{"id":366941,"date":"2026-07-09T15:32:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T15:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/366941\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:32:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T15:32:09","slug":"austins-michelin-starred-olamaie-to-close-southern-eatery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/366941\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin’s Michelin-starred Olamaie to close Southern eatery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Olamaie<\/a>, one of both Austin and Texas’ first Michelin-starred restaurants to join the Texas Michelin Guide, announced its impending closure in a social media post<\/a> on Wednesday, July 8. The Southern eatery, helmed by chef Michael Fojtasek, confirmed its final day is slated for Sunday, July 19.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s impossible to find the words to convey the sentiments related to closing a restaurant that has meant so much,” the restaurant wrote in the post, which has since garnered more than 2,000 likes and hundreds of comments since its late Wednesday afternoon posting. “Gratitude is the feeling that comes forward overwhelmingly.”<\/p>\n

Nixta Taqueria \u2014\u00a0whose co-owner, Edgar Rico, was the recipient of the Michelin Special Awards’ Young Chef Award in November 2024 \u2014 expressed its gratitude to Olamaie and Fojtasek for their mentorship and long-lasting impact on Austin’s culinary scene.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“You, Chef [Amanda Turner] and the whole crew built and shared something so special with our city,” Nixta Taqueria wrote in a comment. “Rooting for y’all, always.”<\/p>\n

Arjav Ezekiel, a restaurateur who co-owns Birdie’s in Austin, shared his thanks to the Olamaie team, writing: “End of a magical era that paved the way for so many of us! Honored have been a very small part of the journey.”<\/p>\n

Olamaie paid tribute to its staff, crediting the magnetism of the restaurant to their brilliance and dedication. In a parting message to guests and Austinites alike, Olamaie thanked the community for entrusting them with “life’s best moments.”<\/p>\n

“Our mission has always been to offer excellence through our warmth. We\u2019re proud of what we have accomplished,” Olamaie concluded the message. “We\u2019ll be here doing our thing for a couple more weeks. It would be lovely to see y\u2019all so we can say thanks one last time.”<\/p>\n

The north Austin restaurant isn’t the only culinary loss in Austin this month. El Naranjo Restaurant & Bar,<\/a> a traditional Mexican restaurant overseen by award-winning chef Iliana de la Vega, will host its last day of service of Saturday, July 18 after 16 years operating in Austin.<\/p>\n