Plus, AUS breaks ground on new project.
 
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💥 Blast from the past

Austin restaurants you miss the most

An outdoor sign for Shady Grove, a well-known spot in Austin, Texas. The sign has a rustic, retro vibe with the words 'Shady Grove' prominently displayed in neon letters. The text is styled with a rope design that adds a touch of western flair. Above the name, a smaller sign reads 'HAMBURGERS' in bold, glowing letters. Below, an arrow points to the right with the phrase 'STOP-A-WHILE' in faded neon. The sign is mounted on a weathered metal frame, with lush green trees in the background.
We can only visit Shady Grove in our dreams now. | Photo by Thomas Hawk
Last week, we asked which Austin restaurant do you miss the most + which meal do you wish was still around?

Piece of cake, right? The ATXtoday readers + Instagram audience sent us food for thought. Let’s stroll down memory lane, because we love a moment of local nostalgia.

Shady Grove

Readers had a lot to say about Shady Grove, a local favorite for outdoor dining that sat on Barton Springs Road for nearly three decades.

Theresa C. misses its “quirky yet rustic stone” structure, listening to live music on the shaded patio, and the Hippie Chick Sandwich.

If Jennifer H. could go back, they’d order a Shady Thang to drink and snack on Shady Fries with queso.

Threadgill’s

A live performance at Threadgill's, a historic music venue in Austin, Texas. The stage is warmly lit with red curtains and gold trim, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere. A band of four musicians is performing, with two playing acoustic guitars and one holding a tambourine. The musicians are casually dressed, adding to the laid-back vibe of the venue. The audience is seated at tables in the dimly lit foreground, enjoying the music while sipping drinks and chatting. The venue’s sign, 'Threadgill's Austin, Texas,' is prominently displayed above the stage.

We’d love to be at Threadgill’s on this night in 2012.

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Photo by Heather Cowper via OpenVerse

If time machines existed, Ken K. would head to Threadgill’s on North Lamar Boulevard to order a chicken fried steak + a veggie plate.

Likewise, Carmen C. still craves the Southern comfort food restaurant’s pecan crusted chicken. It’s also the place where Patty G. learned mac ‘n’ cheese is a vegetable.

The Frisco Shop

A neon sign at night featuring 'The Frisco,' a well-known diner in Austin that closed in 2018. The sign is shaped like a burger, glowing with bright neon colors: green for the lettuce, red for the bun, and yellow and white accents.

The Frisco Shop closed in 2018, but its memory lives on at Sign Bar in east Austin.

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Photo by ATXtoday

This retro diner on Burnet Road opened in 1953 and closed in 2018. Kathy G. loved its Down South Hamburger, coleslaw, and strawberry pie, while Natalie M. would opt for the chopped steak and chocolate icebox pie.

Mad Dog & Beans

John P. said this food stand in West Campus was one of the first places in Austin to offer milkshakes made with Blue Bell Ice Cream — which were the perfect complement to its mouth-watering burgers.

John S. called them the best burgers in Austin, and cited the restaurant as “a large reason for my freshman 15 lb weight gain.” His order? A burger — cooked medium rare — served with tomatoes, guacamole, and sprouts.
7 more restaurants
 
Events
Monday, Sept. 30
  • Absolute Beginning Modern Dance for Adults | Monday, Sept. 30 | 10-11 a.m. | Ballet Austin’s Butler Center for Dance & Fitness | $110 | Express yourself by learning the art of modern dance in this class for folks with little or no experience.
  • Clairo | Monday, Sept. 30, Tuesday, Oct. 1 | Times vary | The Moody Theater | $101+ | The singer/songwriter best known for songs like “Bags” and “Pretty Girl” will take the ACL Live stage.
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Wednesday, Oct. 2
  • The 25th Annual Texas Conference for Women | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Austin Convention Center | $350+ | Hear from a variety of keynote speakers, network with professionals, and find inspiration at this event that brings together women from across the Lone Star State.
  • Still Woozy | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 8 p.m. | Stubb’s Bar-B-Q | $47+ | Catch a show from the indie pop artist before he takes the ACL Festival stage this weekend.
Thursday, Oct. 3
  • “Let Her Rip” Opening Reception | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 6-8 p.m. | Link & Pin | Free | Peruse Austin-based artist Ellen Crofts’ new exhibit, which explores “the joy of creation and destruction.”
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News Notes
Ranked
Community
  • Our Future 35 unveiled refreshed renderings for the proposed cap and stitch project above I-35 over the weekend. Pending Austin City Council approval, the first cap could be complete by 2032. See the designs. (KVUE)
Development
  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport broke ground on two new concrete parallel midfield taxiways on Friday. The new construction, which should be complete in 2027, will connect various projects + make way for the development of its new 20+ gate concourse.
Edu
  • Demolition has begun on a historic building on UT Austin’s campus. Removing the former Steve Hicks School of Social Work building will make way for a new football practice facility. (Austin-American Statesman)
Closed
  • The Statesman, a restaurant on West Sixth Street, closed quietly over the summer. The “supper club” opened in January and its menu had a Texan steakhouse focus. (Eater Austin)
Festival
  • Cheeeese. The Austin Mac & Grilled (Cheese) Festival will be held at Star Hill Ranch on Sunday, Nov. 17. Local favorites like Uptown Sports Club, Original Black’s Barbecue, and The Victory Tap are just a few of the participating eateries. (CultureMap Austin)
Sports
  • Who impressed and depressed in week five of college football? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the SEC with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
    Listen
    • Ready to silence the chaos and hear what matters? These next-gen hearing aids are here to crush the noise and put you back in control. With razor-sharp sound and a stealthy design, they’re your little secret. Hear the difference.*
    Finance
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    Today’s edition by:
    Morgan

    From the editor
    Talking about Austin restaurants from yesteryear really makes me miss local businesses like Tesoro’s Trading Company (which you can still shop online) and Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds.
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