El Arbol

The Hightower is Bringing 'Casual New American' to East Austin This January

The Hightower, a new restaurant from the former chef and GM of the shuttered El Arbol, is slated to open next month on East 7th. The booming neighborhood abounds with cheap bar eats, old school Tex-Mex, and upscale, weekend-oriented destinations. Co-owners Chad Dolezal and Victor Farnsworth think there's a dearth of neighborhood restaurants that specialize in casual New American cuisine.

After...

Posted on December 09, 2013. Brought to you by eater.

Parkside Purchases Former El Arbol Space [Updated]

Shawn Cirkiel, chef and owner of parkside and Backspace, has purchased the space that housed El Arbol, which closed just about a month ago in late September.

Cirkiel tells Eater Austin that the new restaurant will open in the early spring. The menu will incorporate farm ingredients and fresh tastes, and will have a strong focus on embracing the flavors of ingredients from local Texas sources....

Posted on October 26, 2011. Brought to you by eater.

El Arbol Alums Are Working on a New Restaurant

The staff of the now-shuttered El Arbol will not be defeated: chef Chad Dolezal tells Eater Austin that the recently unemployed alumni of the Bryker Woods restaurant are going to open a place of their own, taking cues from El Arbol but doing it their way:

Posted on September 23, 2011. Brought to you by eater.

El Arbol Has Shuttered, Effective Immediately

Tipsters tell Eater Austin that El Arbol — which won the 2010 Eater Award for Hottest Restaurant — is closed effective immediately. Calls to the restaurant were answered but confirmed that the owners have decided to shutter El Arbol.

Posted on September 21, 2011. Brought to you by eater.

Is Fort Worth Chef Tim Love Cooking at El Arbol Tonight?

Are diners at El Arbol in for a surprise this evening? Fort Worth chef and former Top Chef Masters contestant Tim Love tweeted, "Looks like I might be doing a little cookin at el arbol tonight in Austin. What do you think?" We think Love will probably make the cowboy-to-gaucho transition pretty well.

UPDATE: Confirmed. And, according to Love, he will be "Hangin the kitchen. Cookin a Couple of...

Posted on January 21, 2011. Brought to you by eater.

Average Rating

100

So sad that they closed!!!! I had a wonderful time here! My waiter was extremely friendly and the food was superb! Was such a romantic and intimate place...

Posted by Sarah B. on May 22, 2012. Brought to you by menupix.

Average Rating

100

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? Come back, El Arbol! Come back!

Posted by MRS A. on October 04, 2011. Brought to you by menupix.

Average Rating

100

CLOSED?! BOOOOOO!!! Redo the wording on your menu and advertise (I'd never even heard of you before our first and only time!) and open back up, dammit!...

Posted by Laura A. on September 27, 2011. Brought to you by menupix.

Average Rating

100

Simply amazing, the restaurant is beautiful. Didn't get to sit outside but the 1st floor dining room was very nice. Food highlights, Pork Cheek, short ribs and tiradito.

Posted on May 05, 2011. Brought to you by activediner.

Bad Argentine food; everything else is great

Average Rating

40

As an Argentine living in Austin, I was excited when I heard about this place. The decor is divine, the drinks are great (they even serve Fernet con Coca) but the classic Argentine dishes are not good at all.

I am writing this after 6 visits to it and it disappointed me every time. The meat was burnt on the outside and I know that is how people like their steaks here, but for a $35 rib-eye you should get something beter than that! Sweetbreads were not good either and the milanesa napolitana was among the worst I've had.

What was really good every time were the non-argentine dishes,...

Posted by by Funes at Citysearch on February 07, 2011. Brought to you by Citysearch.