Sometimes there is too much Austin food news to squeeze into the print edition of the Chronicle. Rather than wait a week, we’ve decided to give our readers a little bite of something extra.
• New fall menus are popping up all over. Chef Cory Uncht is presenting new menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch at Goodall’s Kitchen & Bar in the campus-area Hotel Ella (1900 MLK) as well as some tasty new items for happy hour in the bar.
• At Bess Bistro (500 W. Sixth), new chef Roman Murphy is taking the restaurant in a new culinary direction away from Bess’ former focus on Cajun and Creole influences.
• John McIntosh, proprietor of the Barbershop Bar (207 Mercer, Dripping Springs) in an historic building in downtown Dripping Springs, has recently launched the Mercantile Wine & Tapas Bar (211 Mercer, Dripping Springs). The new spot offers a rotating selection of both hot and cold savory small plates as well as coffee drinks, craft beers, and wine. The Mercantile is open Wed. -Fri. 4-11pm; Sat. 2-11pm; Sun. 2-8pm.
• Downtown entertainment district heavyweight Bobby Woody has applied to TABC for a mixed beverage and late hours permit for a business called the Steampunk Saloon at 700 W. Sixth in the historic building that was home to the original Opal Divine’s Freehouse.
• Hotel San José (1316 S. Congress) is offering a series of jazz brunches on the third weekends of Sept., Oct., and Nov. Look for a $24 food menu complemented by mimosas, micheladas, and fresh squeezed juices for purchase.
• Local franchisees Christy and Brian Herbstreit have opened their second local Nothing Bundt Cakes (9600 S. I-35, S140) location in Southpark Meadows. Their other outlet of the popular Las Vegas-based bakery chain is at 2785 Bee Caves.
This article appears in September 26 • 2014.