EAST Interview: Kat Murph of Vertallee Letterpress
After-hours revelers and insomniacs will soon have another venue to satisfy their late-night cravings, as the downtown Waterloo Ice House on Sixth and Lamar is being transformed into a brand new all-hours upscale diner.
Dubbed, literally, Twenty Four, the new eatery is a joint effort between the current owners of Waterloo Ice House and the guy behind Uncle Billy's and Paggi House. The team previously collaborated on Key Bar, just a few blocks east.
They're describing Twenty Four as a "modern, urban diner serving classic chef-inspired comfort food" that pairs "familiar foods with a culinary-minded approach," with an emphasis on locally-sourced foods and organic fare.
Waterloo Ice House will close this Sunday and reemerge as the new diner sometime in October.
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let's hope they have some vegan food on the menu!!
I kinda wanna burn anything "the guy behind Uncle Billy's and Paggi House" touches... :\
I am with 'shook'. I think that Uncle Billy's sucks and I have tried it a couple of times to verify it was not just a problem with the day that I was there. I am scared that a cool place like Waterloo, is going to become another place I won't be able to go to anymore, and worse yet may go out of business if it goes the way of Uncle Billy's....
I've only ever been to Uncle Billys once and it wasn't half bad, but obviously it wasn't good enough for me to go there again and again.
On the other hand, I always thought Waterloo Icehouse wasn't half bad either and it also wasn't good enough for me to go there again and again.
So, I'm willing to be optimistic that the new place will be better than both. Or an even wash at worst.. except now it'll be open all hours which is nice.
You're forgetting the No. 1 rule of Austin establishments: If it's old, it must be defended at all costs- no matter if if's mediocre, or even bad. If it's new, it must be vilified, no matter the quality.
So true, so true. Unless it's new and on the east side, then it's probably awesome by default.
I'm just sad because that's my Waterloo. They'd best not mess with the one on 35th.
I'll miss the Waterloo next to Waterloo. That was the best part Get a hamburger, get some music. That said, I should have known that the reason their bathroom was in such horrible disrepair last Friday was that they were planning on closing it.
Fact is Austin has yet to master the diner concept, and by the description of "Twenty Four" I dont think we will be getting any closer. I realize that Austin is in love with "locally sourced" and "organic" aka "expensive" and "lacking flavor", but these are not words that should be the premise for a diner menu. A diner needs to focus on two words "greasy" and "cheap"
Stay Tuned,
ADLD
It's my opinion that Waterloo is moving towards the suburbs overall and is becoming move "chainy" as a result. All of their new places seem to be in strip malls and have playscapes for kids. Seems like a fundamental change to their business model and client base.
This is pretty true. Still not a bad place to eat, and it was always a good place to stop by after feeding my music habit. I'm sure this new place will be just fine for the same purpose.
Totally agree, I just got take out from there last weekend. If it means anything, it was a Saturday at ~7pm and there were 4 people in the place. I thought it was kind of weird that no one was there.
That was meant for davetx's post
Maybe their clients just got old and moved to the 'burbs?
Noooooo! This has nothing to do with "Old=good, New=bad." Do we really need another "upscale-yet-casual dining establishment with funky decor?"
As Tim said, Waterloo Ice House being next to Waterloo Records was perfect synergy. Loved their chili-cheese fries and $6.50 pitchers of Shiner after in-stores. Doubt I'll be eating any of 24's chipotle-infused tilapia with gorgonzola garnish anytime soon.
Cool! I can't wait to eat pancakes at 4 AM with the guys from Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" video!
pancake + hot choco.
The fact that these guys have other stores but didn't offer their employees an option to work anywhere else deserves bad karma. The employees, cooks, everyone save the manager were given 5 days notice that they were closing and out of luck with a job.
I won't try it.
I tried Uncle Billies twice. Bad.
Austin Java (Barton Springs) is known for inconsistant food and bad service.
Remember they had a Austin Java at the mall a few years back, with waiters. It didnt work. It sounds like they are going to do it again.