Tag: closed

So Long, and Thanks for All the Dishes

It’s closing time, as we turn out the lights on 2024 and prepare for the next shift, starting the cycle anew. Many restaurants won’t be joining us though, doors remaining locked indefinitely, their once bustling dining rooms left cold, filled only with silence. Running a food business, or a small business of any sort, is a difficult, if not altogether punishing proposition, where the daily to-do list is a never-ending lineup of crises. The fact that any hold on should be celebrated, though today, I’d like to take a minute to mourn the losses of the vegan community that have saddened Austinites of all stripes.

Somehow, 2024 seemed to take a lesser toll on the industry, with fewer establishments within our plant-based circle calling it quits in comparison to recent years. That doesn’t make these losses any less heartbreaking, nor their absence any less dispiriting. It brings me no pleasure to recount the once vibrant restaurants that are no longer with us.

Vegan Restaurant and Cafe Closures in Austin, 2024

Sunny’s Backyard is still out there serving cocktails from the bar, but the eponymous food truck has departed from its reserved space. It was a crushing blow to receive as not only the first closure of the year, but one of my top three favorite vegan spots in all of Austin. Yes, there’s a new rotating cast of characters subbing to fill the void, but none of the replacement trucks are vegan. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a plant-based option or two, which is a paltry offering compared to the previous list of meatless wings, monstrous burgers, soft pretzels with dairy-free queso, and fully loaded waffle fries. There’s nothing else quite like it that can replace the food, live music, dog-friendly patio, and chill vibes.

Capital City Bakery slipped away slowly, imperceptibly, until suddenly, it was gone, leaving only questions in its wake. Reduced hours turned into opening by appointment only, then not opening at all. The website remains as a ghost of its former self with purchasing options turned off. Cupcakes and kolaches still tease on the screen, almost close enough to taste, but entirely out of reach. This closure may have actually happened sometime in 2023 based on rumors of unfulfilled orders, so it’s time to finally call it: Cap City is baking no more.

Big Nonna’s grandmotherly love wasn’t enough to keep the pizza oven burning, submitting to increasing financial pressures that ultimately pushed them out of their brick and mortar space. A withering blow to north Austin where vegan options are more sparse, there’s no replacing their house-made dairy-free cheeses and spicy beeteroni, to say nothing of the impeccable thin, crispy, NY-style crusts each masterpiece was built on. At least Li’l Nonna’s lives on, still carrying the torch through a more limited menu from their compact trailer at Tweedy’s Bar… For now.

The Beer Plant tapped out in the final days of 2024. It had been a tumultuous year of chef shuffles and menu overhauls that the upscale eatery never recovered from. Watching its slow decline was painful, though the finality of its closure is still harder to accept. Where else in Austin could you go for an all-vegan fancy date night, an upscale meal to impress parents, or a celebratory spot for birthdays and beyond? Brunch is where they really excelled, in my opinion, pulling out all the stops to make incredible eggless shakshuka, decadent French toast, hearty meatless chicken and waffles, and so much more. I’ll relish the memories from my very first visit when they had just opened, when I was just a visitor to this fair city. I feel lucky to have seen their journey through, from start to finish, no matter how sad the ending.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we look toward the horizon of 2025, there’s a glimmer of hope that flickers like candlelight in the darkness. The challenges we’ve faced have forged a resilient community, one that can adapt and innovate in the face of adversity. New ventures are on the verge of emerging, driven by passionate individuals eager to fill the void. Let’s remember the lessons learned from our losses, honoring those who have shaped our culinary landscape, while also embracing the possibilities ahead. Together, we can rebuild, reimagine, and reinvigorate the vibrant tapestry of our food culture, ensuring that the spirit of compassion and community continues to thrive in every bite.

Hannah (BitterSweet)11 Comments

Dearly Departed Restaurants of 2023

Hope and optimism abound, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the pandemic. Signs of recovery, highlighting the resilience and creativity throughout the restaurant industry, buoy hungry diners coming back in droves to taste what they’ve been missing. Still, all new challenges pose daunting, sometimes insurmountable issues that put this path to recovery in peril.

Devastating closures continue to ripple through every level of the service industry, wiping out many beloved local establishments indiscriminately. Losing cherished restaurants in every sector has been particularly heartbreaking for those who have built strong connections to the community through food and hospitality.

As 2023 comes to a close, I’d like to take a moment to honor the memories of those who have left us this year. Gone but not forgotten, there will forever be an empty spot at the table for these shuttered restaurants.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)7 Comments

Requiem for a Restaurant

2022 began quietly, cautiously. Moving tenuously on tip-toes, carefully stepping around the remnants of the pandemic while trying to move forward anew, the trajectory was unclear. For a while, business began to improve, life started humming ahead like “normal” while we picked up the pieces of a broken society. Despite clear progress, it feels like running in place when we stop to look up at the unchanged scenery around us. Alas, that’s not true; if anything, in many ways, we’re going backwards again.

