Bottega has opened in Mueller with a split personality that fits the neighborhood’s daily rhythm: inventive ice cream up front and a short list of savory small plates built for casual snacking. The Italian-inspired spot at 2100 Robert Browning St. began serving the public Sept. 2, 2023, at 2 p.m., with a schedule that rotates between daytime walk-up service and evening sit-down hours, according to CultureMap Austin.

Who’s behind it

Ownership brings together three local operators: Gregory Maze of Merry Monarch Creamery, Kati Luedecke of Neighbors Dog Park & Coffee Shop, and Chef Rudy Rivera III, whose resume includes Wink in Austin and the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia, as reported by CultureMap Austin. The trio’s combined background helps explain a menu that places chef-driven desserts next to Mediterranean-leaning plates.

Bottega is set up for different kinds of visits. Guests can sit indoors or outside or order at a walk-up window. Coffee and dessert-forward drinks anchor the beverage program for now, while beer and wine are planned pending licensing approval, according to CultureMap Austin.

What’s on the menu

The ice cream program comes from Merry Monarch Creamery, which earned Best Ice Cream in Austin Monthly’s Best of ATX 2023 while operating as a food truck, CultureMap Austin reports. Flavors mix familiar ideas with unexpected ingredients. Examples include Oreo Miso, Persian Honeycomb, and Tom Kha Lime Pie, according to CultureMap Austin.

On the savory side, Chef Rivera keeps the focus on “light fare,” according to CultureMap Austin. Highlights include:

  • Stone fruit bruschetta with grilled peaches and cherries
  • Hearts of palm ceviche
  • Beef tartare (chilled)
  • Crab salad served with lavash

Charcuterie and pâté come from Casero Austin as part of a local supplier partnership, CultureMap Austin notes.

The drink list and space add more touches that blur the line between dessert shop and cafe. Listings describe retro 1970s Italian design cues and specialty drinks such as basil lattes and affogatos made with the Persian Honeycomb ice cream, according to Wanderlog.

How it fits the neighborhood

Mueller has built itself as a planned, mixed-use district on the former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport site, with housing, retail and civic anchors like Dell Children’s Medical Center and the Thinkery. The neighborhood is recognized as the world’s largest and Texas’ first LEED-ND Gold community, Wikipedia notes. That planning has supported a steady run of food and retail openings along the Aldrich Street corridor. In 2021, for example, the district added six businesses, including restaurants such as Veracruz All Natural, Tiny’s Milk & Cookies and Marufuku Ramen, according to Axios.

Bottega’s model follows that street-level pattern: counter service for passersby during the day and sit-down seating at night. Coffee and dessert-centric drinks meet morning and afternoon demand, with beer and wine expected after approvals, per CultureMap Austin. The split schedule may give residents and visitors a place to grab a cone, return for small plates, or pair a late affogato with a savory bite.

When to go

Bottega opened Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. and now keeps regular hours with separate daypart service, according to CultureMap Austin:

  • Tuesday–Friday: 7 a.m.–2 p.m. (walk-up/outdoor); 5–9 p.m. (indoor and outdoor)
  • Saturday: 8 a.m.–2 p.m. (walk-up/outdoor); 5–9 p.m. (indoor and outdoor)
  • Sunday: 8 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. (indoor and outdoor all day)

The address is 2100 Robert Browning St. Indoor and outdoor seating are available, and a walk-up window serves quick orders, CultureMap Austin reports.

As Mueller’s retail spine fills in with concepts that serve families, hospital workers, and nearby residents, Bottega adds an option that can work for a morning coffee, an afternoon ice cream, or a light evening plate. The mix of award-linked ice cream, a compact savory list, and flexible service lines up with how people already use Aldrich Street—short stops and longer sits alike—within one of Austin’s most planned neighborhoods, as described by Wikipedia and Axios.

Read the press release on austin.culturemap.com.