A new Chinese restaurant is now open in North Austin, located off of Research Boulevard.

The overview: Tao recently opened in the shopping center located on Research Boulevard, near Burnet Road. The restaurant took over the former space of Mikado Ryotei.

The menu features authentic Chinese cuisine with a variety of Sichuan dishes, including spicy diced chicken, black pepper beef cubes, twice-cooked pork, kung pao chicken, and spicy tripe and duck blood stew. Diners will also find stir-fried dishes, clay pot meals, soups, noodles and rice, dumplings, grilled fish and more.

• Opened in late March
• 9033 Research Blvd., Ste. 100, Austin

Juliet Italian Kitchen is serving up comfort cuisine with options for everyone. The company has helped shape the Austin dining scene for over a decade, expanding its reach from Barton Springs Road to The Arboretum in Northwest Austin.

The background: Husband-and-wife duo Donna and Dan Wilkins are long-time entrepreneurs. The couple are both engineers and previously owned separate tech-based businesses. When the time came for a new business venture, Dan Wilkins discovered a vacant building on Barton Springs Road that would later become the first Juliet Italian Kitchen, launching in July 2015. 

Learn more: Donna and Dan Wilkins expanded the brand in 2020 to open another restaurant at The Arboretum, bringing familiar favorites closer to customers. 

On the menu: The menu starts with a list of antipasti, including meatballs, caprese bruschetta and black truffle arancini. Juliet Italian Kitchen also has a selection of soups and salads, including a classic Caesar or caprese. Alongside starters are a range of hand-tossed pizzas, house-made pastas and entrees. 

• 1500 Barton Springs Road, Austin; 10000 Research Blvd., Austin

When Dr. Jeffrey Shilt arrived at Texas Children’s Hospital a decade ago, he saw a gap in care for young elite athletes. Shilt believed Texas Children’s could offer something few institutions could: comprehensive care for athletes at every stage of life.

The background: Shilt serves as the pediatric sports medicine liaison to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. He previously served as the residency director for Wake Forest University Orthopaedic Surgery, and served as team physician for the USA triathlon at two world championships and for a professional cycling team.

About the program: At the end of 2019, Texas Children’s became one of three national partners caring for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Shilt said they have treated hundreds of athletes, many of whom have earned medals at the Olympics and Paralympic Games, including Jenna Prandini, Solomon Simmons, and Oksana Masters, who is one of the most decorated Paralympians for Team USA.