Pasta|Bar, the intimate tasting-menu counter on East Sixth Street, is calling it a night at the end of February, with a new restaurant already in the works for the same address.
The husband-and-wife team behind Scratch Restaurants, chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee, confirmed that Pasta|Bar will close and be replaced by a fresh concept in the space. It is the latest pivot for a group that has steadily grown its presence in Austin and beyond over the past few years.
According to the Austin Business Journal, Pasta|Bar is expected to shut down "in about a month," with its final service set for Feb. 28. The outlet reports that the Lees are developing a follow-up concept for the location, although they have not yet shared an opening date or specifics on the menu.
Owners And Their Local Footprint
Lee and Kallas-Lee run Scratch Restaurants, the hospitality group behind tasting-menu projects that include Sushi by Scratch and NADC Burger. The company’s portfolio is laid out on the Scratch Restaurants site, and Austin food media has followed the pair closely since Pasta|Bar arrived in 2022.
At launch, Eater Austin highlighted the restaurant’s multi-course Italian tasting menu and its tight, counter-style setup, a format that fit neatly into the Lees’ growing collection of intimate, reservation-heavy projects.
What’s Next For The Space
The Lees have already pulled in national attention for their ambitious tasting menus and for Michelin recognition in other cities, a track record covered in outlets such as Forbes. The Austin Business Journal notes that the duo is planning a fresh concept for the East Sixth address, although they are keeping details under wraps for now.
The switch is one more sign of East Sixth’s constant churn, as operators test everything from tight tasting counters to more casual formats to see what sticks with local diners and visitors.
Practical Details
Pasta|Bar is located at 1017 E. 6th St. in East Austin and plans to remain open through Feb. 28 for existing reservations. The restaurant and its tasting-menu experience are featured on the Michelin Guide, which notes the counter seating setup.
The Lees also run nearby ventures, including the dessert shop Wolf and Wheat, covered by the Austin Chronicle, further cementing their footprint in the neighborhood.
Diners with upcoming bookings should check directly with the restaurant for any updates. For Austin’s dining crowd, this will be a closely watched handoff as the team behind one of the city’s most talked-about tasting-menu rooms prepares its next move on East Sixth.
