Steakhouse Chain Opens New Mexican Restaurant in Austin

A new Mexican restaurant is opening in Austin from steakhouse chain Perry’s this month. Verdad will be found at 2701 Perseverance Drive near the Oakmont Heights neighborhood within the Grove mixed-use development starting on Monday, December 11. The menu includes items like mole tastings, filet mignon tacos, lobster quesadillas, garlic shrimp fideo, and lots of fajitas. There are also cocktails including loads of margaritas, as well as beers, agave spirits such as mezcal and tequila, and wines. Its hours will be from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and then from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday. The company announced the restaurant back in July 2022.

Food truck shutter

MLK neighborhood kolache shop, beer bar, and brewery Batch closed its on-site food truck Lote. The torta truck, which opened in September 2022, seemed to have closed either this fall or summer. The team is looking for a chef to take over the food truck to open whatever they want on the property.

Cocktail bar name switcheroo

Downtown cocktail bar Swank, which opened in late July, has changed its name as of November 28. The 117 West Fourth Street, Suite 101A is now called Alibi Social Bar.

Nonprofit food fundraising

Austin organization Free Lunch ATX — which creates and distributes meals to Austin houseless community Camp Esperanza — is running a fundraising initiative this month with the help of local businesses. For 12 Days of Free Lunch, each day, a different place will donate partial or full proceeds from either day’s sales or sales of specific items to the organization. It kicks off with South Congress hotel restaurant Joann’s Fine Foods on Friday, December 1 which will donate a portion of the day’s sales. Others include East Cesar Chavez pizzeria Bufalina donating sales of its margherita pizza on Sunday, December 3, Tarrytown pizzeria Allday Pizza launching a new beer honoring Free Lunch and donating partial proceeds of that on Tuesday, December 5; and South Congress barbecue truck LeRoy & Lewis donating partial sales on Wednesday, December 6. It runs from Friday, December 1 through Tuesday, December 12. The goal is to raise at least $12,000.

Tracking Austin food events

East Congress neighborhood brewery St. Elmo Brewing Company is celebrating its seventh birthday with a party full of beer releases, live music, food from on-site trucks Spicy Boys and Patty Palace, and special merchandise. It takes place on Saturday, December 2 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Chestnut Mexican restaurant Nixta Taqueria is celebrating its successful GoFundMe campaign with a party over the weekend. Co-owners Sara Mardanbigi and Edgar Rico launched the crowdfunding campaign over the summer when they had to temporarily close down suddenly because of permitting issues. They raised well over its goal. Since then, they’ve figured out how to operate alfresco dine-in services while construction and permitting is dealt with. The party takes place on Sunday, December 3 at 11 a.m. with free tacos, hats, and more.

East Austin Caribbean restaurant Canje is throwing a Trinidadian party hosted by New York chef Osei Blackett this weekend. Expect food, drinks, a DJ, and dancing. It takes place on Sunday, December 3 from 5 p.m. to midnight, and there are free RSVPs available. Blackett runs New York Caribbean restaurant Ariapita.

New event organization ATX Beer Party is hosting a beer and coffee event over the weekend. For the Hot Ones & Cold Ones event, Hold Out Brewing, Figure 8 Coffee, and Rifle & Pony Bakery will take people through the processes of creating coffee, beers, and pastries, with pairings of everything. The event benefiting nonprofit Safe Alliance. It takes place on Sunday, December 3 at 2 p.m. at Brew & Brew. Tickets are $35.