January: Juan & Lupe’s Kitchen: Family-run restaurant offers traditional Mexican fare
Before they opened Juan & Lupe’s Kitchen, there was the taco cart in Mexico, then the pizza place outside of Chicago, and finally a handful of restaurant jobs for the last seven years in and around Georgetown for Juan Andrade and Lupe Rodriguez.
“We worked in a couple of places, just learning recipes and about [the area],” Andrade said. “But then we found this place, and now we’re here full time.”
February: Nestled in Lark & Owl, Nightingale Bistro offers unique drinks and wine club
Hidden in plain sight at Lark & Owl Booksellers, Nightingale Bistro gives Georgetown foodies and bookworms alike a taste of France without having to leave downtown.
Offering all-day coffee, signature cocktails, an extensive wine menu and a seasonally curated food menu, Nightingale is known to be meticulous and inviting.
Note: Nightingale Bistro closed on May 29, 2022.
March: Just Love Coffee Cafe: Georgetown restaurant helps customers make connections
It was not their fondness of coffee or waffles that led Marie and Chad Talley to open Just Love Coffee Cafe; it was their passion for people.
“Opening Just Love [Coffee] gave us the opportunity to listen, connect and build better relationships in our community,” Marie said. “Each person that walks through the door could be having the best day of their life or the absolute worst, and it is important to see how we fit into that.”
April: Hard Count Kitchen & Cocktails: Business partners continue to grow restaurant empire
Having celebrated its first anniversary in March, Hard Count Kitchen & Cocktails aims to be more than a traditional sports bar.
“All our food is made from scratch,” Managing Partner Joey Delgadillo said. “Even though our cocktails are refreshing and top-shelf, our food is even more elevated and noteworthy.”
May: Goodfolks brings Southern hospitality, staples to Georgetown’s historic Square
Prior to its opening, Jayme Austin, a creative consultant in the restaurant industry, jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the team behind Goodfolks—a Southern-inspired eatery that she said prides itself on excellent food, service and style.
June: Gumbo’s on the Square brings the bayou to downtown Georgetown
Gumbo’s on the Square has been serving the rich flavors of Louisiana to the Austin area for 28 years—although its name, location and ownership have changed during that time.
July: The Garden at The Summit brings Boston-style Italian cuisine to Georgetown
The Garden at The Summit has served Boston-inspired Italian cuisine to Georgetown residents since November 2021.
“We are trying to be the go-to Italian neighborhood restaurant, and I think we’re doing a good job of being that,” Manager James Maltby said.
August: 600 Degrees Pizzeria and Drafthouse: Downtown restaurant combines styles to create innovative pies
Local pizza eaters can have it all: New York pizza sauce paired with Bay Area crust in the heart of Georgetown.
September: From one owner to the next, neighborhood Italian eatery Tony & Luigi’s Restaurante lives on
Jamie Cohen is from Boston, so he said he knows what a cozy, neighborhood Italian restaurant should look like.
“Mediterranean and Italian both lend themselves well to that atmosphere,” said Cohen, owner of Tony & Luigi’s Restaurante. “It gives us the opportunity to provide guests with comfort food that everyone likes.”
Cohen took over the restaurant in January after buying it from Frank and Nezira Zulcic, who opened Tony & Luigi’s in 2008.
October: Hotel-based restaurant Brix and Ale prioritizes quality dining, hospitality in Georgetown
With a new fall 2022 menu, Manager Mario Barrero and Executive Chef Robert Felios said they hope to build the reputation of Brix and Ale—the restaurant located on the ground level of the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center—to the highest standards.
“We not only put emphasis on our everyday service and menu, but also our atmosphere,” Barrero said. “We want people to feel comfortable and welcome.”
November: New Liberty Hill diner Munch Munch Waffles & More serves sweet, savory eats
After living around the world, Crystal and Bakaffa Casey opened their first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Munch Munch Waffles & More, in Liberty Hill near Georgetown and Leander in September.
The Caseys discovered their passion for breakfast food and feeding others while Bakaffa was stationed in Europe in 2015.
“We traveled to Brussels numerous times,” Crystal said. “During our visits, we fell in love with the variety of authentic Belgian waffles and how delicious and unique they are.”
December: Georgetown staple Shanghai Express marks 20 years of serving community Chinese cuisine
After 20 years of serving Chinese food, the dining room at Shanghai Express remains busy. Keeping a restaurant open for one year—let alone two decades—requires continued support from the community, which owner Leo Ponce said he has in Georgetown.
While other businesses have come and gone over the years, Ponce and his wife, Tiffany, have been consistently churning out Chinese cuisine.
“We got really lucky here in Georgetown,” Ponce said.
December: Austin-based chain P. Terry’s Burger Stand grows throughout Central Texas
When P. Terry’s Burger Stand first opened in 2005 as a drive-thru with a walk-up window on Barton Springs Road and Lamar Boulevard, owners Patrick and Kathy Terry aimed to offer all-natural American burgers and fries as fast food with an eye on better quality.
Since then, P. Terry’s has expanded from one to 28 burger shops in greater Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio, with different locations offering dine-in, drive-up or food-truck service. P. Terry’s opened five new locations during the pandemic. Another five locations are expected to open next year with Dripping Springs coming in mid-January and the New Braunfels location opening soon after.
“We [wanted] to provide a quality product that had never been served in a fast-food environment,” Patrick said.
Have an idea for a restaurant we should feature in 2023? Email us at [email protected].
