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From a wine bar to Indian food, the Austin area has new restaurants open and several on the way. This list is not comprehensive.
Now open
After holding its soft opening Dec. 4, the new restaurant is serving dishes from executive chef Mahendran Gunasekaran. Specialties include Kaatu Kaalan Kalavai Thokku, which is wilted and roasted foraged mushrooms with onion and spices served with rice.
The menu also includes biriyani, curry, grilled meats, desserts and non-alcoholic beverages. Additionally, House of Chettinad serves gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options.
Bastrop’s downtown hospitality scene is poised for another boost, as Bastrop resident John Wayne Formica is set to open Pluto’s Wine Bar in early 2026.
Pluto’s Wine Bar will feature wines by the glass and by the bottle, beer, a seasonal menu, educational tastings and themed events.
The Michelin Guide-recognized Italian restaurant, helmed by chefs Krystal Craig and Ian Thurwachter, will open inside East Austin Hotel in January.
The menu's a la carte offerings include the rigatoni with tomato butter and Italian sausage or marinated mushrooms, and the chevre cheesecake with pistachio and cherry. The chef’s tasting menu offers a seasonally changing selection with an optional wine pairing.
Linda and Chip Holt plan on reopening the local Tex-Mex spot at 23526 W. Hwy 71, Spicewood, the former Apis Restaurant and Apiary location, sometime in mid-January.
Lake Travis ISD bought the site of the original La Cabana Bar and Grill to build its second high school.
The upcoming location in the Windsor Park neighborhood will offer the business’s full menu which features hand-rolled, boiled-and-baked bagels, house-made schmears, breakfast bagel sandwiches and more.
Customers will still be able to find a full espresso bar starting at 6:30 a.m. as part of the business’s partnership with Tiny House Coffee Roasters. A curated selection of canned beer, wine and bubbles will be available later in the day.
The restaurant serves sandwiches loaded with signature sauces on Dutch crunch bread, with menu items named after local icons. It will also offer vegan, vegetarian, halal and gluten-free options, along with a signature “Dirty Sauce” made from a garlic aioli base.
Construction is expected to start in December 2025 and finish by February 2026, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
