New on Resy: Suerte, The Salt Lick, Pitchfork Pretty, and More

Suerte is an East Austin restaurant rooted in months of research traveling in Mexico, from owner Sam Hellman-Mass (Barley Swine, Odd Duck) and head chef Fermin Nunez (Launderette, La Condessa). All concepts and methods are rooted in Mexican tradition, but the kitchen relies on local flavors and ingredients to achieve something a little bit different. The aesthetic is sourced from and inspired by Mexico too, and all fixtures are handmade and custom-built. With hospitality at the core of Suerte’s ethos, the team believes that homemade masa reigns supreme and every day can be an occasion to celebrate.

Located amongst rolling hills, abundant wildlife, century-old oak trees, and native wildflowers, The Salt Lick is a bona fide favorite amongst Austin-area barbeque joints. If you’ve done any research around the aforementioned topic, you’ve likely seen a photo or two of their enormous open pit (built in the shape of a water well), where The Salt Lick team has smoked their meats since 1967. As Eater puts it: “Atmosphere is everything and that’s where Salt Lick shines.” The recipes, from beef ribs to the pulled pork sandwich, have been passed down over many generations.

Pitchfork Pretty is a brand-new locale from a team of fine dining vets. The inventive Hill Country cuisine features local produce, herbs, and edible flowers—much of which is sourced from the restaurant’s own ⅛ acre garden, less than a mile away—plus pastured meats, wild fish, and sometimes fried chicken. It’s all family-style and meant to be shared, and that goes for Monday nights, too, when the kitchen offers Korean banchan and barbeque. The setting is bright, modern, and warm, with plenty of good vibes to go around.

She’s Not Here is a rough translation of the Japanese slang term “irusu” (read: pretending to be out when someone knocks on your door). It’s also a roomy, new-to-the-scene Pacific-Asian kitchen and cocktail bar in downtown Austin serving up fun, bright, tropical-influenced libations and a playful menu composed of small bites, seasonally-focused sushi, and main dishes (think galbi-style pork ribs with pickled shishito and Korean fried chicken).

At Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum, chef Ling Qi Wu serves traditional Chinese cuisine, but with a focus on fresh, organic produce. Dim sum is her specialty, and here she offers Shanghai soup dumplings, crispy pork and shrimp sui mai, and chocolate buns, to name a few, the most extensive selection of which is available at Sunday brunch. Her menu expands to appetizers like grilled char siu, entrees like salt-and-pepper double lobster tail, and plenty more. Decked in colorful red lanterns, the restaurant features an open kitchen and a dim sim counter, so guests can interact with the chef while she’s doing her thing.

Owner Nick Goulding lived in New York City from ages 18 to 34, and although Austin has been his home since 2004, it left an indelible mark. Gotham is his tribute to the taverns, pubs, cafes, and delis where he squandered his youth. The menu features certain iconic dishes the city is known for, like pastrami, smoked salmon, chicken-and-waffles, wood-oven pizza, and raw oysters on the half-shell alongside old-school staples such as steak-frites, grilled pork chop, and a kick-ass burger.

In 1948, Faye “Arkie” Sawyer opened Arkie’s Grill in East Austin, a classic diner serving hearty breakfast fare and blue-plate specials. An Austin institution for over 60 years, the motto was “Where good food, friends and fair prices meet.” Sawyer & Co., born in 2014, pays tribute to Arkie’s legacy of community while honoring the team’s Southern roots. The restaurant serves up a unique blend of soulful New Orleans cuisine and old-school Texas hospitality, offering Creole shrimp and grits, po’ boys, and muffalettas amidst Mid-century modern décor, and complemented by a slew of retro cocktails.

A native of Naples, Italy, restaurateur Daniela Marcone insists on authentic Italian fare with no compromise. Thus, her menu at Andiamo highlights the best of local ingredients, with many traditional dishes inspired by family recipes—from linguine alle vongole and orecchiette alla boscaiola to lemon chicken and veal scaloppini. Small Italian producers, including organic and biodynamic varieties, dominate the wine list.

Texas French Bread has been baking artisan breads, pastries, and desserts from scratch since 1981. Furthermore, it’s a bistro that combines traditional French country and Mediterranean cooking. Devoted to the style of Alice Waters, the team here looks to what’s fresh, simple, nutritious, and beautiful, serving ingredients at their peak, as in dishes like fried Texas quail with blackeyed pea and corn salad or lamb with braised leeks, eggplant, and mustard greens. Set in a charming, 80-year-old brick building, the atmosphere is bright and sunny during the day and elegant and candlelit come night.

Here, Piemontese cuisine is authentically prepared in a polished yet casual atmosphere. Fresh pasta is made on-site daily, and imported ingredients from Italy are used throughout the menu, which is executed in an open kitchen. An award-winning wine list and top-notch martinis are crafted to accompany traditional dishes like agnolotti del plin and bagna cauda.

A restaurant named for and inspired by the honeybee, Apis boasts two honeybee hives on-site and décor laced with honeycomb. Seasonal, prix fixe menus feature dishes like Spanish octopus with black garlic hummus and pan-seared redfish with jollof rice and ember-roasted eggplant—all served in a rustic yet refined atmosphere. Be sure to try the house honey.

Buenos Aires Cafe brings a taste of Argentina and its culinary traditions to Austin, serving up fresh homemade food comprised of locally-sourced ingredients. Specialties include empanadas, pastel de papas, and milanesa, but chef Chris Gomez maintains a seasonally-changing menu, looking to various South American cuisines for inspiration.

The County Line serves up real Texas barbeque in a relaxed, hill-country setting. It’s only a skip away from downtown Austin, but its surrounding scenic views take you right out of the city. Meaty ribs, extra lean brisket, and spicy German sausage have been staples here for over 40 years, and are best enjoyed with a local beer or spirit.

This lively Austin mini-chain functions as a modern speakeasy. Creative comfort food (think lobster roll sliders and grilled wings with house-made bbq sauce) is paired with vintage and modern cocktails, mules, wine, and beer.