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✨ Approved Restaurants for Fall 2025 ✨
Here are my picks for the newest and must-try spots this season—places that are bringing something fresh and worth checking out.
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Roccos
In a city like Austin that’s short on casual Italian spots, Rocco’s is a welcomed new addition to the neighborhood. Their sign was up for months before officially opening next to Pthai, and with the chef’s ties to southern Italian immigrants, the focus here is cozy, neighborhood-style Italian food.
We started with the arancini, stuffed with risotto and peas over a bed of red sauce, and the meatballs, served as a trio topped with ricotta. Pro tip: order the scarpetta (bread sourced from Sourdough) so you can soak up every bit of that sauce. You have to try their Caesar salad with chunks of parm as well!
For pasta, we tried the casarecce with bolognese, the lumache with summer corn, pancetta, cheese, and chanterelle mushrooms, and the rigatoni alla vodka. Everything was fresh and house-made, though I found the casarecce a bit salty and wished the meatballs had more flavor. That said, the rigatoni alla vodka might be my favorite in Austin, and I can’t wait to come back to try more.
Find their IG here!
Twin Isle
When I first reviewed Twin Isle, they were still in their soft opening, serving mainly bowls and doubles. They focus on Trinidadian-South cuisine, which blends Indian, African, Creole, and more—so expect bold spices, curries, and seriously flavorful dishes.
We ordered two build-your-own bowls with different bases, proteins, sides, and sauces. One featured oxtail (an extra $9), paired with their macaroni pie (basically a Trinidadian-style mac and cheese), garlic sauce, and mango salsa. The oxtail was rich, fall-apart tender, and paired beautifully with the acidity of the mangoes. Everything on the plate worked together.
The jerk chicken was tasty too, though served a bit on the room-temp side. Still, it paired really well with their jerk sauce and pineapple salsa. The rice was slightly mushy but still flavorful.
We also tried their doubles, which are kind of like a flaky roti stuffed with sauces and herbs. Super solid—definitely worth ordering.
The food did take about 40 minutes, but the flavors made it worth the wait. Keep in mind, this is more of a grab-and-go spot with very limited seating (basically no indoor dining), so plan to take it to go. Overall, a strong addition to Austin’s food scene, and I can’t wait to go back to try more. Click here for their website
Small's Pizza
Small Pizza recently relocated to Springdale General, bringing a New Haven–style approach with signature crispy, smoky-bottomed pies. This isn’t the type of pizza you fold—these are so crisp you can literally snap a slice in half. We tried the vodka pizza and the pepperoni, both 16-inch pies that are generous in size for the price.
The vodka pie stood out with its rich, addictive sauce (though we wished for just a touch more). The pepperoni was solid, but I personally prefer a slightly sweeter tomato sauce to balance the toppings. Overall, Small Pizza is a welcome new addition to East Austin, especially for fans of crispy, charred crusts. They plan to roll out some slices in the future! Click here for their website!
Gra Mor
Gra Mor is a brand-new Irish all-day café that just opened next to The Dead Rabbit, sharing the same kitchen. They serve all-day cocktails, grab-and-go drinks, plus breakfast and brunch until 3 p.m. daily. The menu overlaps with The Dead Rabbit in some places—like breakfast items—but Gra Mor also offers its own unique dishes such as the crunchy steak bowl and a hearty breakfast sandwich.
We tried the blueberry crumble latte and the Lychee Lush, a matcha drink made with their house-made lychee syrup, which had a really refreshing flavor. My favorite was definitely the breakfast sandwich, stacked with jalapeño sausage, back bacon, Irish cheddar, and an egg cooked to your style—rich, filling, and layered with flavor.
I’d definitely come back for that Lychee Lush matcha (sourced from Zhi Tea) and another round of their breakfast sandwich. Parking can be difficult because they are downtown.
Click Here for more.
Old Alley Hot Pot
Old Alley Hot Pot is a new spot from the creators of Mian and bao, bringing their concept from Houston to Austin. They specialize in à la carte hot pot instead of the typical all-you-can-eat style. I recommend the beef and lamb combo, which comes with a circular assortment of meats to cook in your hot pot. I always go for the three-broth option—spicy, original, and tomato. The meats are freshly shaped and super flavorful, and the broths are on point. Easily the best hot pot in Austin right now. Click Here for Website
Wicked Snow
Wicked Snow is a shave ice and bingsu spot from Carrolton, Texas. It used to be my favorite when visiting Dallas, and now they’ve opened near H Mart near Lakeline in Austin. Their bingsu is super soft, not too sweet, and absolutely delicious—probably the best in Austin. I recommend the Golden Snow or the half-and-half with strawberry and mango. Click Here for Website
Lau Lau
LauLau is a Chinese-American spot serving coffee and small bites, focusing on Asian-inspired drinks rooted in the owner’s childhood. You’ll find interesting options like a five-spice cortado, Thai tea matcha, and more. Their pastries are currently sourced from elsewhere, though I hear they plan to add more house-made items in the future. Click Here for Website
