North Austin Restaurant Bonhomie Closes Suddenly

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — Mon Dieu! Renowned restaurant Bonhomie in North Austin closed its doors suddenly after Sunday brunch service this week with nary an explanation as to why, according to a published report.

Opened just a little over a year ago in March 2017, the restaurant opened by chef Philip Speer and his business partners at 5350 Burnet Rd. gained instant raves at its launch, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Speer billed the restaurant as "Waffle House-meets-French bistro," with the refinement of French cuisine tempered with the laid-back nature of American fare.

Speer was mum as to why the place shuttered without notice.

The restaurant was one of the culinary gems along the Burnet Road corridor that has been elevating the profile of Burnet Road as a dining destination along such counterparts as Barley Swine, Bufalina Due, Peached Tortilla and others. Among Speer's culinary offerings at Bonhomie was the potato rosti and cheeseburger and bistro classics, as the Statesman's food blog noted.

Speer told the newspaper he plans to open a new restaurant on the empty lot where Colorado and 5th streets intersect. He was as elusive with details on the new venture as he was with the reason for Bonhomie's closure, but did allow that the new place won't be launched in conjunction with the partners at his erstwhile Burnet Road eatery.

“We would like to thank the Burnet Road community who welcomed us as well as the patrons that supported us in this time," Speer said. "I am also super proud of our staff, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of service peeps.”

So for Speer, no regrets. Non je ne regrette rien.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

Image via Shutterstock