Author: Gary Dinges

Gary Dinges covers bars/restaurants, movies, music, radio and TV -- plus a bunch of other fun stuff -- for the Austin American-Statesman.

Punch Bowl Social planning downtown Austin location

Punch Bowl Social will open a second Austin location late this year.

The entertainment venue has signed a letter of intent for 22,000 square feet in the Scarborough Building at West Sixth Street and Congress Avenue.

Plans call for Punch Bowl Social to occupy spaces on the first floor and in the basement that were vacated by Brooks Brothers and Gold’s Gym. An outdoor patio along Congress Avenue is envisioned, as well.

When the downtown location opens, it will join one that has been at The Domain since 2014. Nationwide, there are 13 locations – most in urban settings similar to the new downtown Austin location.

“The Domain location was such a homerun from the very beginning,” Punch Bowl Social founder and CEO Robert Thompson said. “We love Austin and are excited to finally have a downtown location.”

While there will be many similarities between the two locations – dining, a bar and plenty of games – there will also be some differences, Thompson said.

“I’d say the look will probably be the biggest difference,” he said. “Back when we opened at The Domain, that was only our third location and we just didn’t the budget then that we have now.”

Expect some menu adjustments, too. The focus will still be comfort foods, Thompson said, but more Tex-Mex cuisine will be added. All dishes are made from scratch.

True Food Kitchen adding second Austin location

Herb hummus from True Food Kitchen.

True Food Kitchen is adding a second Austin location.

The restaurant chain, co-founded by author Dr. Andrew Weil and restaurateur Sam Fox and known for its menu featuring an array of seasonal healthy dishes, will open a location at The Domain late this year.

It will join a location in the Seaholm development in downtown Austin that opened in 2016.

At The Domain, True Food Kitchen will take over the space in Domain I formerly occupied by Blackfinn Ameripub, at 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, between Neiman Marcus and Macy’s.

“True Food Kitchen will be a terrific addition to The Domain’s already impressive retail and dining lineup,” Lauren Krumlauf, the center’s director of marketing and business development, said in a written statement. “Austin residents and tourists who appreciate well-prepared, wholesome dishes and incredible hospitality will enjoy True Food Kitchen as the restaurant is well-known for both.”

Founded in 2008, True Food Kitchen now has 21 locations.

Computer outage hits some Starbucks stores in Austin, elsewhere in Texas

If your coffee-crazed coworkers are a little cranky today, cut them some slack.

A computer meltdown meant many Starbucks locations nationwide – including some in Austin and surrounding areas – weren’t able to process orders for frappuccinos, caramel macchiatos and other fancy coffee drinks.

The company has yet to explain what exactly happened.

On Twitter, an American-Statesman reader said the Starbucks in The Parke shopping center in Cedar Park was offering free brewed coffee to disappointed customers who pulled up. Nothing else was available.

Free coffee and tea were also being handed out at two Starbucks locations in San Antonio’s Medical Center, according to another Twitter post from Barbara Mohs.

If you happen to stop in and grab a free cup of joe, Mohs has a bit of advice for you: “Tip well. Employees losing a day of tips.”

In South Austin, it’s bye, bye, Jack in the Box and hello, Starbucks

Vandals have targeted the former Jack in the Box at Barton Springs and South Lamar Boulevard since the fast-food joint closed.

Because there’s apparently no such thing as too many Starbucks locations, look for yet another one to pop up soon at a high-profile South Austin intersection.

The Seattle-based coffee chain is taking over the former Jack in the Box at Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard.

Crews have already started gutting the graffiti-covered building at 1200 Barton Springs Road. A filing with the state indicates Starbucks plans to spend about $600,000 to remodel the building, which was originally built in 1977.

Work should be completed by September, according to the state filing.

 

 

Whataburger’s picante sauce, salsa verde coming to H-E-B

Two more Whataburger items are making their way to store shelves.

Starting next week, look for the beloved Texas burger chain’s picante sauce and salsa verde at most H-E-Bs.

“Whether you’re topping off your taquito eggs with our picante sauce or adding a spoonful of salsa verde to fresh-off-the-grill fajitas, you can add flavor to meals any time of day,” said Mike Sobel, Whataburger’s vice president of retail. “Our salsa verde and picante sauce are really versatile and work well with so many different kinds of foods. We’re grateful for our partnership with H-E-B that allows us to bring these sauces into our customers’ kitchens to enjoy on their favorite recipes.”

Find Whataburger’s picante sauce and salsa verde in the grocer’s hot sauce aisle.

Other Whataburger-branded items carried by H-E-B include fancy ketchup, spicy ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, honey butter sauce, pork sausage and creamy pepper, jalapeno ranch, peppercorn ranch and honey mustard sauces.

The partnership between the two chains has grown steadily in recent years, including the addition of a Whataburger restaurant inside an H-E-B gas station in Hutto.