1. La Barbecue opened for business at a new location, 2401 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, on May 5. The restaurant serves Texas barbecue staples such as brisket, pork ribs and sausage, plus beer, wine and, occasionally, nine-inch hot dogs. Previously located inside the Quickie Pickie convenience store on E. Cesar Chavez St., La Barbecue’s new space previously housed seafood restaurant Monger Market + Kitchen, which moved to Hyde Park in 2020. 512-605-9696. www.labarbecue.com
2. Delaware-based sandwich shop Capriotti's opened a ghost kitchen facility for pickup and delivery service only April 26 at 5610 N. IH-35, Austin, in the CloudKitchen space. The sandwich chain plans to expand in Austin with additional locations in the Mueller development opening in September and the Hill Country Galleria in early 2022. According to a Capriotti's representative, the new brick-and-mortars will be an expansion, they will not take the place of the currently open ghost kitchen. 512-755-6654. www.capriottis.com
3. Honey Moon Spirit Lounge, a cocktail bar and restaurant serving “elevated comfort food,” opened April 20 at 624 W. 34th St., Austin. Owned by local couple Reed Calhoun and Adrienne Wiggins and helmed by executive chef Manuel Rocha, Honey Moon’s menu features dishes such as East Coast Oysters, Vegan Barbecue Burnt Ends and Chicken Confit. 737-209-0319. www.honeymoonspiritlounge.com
4. New York-style pizza bar Love Supreme opened April 28 at 2805 Manor Road. The pizzeria shares ownership with Bird Bird Biscuit and Thunderbird Coffee, and serves 13-inch pies, appetizers and salads with locally-sourced ingredients. Cocktails, boozy slushies, draft beer and natural wines are also available. www.lovesupremepizzabar.com
5. Sammie’s Italian opened April 29 at 807 W. 6th St., Austin, in the former location of Hut’s Hamburgers. The restaurant’s menu features “old school” Italian dishes such as Linguine Vongole, Chicken Parmesan, Cannoli and housemade Mozzarella sticks. 512-474-2054. www.sammiesitalian.com
6. Simi Estiatorio, a Greek restaurant, will open May 7 at 601 Congress Ave., Austin, on the first floor of the Littlefield Building. Managing Partner George Theodosiou said the restaurant brings together food and wine from his home country in a “Greek island-like” atmosphere. The kitchen, led by executive chef Diego Sanchez, serves dishes such as Swordfish Souvlaki, Paidakia lamb chops, salads and oysters. www.simiatx.com
7. Ze Crêpes is now open at 522 Congress Ave., Austin, on the ground floor of the Scarborough Building. Chef Marco Hernandez met David Kahn, the owner of the building, in Denver in 2015. Khan convinced Hernandez to come to Austin to open Ze Crepes in 2019, and the restaurant initially its doors in March 2020—just four days before local officials shut down all dining due to the pandemic. Ze Crêpes reopened its doors in late April 2021. 512-540-4021. www.zecrepes.com
