Pennsylvania’s Beloved Rita’s Italian Ice Is Opening in Round Rock

Pennsylvania’s beloved Rita’s Italian Ice is going to be opening an Austin-area location. The frozen sweets shop — known for its Northeastern-style Italian ices, frozen custards, and gelati (a combination of Italian ice and custard) — will open in Round Rock at 3720 Gattis School Road, Suite 200. There is no opening date as of yet. This location is franchised by Salvatore Raccuglia, who plans on opening four more locations in the Austin area. There is a location in New Braunfels too.

This isn’t the first time Rita’s was in Austin, per a reader. There had been one on Guadalupe from 2010 through 2015.

Vegan pizza restaurant shutter

Austin vegan pizza truck Li’l Nonna’s is closing its physical pizza restaurant Big Nonna’s this month. Its last day of service at the Crossing at Parmer Lane will be on Sunday, October 13. Owner Rob Lordi (who notes that he doesn’t live in Texas anymore in the Instagram announcement post) wrote “we hate to say this for so many reasons, but the time has come for us to join the evergrowing [sic] list of former vegan businesses.” He notes that a new tenant is already taking over the space. Lil Nonna’s the food truck remains open at North Campus bar Tweedy’s.

Sushi truck expansion

South First sushi truck Little Nishi expanded with a second location this month. The new truck is found at far south Austin bar Armadillo Den as of October 10. The menu remains the same — temaki (hand rolls), salads, soups, and entrees like karaage and katsu.

New restaurant openings

Texas restaurant chain Sixty Vines opened its first Austin location this month. It’s found in the Domain at 3401 Esperanza Crossing as of October 9. The bar serves tapped international wines and New American and American food like pizza, charcuterie boards, steaks, sandwiches, and desserts for lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner.

Austin’s growing fast-casual mini-chain Honest Mary’s is opening its Mueller location today. The 2021 Aldrich Street restaurant opens on October 11. Later on, it’s hosting a grand opening party on Sunday, October 27 with giveaways, free food, live music, and more.

Austin restaurant’s returning Italian pop-up

Chestnut neighborhood wine restaurant Birdie’s is running its Italian pop-up again this month. Aiello’s will focus on a New York-style red-sauce joint menu — think meatballs, pastas, bold red wines. The only available menu during the time will be a prix fixe with add-ons. It takes place from Tuesday, October 15 through Saturday, October 19 and again from Tuesday, October 22 to Saturday, October 26.

Austin pitmaster’s favorite whiskeys

Franklin Barbecue pitmaster and co-owner Aaron Franklin shared his favorite rye whiskeys with Food & Wine.

Tracking Austin restaurant events

As part of Chestnut neighborhood Mexican restaurant Nixta Taqueria’s fifth anniversary celebrations, chef Edgar Rico is teaming up with chef Chintan Pandya of the New York City Indian restaurant group Unapologetic Foods — known for acclaimed restaurants such as Dhamaka — next week. The dinner is a six-course meal including dishes like the masa samosa stuffed with chorizo and potatoes and the lamb belly kebab. It benefits the Southern Smoke Foundation and is presented with Yeti. Tickets are $100; it takes place on Tuesday, October 15 with two seatings, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Downtown Southern restaurant Olamaie’s next Southern Exposure dinner takes place over the weekend with Boston chef Valentine Howell Jr. of Afro-Latin-Caribbean pop-up Black Cat Eatery. Tickets are $150 with a $80 wine pairing add-on. It partially benefits the nonprofit Urban Roots. It takes place on Sunday, October 13 at 6 p.m.

The East Austin location of wine pizzeria Bufalina is hosting California winery Cruse Wine Co. winemaker Michael Cruse for a special dinner next week. The four-course prix fixe meal is $75, which includes the $20 deposit for the tickets. There are a la carte wines available. It takes place on Tuesday, October 15 with seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Gateway neighborhood Mexican seafood restaurant Simar Seafood Cocina is hosting a tequila dinner with the tequila brand Mijenta Tequila next week. The dinner features the company’s creator Ana Maria Romero and a four-course paired tequila meal on Tuesday, October 15 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $150

Round Rock Irish pub and brewery Cork & Barrel is hosting a beer dinner with Cedar Park brewery Red Horn Brewing Company next week. The beer paired dinner with dishes like coffee-crusted pork and smoked sockeye salmon. Tickets are $60; it takes place on Monday, October 14 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Update, October 18: This article, originally published on October 11, has been updated to reflect that there was a Rita’s in Austin before.