Southern fine dining restaurant Olamaie will close on July 19, less than two years after earning one of Austin’s first Michelin stars.
“It’s impossible to find the words to convey the sentiments related to closing a restaurant that has meant so much,” the restaurant said in a social media post on Wednesday.
In an interview with the Austin American-Statesman, which first reported the news, founder and chef Michael Fojtasek said Austin’s restaurant scene had become too financially difficult. He cited slow summer business, rent and labor costs, and a lack of late-night diners as challenges.
“I’ve worked in LA; I’ve worked in New York. I’ve been around the block, and I’ve never seen a market that’s this challenging,” he told the Statesman.
KUT News has reached out to Olamaie for comment on the closure.
Olamaie, located in Central Austin, first opened in 2014. It was one of seven Austin restaurants to earn a Michelin star in 2024, the first year that the company released a guide on Texas’ food scene. The other local awardees were Barley Swine, Craft Omakase, Hestia, InterStellar BBQ, la Barbecue, and LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue. Olamaie retained its star last year.
It was the first Southern cuisine restaurant in the U.S. to earn a star, Michelin confirmed in an email.
Fojtasek told the Statesman that Olamaie saw an initial boost in business tied to Michelin, but it subsided after several months.
This follows several high-profile Austin restaurant and business closures announced this year, including Vespaio, Lammes Candies, Yard Bar and El Naranjo. Hoover’s Cooking also scaled back operations.
In its post, Olamaie thanked diners and staff members for supporting the restaurant, and encouraged people to visit in the final days “so we can say thanks one last time.”
“Our mission has always been to offer excellence through our warmth,” the restaurant said. “We’re proud of what we have accomplished.”