Texas French Bread, the iconic Austin bakery and restaurant destroyed by a fire in 2022, has reopened its dining room more than four years after the blaze forced the business from its longtime home.
The restaurant announced this week that customers can once again dine inside its rebuilt location at 2900 Rio Grande St., near the University of Texas campus. The business said it is now offering daytime counter service daily and dinner service several nights a week.
Founded in 1981, Texas French Bread became one of Austin’s best-known bakeries and restaurants, earning a loyal following for its artisan breads, pastries and bistro fare.
A January 2022 fire destroyed the bakery’s historic building, causing an estimated $1.6 million in damage and leaving only portions of the structure standing. The business continued operating from an Airstream trailer and outdoor garden while owners spent years planning and financing a rebuild.
The reopening follows multiple construction delays and several projected opening dates. Earlier this year, owners said they hoped to reopen in the spring, and as recently as June were still telling customers the return of indoor dining was coming soon.
Photos released by the business show a newly rebuilt dining room featuring bakery displays, seating areas and a restored gathering space designed to bring customers back indoors for the first time since the fire.
For many Texans, the reopening marks the culmination of a four-year recovery effort that transformed one of Austin’s most recognizable independent restaurants from a burned-out shell into a rebuilt neighborhood institution.
Texas Reporter 