"The W Austin opened this new American-French-Texan brasserie on October 27, as part of the hotel’s massive renovations overseen by entertainment/media company Opry Entertainment Group. It’s also part of the company’s giant revamp of the 2nd Street district block dubbed Block 21. The ground-floor restaurant — which took over the previous Trace restaurant — focuses on New American food courtesy of chef de cuisine Johnny Ray Stinebaugh, who had previously worked at Austin places like Contigo Catering and Hotel Van Zandt restaurant Geraldine’s. This means dishes like duck confit and root vegetables, Texas Gulf blue crab Benedict with griddled corn cakes, and brisket monsieur. Drinks include cocktails like the spritzy Birds Nest with a shrub, alongside wine and beer. Its hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and then from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday." - Nadia Chaudhury
