketboth helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Mashama Bailey. Located in the Thompson Austin Hotel, they will be open for the last time on July 15. Chef Bailey has built a reputation by combining Southern cuisine with French cooking techniques.

More news and tips

The sometimes nice folks at Reddit have put together a list of must-try dishes with the community’s conscience in mind. A user on r/austinfood asked the question “What restaurants in Austin do you think need help/support?” and more than 100 commenters responded just a day later. The most upvoted comment so far recommends El Perrito ATXa Mexican restaurant in South Austin. Many more recommendations can be found in the thread.

Unfortunately, it’s that time of year again when temperatures start to exceed triple digits. Austin bars are known for making lemonade out of these nasty weather events and will start offering deals when the thermometer hits 100 or more. Two of them are Jo’s Coffee And Redbud Ice HouseThe former offers half-price lemonades and Palmers (including the summer specialty Honey Lavender Lemonade); the latter mixes up some Cowboy Coladas for $5. This is a common annual practice, so keep an eye out for similar deals on hot days.

Taqueria Bistro helps Meanwhile Brewing Co. are celebrating the launch of their Mexican lager with a garden party on July 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s a good idea to get there early: The first 50 guests will get a free duck taco. If you’d rather sleep in, you’re still in for a freebie, as the first round of the new lager is free for everyone. Tasting notes, according to a press release, are “lime. corn. calm.” Side Eye Pie is also in on the act, bringing out some community-made pizzas made with blue masa dough. To eat twice as many tacos on Sunday, check out this next list, which starts later in the day.

South Lamar Bar the Golden Goose has long been a local favorite, but newcomers sometimes need a nudge to stop by the hidden spot for the first time. Here’s one: a Tex-Mex pop-up. Small Wolf Barbecuea new local business that launched this spring is coming by on July 14 at 7 p.m. and will be serving up a variety of offerings. Most notable are the botanas (literally “snacks”), in this case very elaborate and decadent nachos, as seen on Instagram. There will also be some tacos, bowls, smoked meats, and classic barbecue sides. Additional pop-up dates at Golden Goose will be updated regularly on thegooseaustin.com.

To round off this random Mexican theme, the esteemed taco slingers at Lucky will host Sotol Parejo for a Mezcal Monday takeover on July 15. Guests can order a curated selection of three Sotol Parejo Half-price expressions, plus a suggested combination of sliced ​​melon, peach chamoy, and chili salt. Mezcal Mondays are weekly, but this time, Jorge Caldera and Alberto Varela of Sotol Parejo are representing their new brand, which will launch in 2024 and has (according to a press release) “roots” in Chihuahua and Austin. Reserve through Resy.