Lake Travis residents have been agonizing over the empty 5,000 square feet dining space located in the Hill Country Galleria for years — that excellent spot that overlooks the Central Plaza. Well, the wait is over. The League Kitchen & Tavern has announced they will be opening their fourth location there in early 2020.
On behalf of LTers, H-O-O-R-A-Y!
A brief history of heartbreak
It was eerie and sad when former tenant Iron Cactus abruptly closed their doors in the summer of 2016. Iron Cactus had been there since 2008, occupying that fantastic location at the heart of Hill Country Galleria, where you could watch the concerts and fireworks from the patio with a tasty margarita in-hand.
Sadly, Iron Cactus defaulted on their lease and silently moved out on the night of June 14, 2016. The next day, they were gone. There were letters posted on the doors, and articles ran in the news. Regardless of the business reasons, Lake Travis patrons were shocked and saddened. The noticeable absence of that anchor tenant just felt wrong.
LTers assumed someone else would quickly snag that primo spot, but that didn’t happen. Rumors swirled about who would move in and when, but they were just rumors. After the massive renovations, the restaurant location was even better than before, thanks to the new grassy wonderland AKA Central Plaza. LTers were hopeful. Now? Nope.
The wait is over
Yesterday, the Hill Country Galleria released the official statement. Here comes The League.
The co-owners of The League are no strangers to HCG because they also own Tony C’s. It sounds like the local love and support for Tony C’s helped fuel the decision to move forward with The League plans.
“We are extremely grateful for the amazing team and loyal customer base we have built since opening Tony C’s in The Hill Country Galleria over ten years ago and look forward to adding more jobs and dining opportunities to the City of Bee Cave,” said co-owner Tony Ciola.
The League Kitchen & Tavern is part of TC4 & Co., an Austin owned and operated restaurant group led by partners Tony Ciola and Creed Ford IV. TC4 was founded in 2011 and also operates sister restaurant Tony C’s in the Galleria. In addition to their existing restaurants, TC4 has announced plans to open two locations of fast-casual concept Tony C’s Pizza and Beer Garden, coming soon.
What to expect at The League HCG
The League’s Hill Country Galleria outpost will offer the same chef-inspired, made-from-scratch menu available at the three existing locations, including “Beginnings,” like lobster roll sliders and smoked salmon deviled eggs, alongside salads. More extensive offerings include burgers ground in-house, assorted sandwiches, and “Main Attractions,” like the 14 oz. bone-in Ribeye. The League will be open seven days a week and will also offer brunch, happy hour, and kids’ menu offerings.
Rounding out the dining experience, The League will also offer an extensive bar program featuring a selection of craft cocktails, including signature creations, vintage classics, and several variations on the Moscow Mule, alongside wines, and beer on draft, by the bottle or can.
Encompassing 5,000 square feet of space plus an expansive patio perfect for enjoying the Galleria’s outdoor concert series among the property’s other events, The League at Hill Country Galleria will be designed in collaboration with local interior design studio Design Hound, also responsible for the design of the Belterra location in Dripping Springs. Like other locations of The League, the atmosphere will be a comfortable, homey, creative environment that is inviting yet sophisticated.
Image: Rendering of The League provided by Giant Noise/HCG
Let’s cheers The League Kitchen & Tavern for making HCG whole again. Give them a shout out on our Facebook page.
