Easy Tiger at the Linc: Grand Opening

Sure, we've spent a lot of time snarking about how the former Lincoln Village complex rebranded itself with the heyyyyy-we're-so-casually-hip appellation "The Linc" a few years ago. We've been cracking wise about it even though the rambling mall is home to the Austin Film Society cinema we love so much. Because, what else did it have? A Pluckers? Ha!

But then came that excellent Peruvian restaurant Lima Criolla into the same complex, and we were like, uh, OK, hold on just a second.

And then, most recently, Tio Pepe Chicken opened its Portuguese-inflected doors to birdy heaven in that very Linc.

And now we're just gonna STFU and embrace the area's corporately cute name – because next week the expansion of Downtown's brilliant bakery-and-brewpub Easy Tiger is opening in the Linc, and we've had a sneak peek at it, and we're thinking that, no matter what you call that commercial development between ACC Highland and I-35, by now it should be one of your best friends. Even just because of that big new Tiger all by itself: The new digs boast more of the same thirst-quenching beers and other adult beverages, ditto for delectable culinary creations – the pastries to die for, those big soft pretzels, charcuterie and loaves of bread and sandwiches like they probably serve in Valhalla – all the things that Easy Tiger's become known for. And now the venue's infrastructure is a soaring Furman + Keil-designed store and outdoor biergarten (full bar, gorgeous dining tables, Ping-Pong rigs), and their grand opening is this weekend, and, tbh, we just want to hang out there all the livelong day and night, forever, and the rest of the world and its stress-o-matic bullshit can go to hell.