Right now, as I do at the close of every year, I’m talking about the restaurants that have left us. This was a particularly brutal culling to look back on, wiping out true pillars of our Austin vegan community in a matter of months. What once seemed stable, unshakable, and always reliable are now mere memories. Such losses are crushing, but let’s take a moment to celebrate the fleeting moments that we were fortunate enough to share.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)5 Comments

Closing Time, 2021

Saying goodbye is never easy, even if it’s a temporary parting of ways. Considering how often we practice, you’d think it gets easier, but the grief is still the same.

Today, as the sun sets for the final time in 2021, I’d like to honor the restaurants we’ve lost in Austin, Texas this year, as is annual tradition. It’s been another turbulent 12 months that has tested the will, spirit, and patience of everyone, especially those in the service industry. Those “essential workers” that kept food on our tables sometimes ended up with empty plates themselves. Before we look ahead towards better days, we must look back to honor their memory, and not let their demise befall others still with us, hanging on by a thread.

Barrio Verde did not go gentle into that good night, fighting to overcome the devastating winter storm that ravaged businesses across the state. Surviving without power or water is hard enough as an individual, but for a business with perishable assets in limbo, revenue literally rotted on site. Though out of commission indefinitely, this won’t be their last stand. New ideas are in the works as we speak, so hopefully 2022 will see the return of those marvelous elotes and so much more.

Bruja’s Brew announced a temporarily closure during spring break, but never reopened again. The trailer is gone, but the booch lives on, now pouring at a select few restaurants and bars around town. Word is that it may one day be available in cans, but nothing will compare to the magic of getting an icy glass on a hot day, edible glitter sparkling in the sun.

Lo Pan’s Kitchen made a big splash onto the scene as the only 100% vegan source for Chinese American takeout staples. Sadly, they burned out just as fast. After two moves in just five months, the woks came off the fire for the last time. Rumor has it that the trailer has been repurposed as another Plow Burger outpost up north in Denton, TX. Occasionally, you can still catch a few of these comfort food classics as specials on the Brunch Bird menu, though like the source itself, they’re always gone in a flash.

Mission Street Burrito stepped up to the plate in a town known for tacos, delivering tortilla torpedoes as big as your head and nacho boxes that seemed to be bottomless. No one else could wrap up a mega meal like this, loaded with all the plant-based meats and cheeses you could crave. Disappearing in mid-June, social media accounts claim that the trailer is hibernating, but at this point, there are no signs the beast will ever awaken.

The Abundant Vegan was with us so briefly that it seemed almost like a waking dream. They weren’t even established long enough to set up an official website of their own. Serving traditional Mexican plates on East Caesar Chavez for less than a month, all that’s left now is a vacant trailer and a litany of unanswered questions.

Bone-a-fide Vegan isn’t totally gone, per say, but pivoted in September to become Theano Vegan, switching from southern BBQ to Greek delicacies. As a radical departure from their original menu, their soulful smoky pulled jackfruit and plant-based brisket will surely be missed.

Even though these poor souls have turned out the lights and locked up for the last time, tomorrow is a new day. New, brave chefs are stepping up to the plate, even in the midst of such uncertainty and unrest. An incredible number of fresh faces have clocked in already, launching new eateries all throughout the pandemic, despite the odds. To a brighter, better, and more delicious future, cheers to you. Let’s make the new year a time for all of us to thrive, together.

Hannah (BitterSweet)8 Comments

In Loving Memory

Talk about a turbulent year. 2017 has generated more sensational headlines than the past decade altogether, and even with mere hours left on the clock, I wouldn’t count it out for churning up some new controversy yet. Eager to move ahead straight into the new year without looking back, leaving those lackluster memories far in the past, it’s essential to hit pause, resisting the relentless push forward, to reflect on just those low points. For perspective, we can better appreciate when things are genuinely good, and for knowledge, to prevent those same mistakes from being repeated once again.

In this case, I wanted to take a moment and say a final farewell to some of the dearly departed vegan establishments that we’ve lost in San Francisco in the short span of 12 months. While it’s a grueling industry where failure is much more common that success, especially in the long term, it feels particularly poignant to see so many personal favorites close their doors, despite the immense talent, support, and passion in the kitchen.

Encuentro is the establishment I find hardest to let go of. If you had asked me before, I would have easily placed it on my list of top three restaurants in the bay area, if not first place to begin with. Few fine dining establishments exist for those that eschew meat, dairy, and eggs, but you would never even consider what wasn’t present on the plate here. Execution was on par with that of any Michelin-starred restaurant, in my opinion, but without the pretension that goes along with such a lofty award. Fancy but not fussy, I can’t recall a single bad meal here. Generous platters of tender sweet potato gnocchi and dark, devilish chocolate cake will forever haunt my memory. The dream is not yet dead, though, as the otherwise vacant store front still plays host to periodic pop-up events.

