An Austin restaurant has been forced to shut its doors at the height of the holiday rush after a car barreled into its dining area, not once, but twice. Gusto Italian Kitchen, a staple in north Austin, fell victim to an out-of-control vehicle early Saturday while the city streets were slick with rain.
The car, navigated by a young man fresh off his shift from a local donut shop, skidded off Burnet Road and slammed directly into the restaurant's side. The driver, who was allegedly speeding in the rain, lost control and collided with a tree before ultimately crashing into Gusto Italian Kitchen, as reported by CBS Austin.
No injuries were reported, a stroke of fortune considering the timing of the incident. The owner, Cameron Lockley, said, "The vehicle was totaled and the side of our building had been completely punctured twice." Lockley also emphasized the unfortunate timing, saying, "It's a big hit. It's a couple of our busiest weeks of the entire year. So this really, really hurts," as per CBS Austin.
The bustling restaurant is now racing against time, with efforts to patch up its torn façade ahead of schedule. Gusto expects to throw open its doors to the public again on December 22, welcoming patrons back for the Christmas Eve surge. Until then, the space is abuzz with repair crews, making haste to restore normalcy and holiday cheer to Gusto Italian Kitchen.
