Classic pies at Happy Slice Pizza include the Margherita pizza ($25.99), which can be served on a gluten-free 14-inch crust. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
The Austin area landed several new and rebranded restaurants recently, including a barbecue spot in North Austin, a comfort food destination in Leander and a bakery returning to West Campus, with more establishments on the way.
Impacts of the week
The menu at Stack City BBQ features a variety of barbecue sandwiches. (Courtesy Stack City BBQ)
North Austin-based barbecue restaurant and food truck SLAB BBQ rebranded as Stack City BBQ in February. Pitmaster Mark Avalos is still with the business, a representative said. The restaurant sells barbecue sandwiches, sausage wraps and specialty items like nachos as well as brisket, chicken and other meats by the pound with four different sauce offerings.
Serving a mix of Texas comfort food and classic icehouse fare, the menu includes Southern Cajun dishes, Tex-Mex and house-made burgers. Guests can also expect staples like chicken fried steak, onion rings and fried pickles, along with frozen beverages and cold beers such as beeritas and frozen Jack and Coke.
Texas French Bread is reopening a new brick-and-mortar bakery in the West Campus area this spring after its original storefront closed following a fire in 2022. The bakery serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches as well as assortments of fresh bread, sweets and pastries.
A new Atomic Wings location will soon open up shop at Southbrook Station, serving 100% white meat, fresh, antibiotic and hormone-free chicken, according to its website. Patrons can choose from bone-in or boneless wings, tenders, grilled wings or chicken sandwiches. The wings spot also serves waffle fries, onion rings, jalapeno poppers and mozzarella sticks.
From being neighbors, to talking shop about their respective resturants, Forrest Higdon, left, and Jason Carrier are now co-owners of Happy Slice Pizza on Parmer Lane in Austin. (Courtesy Happy Slice Pizza)
Co-owners Jason Carrier and Forrest Higdon opened Happy Slice Pizza in October, serving specialty pizzas, baked fornatas, salads and desserts. The dough is made with unbleached and unbromated flour, cellulose-free cheese and no artificial citric acid in the tomato sauce, with gluten and dairy-free options available.
Popular pies include the Barbacoa Betty with Mama Betty's barbacoa, diced onions, cilantro, jalapeno crema and adobo sauce, and the Sweet Heat with pepperoni, sweet ricotta, basil and hot honey.
Happy Slice Pizza was designed as a space where people celebrate life, according to co-owner Forrest Higdon. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
“I think what has made Happy Slice work is that we're building the place that we would want to take our families to,” Higdon said. “It's just an extension of our neighborhood and our house.”
The restaurant features an outdoor patio with fans, TVs and turf, and hosts neighborhood parties, birthdays and team sports celebrations.
