Bill’s Oyster Does Lunch, Sawyer & Co. Brightens Breakfast, Lucky Dog Saké Spikes a Rooftop Pool, The Driskill Flaunts Some Fine Tequila, Fierce Whiskers Is About to Go Jump In the Lake, 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 first week of June.

Bill’s Oyster, the new specialty seafood restaurant and cocktail bar in Downtown’s Second Street district (205 W. Third), has announced new lunch hours and mid-day menu offerings, telling us (and, by extension, you) that they’re open for lunch (11:30am-3pm) seven days a week, with new delights that include a crab BLT and lunch portions of menu favorites such as the Bill’s Burger and Caesar salad with chilled shrimp …

Wakey, wakey! Eastside weekend brunch favorite Sawyer & Co. (4827 E. Cesar Chavez) is now opening at 7am with happy hour drink specials, serving up their “breakfast with a twist” until 9:30am, Monday through Friday. Suggestion: Start your day off with a spiced-just-right Frenchie Breakfast Sandwich, or the Cajun Scramble, or the double-feature delights of Arkie’s breakfast tacos, or – we mean, wow, check the other vittles and drinks on that menu, too …

The sushi and sashimi powerhouse Otoko and upscale booze conjurors of Watertrade are throwing a party with Lucky Dog Saké alongside the South Congress Hotel (1603 S. Congress) rooftop pool this Sunday, June 4, 2-4pm, serving up special uni handrolls and chilled collaborative cocktails, offering a fine dip-and-sip opportunity to cool off even before summer comes to scorch all skins …

Also on June 4 (10am-2pm), the Hill Country Galleria will be launching the Bee Cave Farmers Market. This new hyperlocal shopping space from the organizers of Cedar Park Market Days will offer a variety of fresh goods – 40 local produce, prepared foods, and artisanal vendors – to the citizens of Bee Cave and the surrounding areas (you know, like Austin). Head on over to find congenial foodie action in a family-friendly atmosphere (with live music) at Central Plaza Lawn (12700 Hill Country Blvd) each Sunday …

Austin’s historical icon (and favorite haunted hotel) the Driskill Hotel (604 Brazos) is partnering with Socorro Tequila to host an intimate dinner and tequila tasting at the newly reopened Driskill Grill on Wednesday, June 7, 7-9pm. Crafted by the Driskill’s own chef Cliff Benavides, the five-course dinner will lead guests through a menu creatively paired with Socorro’s potent potables. And the dinner itself? Look: margarita-pressed watermelon, frisée salad, seared scallops, venison chop, and *gasp* Grand Marnier crème brûlée, and … did you miss the link for tickets? Here it is again.

Let’s see – what else, what else? A new dinner menu is set to debut at Geraldine’s in the Hotel Van Zandt … this Saturday, Lost Draw out in Johnson City is partying up a harbinger of National Rosé Day … Este’s Bar Toti is hosting their inaugural weekend marketplace … Taylor Tobin tells us why natural wine is the biggest drink trend in Austin right now … our Food editor Melanie Haupt offers a sizzling scroll of food porn from the recent Hot Luck Festival … and Wes Marshall reveals a $12 French wine of amazing complexity …

Early heads-up: National Bourbon Day is coming up on June 14, and damned if the regular Chicken & Whiskey Wednesday gig at the Peached Tortilla (5520 Burnet Rd.) doesn’t fall on that exact date. Get you some umami fried chicken, grilled corn with kimchi miso butter, kimchi mac & cheese, and proper biscuits – and accompany them, if such is your joy, with a $30 Kentucky bourbon flight that includes tastings of Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, and Blanton’s. (Or, hell, try any of the other ten tipples on their regular whiskey menu while you’re at it.)

WUXTRY! Fierce Whiskers, the craft whiskey distillery in southeast Austin, is gearing up for the first release of their straight rye, and to celebrate they’re launching an exclusive, floating “Stubborn Bar” in a secret location on Lady Bird Lake – yes, out in the middle of the water! Whiskey lovers interested in joining the float for a first taste of the new rye can put themselves on the list for a chance to join this unique pop-up – weekends include June 3-4, June 17-18, and June 24-25 – and, yes, it’s open to anyone 21+ who signs up for a spot …

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and try not to trip over your own ego.