Las Manitas Avenue Cafe

Opened in 1981 by sisters Lidia and Cynthia Perez at 211 Congress Avenue, Las Manitas grew from a taco stand on the Drag into one of Austin's most beloved gathering spots — a Tex-Mex diner where musicians, artists, and government staffers mixed over huevos rancheros. The Perez sisters occasionally turned the front of the restaurant into a music stage, giving early Austin gigs to touring acts including Los Lobos. After 27 years in business, Las Manitas closed following Sunday brunch on August 31, 2008, when the building was razed to make way for a downtown Marriott hotel — a loss still cited as a turning point in Austin's 'Keep Austin Weird' era.