Austin’s restaurant scene continues to grow with several notable openings this week. Chistā, a Persian kitchen led by executive chef Mojdeh Eghbal, opened on Rainey Street on Nov. 11, taking over the former Tómalo Grill space. The menu features regional Iranian dishes such as a koobideh kebab hand roll on house‑made lavash and fesenjoon chicken, with entrees ranging from $23 to $85. Managing partner Omid Kalantari and consulting chef Michael Santoro round out the team.
Pizza next door to Hank’s
Andy Means, owner of the all‑day café Hank’s in Windsor Park, has launched a New York‑style pizza shop next door. Named for his grandfather Al, the pizzeria offers 20‑inch pies and slices, including a specialty called The Sting topped with soppressata, ’nduja and chili‑crisp honey. Cocktails are on tap, happy hour runs daily from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays feature a 15 % discount for residents of ZIP 78723.
Seafood fine dining at Hotel Trinity
Inside downtown’s Hotel Trinity, a new fine‑dining seafood restaurant opened its doors, serving oysters, caviar and a daily catch at dinner. The menu also includes glazed duck breast, bone‑in ribeye, crab and corn bisque, and a lobster roll for lunch and brunch. A raw bar and a central bar adorned with an octopus mural create a moody atmosphere for diners.
New coffee bar at Talisman
Siblings Johanna Barker and Fernando Alvarado have added a coffee bar to La Holly, the East Sixth Street cocktail bar owned by Simon Madera. The coffee shop, operating from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., features house‑made syrups and a trailer in South Austin. The partnership reflects shared Texas roots and a family‑run business ethos.
Round Rock bakery keeps a promise
For nearly two decades, a downtown Round Rock bakery has supplied cakes for local baby showers, graduations and weddings. Owner Paige Morgan Perry began the business after promising her high‑school classmates she would bake their wedding cakes. After culinary school and work stints in Denver and Alaska, she returned home to open the bakery, which now offers custom cakes, BabyCakes, cake pops, decorated cookies, a full coffee bar and vegan and gluten‑free options.
Lake Travis Chick‑fil‑A expands
After a August closure for renovations, the Lake Travis Chick‑fil‑A location re‑opened with an expanded drive‑through featuring canopies over both lanes, new flooring, updated seating and kitchen upgrades. Both drive‑through and counter service are now available.
These openings reflect the continued vitality of Austin’s dining landscape, offering residents and visitors a broader range of culinary choices rooted in family‑run operations and regional flavors.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
