Olamaie, the Central Austin Southern fine-dining restaurant that earned one of the city's first Michelin stars, will close on July 19, the restaurant said in a social media post and in comments reported to the Austin American-Statesman.
Owner cites business pressures
Founder and chef Michael Fojtasek told the Statesman that the restaurant has struggled against a combination of slow summer patronage, rising rent and labor costs, and a diminished late-night dining scene. Those pressures, he said, made continuing operations untenable even after the prestige of a Michelin nod.
“I’ve worked in LA; I’ve worked in New York. I've been around the block, and I've never seen a market that's this challenging,”
The restaurant opened in 2014 and was among seven Austin restaurants awarded Michelin stars in 2024, when the guide published its first Texas listings. Olamaie retained its star in the following year's guide and was noted by Michelin as the first Southern cuisine restaurant in the U.S. to receive a star.
- Olamaie will close its doors on July 19.
- Launched in 2014, it earned a Michelin star in 2024 and kept it the next year.
- Chef Fojtasek pointed to slower summer business, rising rent and labor costs, and fewer late-night diners as factors.
What this means for Austin's dining scene
The closure is part of a wave of high-profile restaurant and business departures already announced this year in Austin, including establishments that have long been local fixtures. For a city that has leaned on its food culture as both a tourism draw and a community touchstone, losing a Michelin-recognized venue is notable: it represents both an economic loss in jobs and revenue and a symbolic contraction of the city's curated dining identity.
Olamaie's farewell post thanked staff and patrons and urged supporters to visit in its final days so the team could give thanks in person. The restaurant did not respond to a request for further comment from KUT News.
Quick reference: Austin restaurants with Michelin stars (2024)
| Restaurant | Noted in source |
|---|---|
| Olamaie | One of seven Austin awardees in 2024; retained star |
| Barley Swine | Listed among 2024 awardees |
| Craft Omakase | Listed among 2024 awardees |
| Hestia | Listed among 2024 awardees |
| InterStellar BBQ | Listed among 2024 awardees |
| la Barbecue | Listed among 2024 awardees |
| LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue | Listed among 2024 awardees |
As Austin continues to grow, commercial rents and labor markets will remain central issues for restaurateurs and city policymakers alike. The loss of a Michelin-starred restaurant underlines the gap between culinary recognition and long-term financial sustainability in this market.
The restaurant's final public hours may provide a last opportunity for the community to acknowledge the role Olamaie played in Austin's emergence on the national dining stage.
