Austin Eatery Poké Bowl Closed After Drunk Driver Plows Into It

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — Those wanting to grab a delicious Hawaiian-style bowl of raw fish salad at Poké Bowl off Guadalupe near UT-Austin this weekend found themselves out of luck. The place remains closed after a student later accused of driving drunk slammed into the popular eatery, causing significant property damage.

As KXAN earlier reported, a UT-Austin student crashed into the recently opened restaurant at 2828 Guadalupe St. just after 2:20 a.m. Monday morning . Upon being approached by police, the driver is said to have exclaimed: "I'm a UT student! You can't arrest me!" Only UT-Austin police could arrest her, not those from the Austin Police Department, she claimed in explaining the perceived jurisdiction of her crime.

Despite her claims of immunity, the student was promptly arrested after suffering minor injuries. She's said to have been belligerent, attempting to snatch her ID from an officer, violently pulling away and then kicking at the windows and doors of the patrol car once inside the vehicle, according to the news station.

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The unidentified woman was charged with DWI, according to the news report.

Meanwhile, she's deprived Poké Bowl lovers of their quick protein fix. In the few months since its opening, the place has developed a loyal following — particularly among young people. Nary a day goes by that a good number of diners can be seen enjoying their raw fish salads.

Poké is a Hawaiian raw fish salad served as an appetizer in its home state but sometimes as a main course. At Poké Bowl, patrons choose between a small or large bowl consisting of a bed of rice on top of which three to five ingredients are placed — yellowfish, shrimp, ahi tuna, spicy scallop, salmon and the like. There is a choice of sauces from which to select as well as a delightful array of toppings.

Or, rather, there were. For now, the place remains closed. Restaurant officials told KXAN they are trying to open as soon as possible, but it might take up to two months to repair the damage. The driver slammed into the area where bathrooms are located, causing structural damage at the site.

Regular patrons seeking their Poké fix were met instead with a closed storefront on Saturday evening, a note affixed to the window alerting to the temporary closure.

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>>> Photos by Tony Cantú