One of Austin’s most dynamic, successful and longest-running hospitality teams has had a busy 2025.
Guy + Larry Restaurants, founded by longtime Austin restaurateurs Guy Villavaso and Larry Foles, opened Restaurant François downtown in late November with chef-partner Harold Marmulstein.
The swanky French-American restaurant at 401 W. Third St. enters the downtown scene just months after modern steakhouse, The Kimberly, another concept in which Guy + Larry Restaurants are partners, opened on Seventh Street.
Restaurant François — created and helmed Marmulstein, who previously collaborated with the restaurateurs to open Salty Sow — joins a downtown portfolio from Guy + Larry that also includes Statesman Top 15 restaurant ATX Cocina, and Red Ash and J. Carver’s, which were created by chef-restaurateur John Carver.
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Restaurant François, which is located at 401 W. Third St., opened in late November. (PROVIDED BY RONNY GALDÁMEZ )
The restaurant serves dinner nightly with a menu that includes stuffed lamb saddle en croûte, Maine lobster thermidor, boneless Wagyu short rib bourguignon, along with a selection of fresh seafood and dry-aged prime steaks served with sauces prepared and poured tableside.
“Our goal was to create a space where French technique and modern American flavors come together,” Marmulstein said in a release. “We’re using familiar ingredients but approaching them with the precision and care of French cooking.”
The large dining room, which features an open kitchen, was designed by Janet Henrich, and is colored with wood finishes and custom leather banquettes.
Bar Rouge, a classic cocktail bar serving martinis, Manhattans and a French-forward wine list, is located next to the restaurant’s dining room.
Restaurant François opens daily at 5 p.m. Reservations and menu available at restaurantfrancois.com.
Update: This story has been updated to clarify ownership of the restaurants in the Guy + Larry Restaurants portfolio.
Dining and Cooking