Shenanigans Shutter Simi, Domo Alley-Gato Returns, Front Market Celebrates, Tex-Mex Chains Expand, Les Dames Get Grilling at Franklin BBQ, and More

Here's some of what's happening in Austin's culinary scene, as wrangled from numerous PR releases, words on the digital street, and even the occasional (verified) IRL eavesdroppings.

Yes, citizen, it’s your Food News Buffet for the last week of April.

Too bad for Simi Estiatorio – we'll just console ourselves with the likes of this goodness from Aba Mediterranean on South Congress

So, with Simi Estiatorio, that fancy Greek restaurant Downtown, having closed for good after all-too-industry-typical management shenanigans (“Downtown Greek Restaurant Owner Escapes Country, Leaving Workers and Rent Unpaid,” as Eater Austin noted), we’re extra glad that Mediterranean powerhouse Aba exists on South Congress and is equally posh of place and delicious of menu but (we reckon) much less likely to do their people dirt like that… Bonus: Aba’s chef CJ Jacobson will salute Earth Day (April 22) with plant-based Muhammara, featuring roasted red bell peppers, garlic, cumin, walnuts, lemon juice, chili, and pomegranate molasses…

You know what, though? That S. Estiatorio venue? It used to be Louie’s 106 even further back in the day, and we’re still mourning those unmatchable happy hours. *sigh*

But nuts to nostalgia! Look to our brighter future, in which Domo Alley-Gato, the relaxing bar-and-grill patio at 1600 E. Sixth, returns to its own former glory instead of just serving as a mid-pandemic outdoor dining space for Ramen Tatsu-ya. Starting Thu., April 21, the place’ll be open daily from 4pm ’til midnight… And the Front Market, a two-day event that features more than 100 women and LGBTQ+ small-business owners from across Texas, fills Distribution Hall (1500 E. Fourth) with an array of artists, chefs, makers, designers, and illustrators on Sat.-Sun., April 23-24, 11am-5pm. It’ll be a perfect op for grazing local noms while enjoying a bright diversity of retail therapy… And, at Kitty Cohen’s (2211 Webberville Rd.), Nine Banded Whiskey and Richard’s Rainwater will lubricate a crawfish-flooded, Louisiana-style shindig to support the good works of Tankproof and their mission of teaching kids how to swim. Sun., April 24, 4-7pm is when those particular bon temps will rouler…

Holy Tex-Mex mafficking, Batman! The original Chuy’s on Barton Springs Drive – that extra Elvis-y one with the bowling balls, right? – is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Tue., April 26… And, on Wed., April 27, popular taco-forward eatery Salsa Limón (originally out of Dallas-Ft. Worth) opens its first ATX outpost where Steel City Pops used to be (3001 Guadalupe)… And Freebirds World Burrito is opening its newest location – in Dripping Springs (12680 Hwy. 290 #230) also on Wed., April 27, at 10:30am – and the first 25 people in line will get free burritos for a year. (Is that, like, one burrito a day? One a week? A mere monthly burrito? We’re investigating.)… And Tacodeli will open its newest location, in Circle C, on April 28…

Les Dames d’Escoffier of Austin reveal the grill of our dreams

And, oh! Les Dames d’Escoffier of Austin will briefly take over Franklin Barbecue to dazzle the carnivorous crowd with “You Grill, Girl!” the city’s first event celebrating women chefs and grilling masters. That’ll be on Thu., April 28, 7-10pm in the acclaimed 'cue joint's parking lot, bringing a starry Texas night of live-fire yum, like nilgai cervelat sausage with Thomy mustard, pork with sunchoke and fermented ramps, grilled catfish yakitori with grits and crawfish tare, lamb belly huaraches, and more. See this direct link for details…

And the day after that – on Fri., April 29, to be precise – your man Brenner will be one of the judges at the Girl Scouts’ Cookies and Cocktails competition at Fair Market (1100 E. Fifth), wherein six Austin mixologists (from Lala’s Little Nugget, Stella San Jac, Contigo, and more) will be duking it out adult-beveragewise for Best in Show, all to support the Girl Scouts of Central Texas. Note: You can reserve tickets for this booze-a-licious battle right here…

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and, ah, don’t take any wooden bitcoin.