No No Burger shocked fans when they announced the end of their glorious but shockingly brief run. After transitioning from an infrequent pop-up to a daily staple at the SoMa StrEat Food Park, the future seemed bright, especially considering the nearly universal rave reviews for their juicy meatless patties and decadent toppings, deeply savory and indulgent enough to satisfy the cravings of even the most staunch omnivores. Many considered their burger to be the bright spot in a dark, murky landscape of mediocre vegetable-based hockey pucks, leaving a gaping hole in the dining scene between the ultra meaty Impossible Burger and old-school bean burgers.

Photo from Elyse T. via Yelp

RAW – A Juice Company was so much more than just juice, contrary to the name. Offering a rainbow of produce painstakingly crafted into living cuisine, you couldn’t go wrong with a plate of raw lasagna or an abundant acai bowl. Judging by the active Facebook page, though, we may just see the next chapter to this story taking place in the topical islands of Hawaii. Only time will tell when, or if, these fresh finds will resurface.

Seed + Salt had a whole lot of heart for such a tiny place. Wedged into a storefront the size of a bread box in the Marina, not even the limited seating could detract from the experience of eating in. Fully gluten-free in addition to being vegan, eaters of all stripes could find sweet and savory treats to enjoy. The chickpea frittata, served solo, in a breakfast sandwich, or sliced atop a bountiful plant-based Cobb salad, was always hard for me to resist. It’s a simple yet satisfying entree that has inspired many attempts at replication by myself and others in the know.

The Plant Cafe, while still an apparently thriving business with no less than six bustling outposts under its belt, including one in the highly desirable SFO Terminal 2 space, has shuttered both the Burlingame and waterfront Embarcadero establishments. Citing the usual battery of labor shortages and skyrocketing rents, it’s just a relief that their light, healthy fare will still be available for visitors and locals alike. Their impeccably well-balanced grapefruit and avocado salad remains the highlight of any trip that necessitates a stop at the airport. If you find yourself at any of other sit-down cafes that offer a full menu of brunch choices on the weekends, you can’t go wrong with the pesto tofu scramble, either.

Photo by Celiac Community

3 Potato 4, once a small franchise with three locations scattered about the bay, has slowly been shuttering those outposts one by one. The last holdout was in the Pleasanton Stoneridge Shopping Center, but without any warning or confirmation, that store seems to have gone dark mere weeks ago. Dedicated to spreading the spud love, their simple menu offered an array of baked fries and sauce, with seasonal soups, plus soft serve to finish on a sweet note. For comfort food without all the grease and guilt, it was hard to beat this accessible, affordable option. Here’s hoping that the tides turn and this outage is but a brief blip in business as usual.

To these fallen friends that we leave behind in 2017, I’d like to raise a toast- Piled high with avocado, of course- And wish their proprietors all the best on their next big idea. May they find this fork in the road ultimately as fulfilling as the meals they once shared.

Hannah (BitterSweet)8 Comments

Fond Farewells

As the sun recedes and daylight begins to fade for the final time this year, it’s natural to reflect back on 2015, for all the good and bad that’s come to pass. Although there’s little sense in dwelling on the downfalls and defeats of 2015, I can’t help but at least pay homage to some of the sad losses seen by the bay area dining scene. We’ve lost a few gems in the vegan restaurant community, as is to be expected with such difficult professional endeavors. Before moving on to more celebratory subjects, I want to pay my final respects to a few of those fallen in the line of food service.

Source – Best known for their burgers and classic American menu, Source filled a need for cruelty-free comfort food in the SoMa area. Pizzas were also outstanding, topped with everything from buffalo “chicken” to beefy taco fixings and every veggie in between. Not one red sauce joint in town has come close to replicating those fearless flavor combinations so far.

Nature’s Express – Billed as a natural alternative to fast food, the service may have been prompt, but the bill of fare far surpassed the greasy standards of any mainstream establishment. Affordable, healthy wraps, sandwiches, and salads made it a breeze to grab a good meal on the go.

Herbivore Divisadero – Succeeded by two remaining outposts, one in San Francisco proper and one across the bay in Berkeley, the fact that there’s still a chance to enjoy the classic lentil loaf and gigantic salads makes this loss a little bit easier to swallow. It’s just a shame to see the family shrink, making their solid offerings even slightly less accessible.

Cafe Gratitude – The last remaining Northern California location of this beloved old-school vegan institution is the most recent departure on this list. Having closed their doors a mere day ago, the juicers may very well still be warm, the smell of freshly pressed kale still lingering in the air. Even in the short amount of time we had together, Cafe Gratitude effortlessly captured my heart with its colorful bowls of “I Am Terrific” pad Thai, made with kelp noodles and raw almond sauce. That dish is one that I will miss above all the rest, that makes all other cravings pale in comparison.

It is with a heavy heart that we must bid these businesses adieu, but hope for a brighter, and even more delicious New Year shines brightly on the horizon. Many new openings promise to invigorate the industry with a wide array of fresh vegan options in the months to come.

Hannah (BitterSweet)12 Comments