The heirloom tomatoes with peaches and goat cheese at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The heirloom tomatoes with peaches and goat cheese at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Steve and Dottie Hall wanted to take a peek inside the new/old Texas French Bread near the University of Texas campus on July 1. The restaurant wouldn’t open for dinner service for another hour, but the couple had passed by and were excited to get a glance at an old favorite. 

They weren’t the only former regulars anticipating the return of an Austin institution. Within a half-hour of opening during a week of unpromoted dinner service, the dining room was almost half full. 

Article continues below this ad

The welcoming crowds should not have been a surprise. When Murph Willcott’s bakery and restaurant burned almost completely to the ground in January of 2022, a friend started a GoFundMe campaign to support the suddenly jobless staff. The campaign raised more than $200,000 in a month. 

“That was one of our first signals that people wanted us to do something. It was a remarkable statement about how people feel about this place,” Willcott said from inside the restaurant, which has reopened for breakfast, lunch and dinner 4 1/2 years after the devastating fire that leveled the building where his mother, Judy, moved her bakery in 1987. 

Willcott said the journey from ashes to a beautiful building, sunlit by arched windows along its northern brick wall and a centerpiece skylight, has been filled with serendipitous steps along the way. There was the GoFundMe campaign, a donated Airstream trailer from Aaron and Stacy Franklin that allowed Texas French Bread to continue serving guests from the adjacent garden that Willcott was able to buy after the fire, and the appearance of an investor looking to pay forward help he’d received early in his career.

The iconic sign for Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The iconic sign for Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanThe menu at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The menu at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanThe new interior at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The new interior at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanSea trout meunière with braised cabbage at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sea trout meunière with braised cabbage at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanBread at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Bread at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanDottie Hall smiles as she speaks with staff after dropping tin to check out the new Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Dottie Hall smiles as she speaks with staff after dropping tin to check out the new Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanMushroom bourguignon with handmade fettuccini at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Mushroom bourguignon with handmade fettuccini at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanTexas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanWine glasses at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Wine glasses at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanPastries on display at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Pastries on display at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanThe new interior at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The new interior at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanThe TFB cheeseburger at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The TFB cheeseburger at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanPastries on display at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Pastries on display at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanPastries on display at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Pastries on display at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanThe espresso machine at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The espresso machine at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanA brick wall that survived the January 2022 fire stands on the south side of the new Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since the fire caused the building to be declared a total loss.

A brick wall that survived the January 2022 fire stands on the south side of the new Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since the fire caused the building to be declared a total loss.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanTexas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanFlowers decorate a table at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Flowers decorate a table at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanThe heirloom tomatoes with peaches and goat cheese at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The heirloom tomatoes with peaches and goat cheese at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanThe heirloom tomatoes with peaches and goat cheese at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The heirloom tomatoes with peaches and goat cheese at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanMushroom bourguignon with handmade fettuccini at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Mushroom bourguignon with handmade fettuccini at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanBead and butter at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Bead and butter at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanSea trout meunière with braised cabbage at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sea trout meunière with braised cabbage at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanTexas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanThe iconic sign for Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

The iconic sign for Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

‘A little bit of the old city.’

The new building features some of the bakery’s original brick along with century-old longeleaf pine that once served as second-floor joists, now incorporated into the new ceiling and walls. The trademark corner-door entrance is gone, but the spirit of the place remains. Willcott said the air conditioning went out during the first night of service to friends and family, and the power went out soon thereafter. 

Article continues below this ad

“The ghosts that are running around this building are still actively engaged in whatever this project is,” Willcott said with a laugh. “There’s definitely some continuity here.”

The continuity extends to a management staff populated with Texas French Bread veterans and breakfast and lunch menus with sweet and savory pastries, salads and sandwiches served on housemade bread.

The Texas bistro’s dinner offerings will feel familiar, highlighting regional seasonality. The opening dinner menu, served Tuesday-Saturday, is packed with smart but approachable dishes like a bountiful salad of heirloom Texas tomatoes and peaches on a fluffy bed of goat cheese; crunchy pork Milanese scattered with greens spritzed with citrus; local cabbage, braised and caramelized, sitting next to a hunk of sea trout that falls into shards of pink at the touch of a fork; and a fat Wagyu burger that looks like it was plucked from a country club grill.

Article continues below this ad

Sautéed asparagus and prosciutto at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sautéed asparagus and prosciutto at Texas French Bread, June 30, 2026 as the Austin institution reopens for the first time since a fire burned the building to the ground in January of 2022.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Willcott, who said he felt like a real estate developer for several years as he tried to get the iconic business fully up and running, calls the first couple of weeks of service the “end of the beginning” for this new chapter. Now comes the hard part: running a full-service restaurant. 

He acknowledges that while he and his team are the ones operating Texas French Bread, the restaurant’s engine is truly stoked by the love so many have for the legacy business. 

Article continues below this ad

“When I say that I am kind of the curator and caretaker of this place, what I really mean is the energy that makes this place go comes from the people who come in here. They all feel like they have a little ownership stake in it and they are a part of what makes it happen,” Willcott said. It’s a restaurant where every diner seems to know people at two other tables each night. “Having grown up in Austin and been here in the ’70s, it feels like there’s a little bit of the old city that is still in this pocket of people who embrace what we do.”

Texas French Bread is open for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for dinner from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.