When he spoke to TEXAS MONTHLY back in May, Larry McGuire mentioned he was working on a new oyster bar on West Sixth Street. Just before the Austin City Limits Music Festival, McGuire opened Clark’s Oyster Bar – a “little brother” restaurant to the highly revered Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar.

Interior of Clark’s Oyster Bar. Photo taken by Jett Butler @ FÖDA Studio.

The restaurant’s lunch and dinner menu includes an eclectic mix of oysters, fish, and other seafood-centric offerings. The restaurant only opened last week, so we’ll have to wait and see if diners think Clark’s lives up to the legacy of his esteemed older brother.

Tagged: Clark's Oyster Bar, Larry McGuire, Layne Lynch, perla's

The 23rd La Dolce Vita Food & Wine Festival that sponsors the AMOA-Arthouse will take place tonight from 6-9 p.m. at Laguna Gloria.

Food will be served from several Austin restaurants including East Side Showroom, Foreign & Domestic, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Olive & June, Parkside, Ranch 616, and Trace. Famed Austin restaurateur Larry McGuire of Lamberts Downtown Barbecue, Perla’s, Elizabeth Street Café, and Jeffrey’s Restaurant has been chosen as the honorary chef for the evening.

“As a native Austinite, I’ve enjoyed Laguna Gloria, La Dolce Vita, and the museum my entire life, so to be asked to serve as the 2012 Honorary Chef is a real privilege,” Larry McGuire said in a press release. “Not only am I excited about helping AMOA-Arthouse raise funds for its education programs, but I feel that this event stands out from all the other food events in town.”

Cocktails will be prepared by Tipsy Texan’s David Alan and local wineries and distillers including Becker Vineyards, Inwood Estates Vineyards, Llano Estacado Winery, and Pedernales Cellars will be present as well. For more information about the event, check out this link.

Tagged: AMOA-Arthouse, David Alan, East Side Show Room, Foreign & Domestic, Inwood Estates Vineyards, La Dolce Vita Food & Wine Festival, Lamberts Downto, Larry McGuire, Layne Lynch, llano estacado winery, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Olive & June, Parkside, Pedernales Cellars, perla's, Ranch 616, Tipsy Texan, TRACE

Ahem. I just HAPPENED to be lurking at Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar when Tony Bourdain (yes, that Tony Bourdain, of “No Reservations,” on the Travel Channel, sitting on the right) was having a late lunch with co-chefs Larry McGuire (middle) and Tommy Moorman Jr (left). What did they eat? Raw oysters, grilled octopus, grilled triggerfish, pan roasted Gulf tile fish, and the whole grilled red snapper. Oh, and grits. Don’t forget the grits with lobster stock, green onions, and cheddar, soo delish. Watch for Perla’s to be mentioned on an upcoming “No Reservations,” along with a few of Austin’s food trailers. No dates have been announced yet. When my friend Paula Biehler, co-owner of Crave Communications (Perla’s PR agency) asked Tony where he’d heard about Perla’s, it turned out it was from his bud, food writer John Mariani, who was here last year. Takes a New Yorker to tell another New Yorker about a place in Texas. Of course. (This is the same post, with a better picture, in case you’re wondering.)

Tagged: john mariani, no reservations, perla's, tony bourdain