Nikala Georgian & Eastern European Restaurant recently opened in west Round Rock.

Overview: The restaurant serves a variety of Georgian cuisine, with appetizers such as eggplant rolls, deep fried cheese grits or pkhali, which is a traditional Georgian appetizer made with a combination of spinach, beets and bell peppers.

Customers will also find Georgian BBQ and main course dishes like ostri, which includes a halal beef stew simmered with tomatoes, fresh greens, onions and a blend of Georgian spices.

• 1205 Round Rock Ave., Ste. 115, Round Rock

City officials moved forward with three contracts for projects to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in Round Rock in December. 

In a nutshell: Round Rock City Council members approved three contracts Dec. 4 for projects related to the city's water, wastewater and reuse water systems. 

What's next: Round Rock Public Works Director Michael Thane said the city will consider a future item related to the regional wastewater interceptor project as it proceeds through the design phase.

The Mediterranean rooftop restaurant and bar Amaya is now open in the Paseo luxury high-rise on Rainey Street.

The overview: Amaya serves shareable dishes blending Mediterranean and Texan influences, ranging from smaller to heartier plates as well as a selection of desserts. House cocktails, frozen drinks and apertifs are offered from the bar.

The 12th-floor dining room was designed by Austin-based real estate firm LV Collective, developer of the 48-story Paseo. Amaya's outdoor patio also features lounge seating and dining areas overlooking the Rainey Street district.

The restaurant is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 4-10 p.m. Reservations are available through OpenTable, and private event inquiries can be made online or through LV Collective.

Also of note: Amaya joins the ground-floor Daydreamer coffee and wine bar and the 59-room ROOST Rainey hotel in the Paseo tower. New bars or dining concepts are also expected to open in historic bungalows that were relocated and rehabilitated on the property.

The Texas comptroller’s office has released a set of rules to govern the state’s $1 billion education savings account program, or ESAs. Accepted families will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to a private school or homeschool them.

The overview: Accredited private schools and education vendors can begin applying to join the program as soon as Dec. 9, and applications will open for interested families Feb. 4.

Most families accepted into the program will receive about $10,300 per student, which can be spent on tuition at accredited private prekindergarten or K-12 schools and related expenses. Homeschooled students will receive up to $2,000 per year, while students with disabilities will be eligible for up to $30,000 annually.

Zooming in: Depending on a family’s income, students with disabilities may receive priority acceptance into the ESA program. Families can submit documentation from a physician or the U.S. Social Security Administration to be prioritized, although a detailed evaluation and individualized education plan are required to receive the additional special education funding.