Austin Restaurants
An essential tip for wining (and dining) in Texas: Oenophiles, by law, may bring their own bottles to restaurants which do not have a hard liquor license. These wine friendly venues are designated BYOB. You should call the venue beforehand to determine the corkage fee and to check that their licensing status hasn’t changed.
Restaurants where reservations are essentially required for dinner are so designated. But before you hire a taxi and especially on weekends, make a reservation at any of these places.
COCKTAILS
The Driskill Hotel’s Longhorn Bar. www.driskillhotel.com . Downtown at 604 Brazos. 512-474-5911; 800-252-9387. Texas ranch-style ambiance with live music in this National Historic Trust hotel.
East Side Show Room. www.eastsideshowroom.com. Downtown at 1100 E. Sixth St. 512-467-4280. Known for vintage cocktails from Moscow Mule to the Pimms Cup.
The Oasis. www.oasis-austin.com . LakeTravis at 6550 Comanche Trail. 512-266-2442. Everyone flocks to this Austin icon for the view, not the food or the music. But have a cocktail and enjoy the sunset before you head off to dinner at Hudson’s (see Uniquely Austin, below).
Trio in the Four Seasons Hotel. www.fourseasons.com/austin. Downtown on Lady Bird Lake at 98 San Jacinto Blvd. 512-685-8300. Decadent appetizers such as truffle mac ‘n’ cheese. In the warm months, venture out onto the lawn at sunset and watch a million bats take off for their supper.
AMERICAN CUISINE
Barley Swine. www.barleyswine.com. South Austin at 2024 S. Lamar. 512-394-8150. Chef Bryce Gilmore was recognized by Food & Wine as one the Ten Best New Chefs in 2011. Small plates tasting menu. No reservations so get there early or wait in line.
Congress. www.congressaustin.com. Downtown at 200 Congress Ave. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS. 512-827-2760. We are fortunate to have in Austin Chef David Bull, a former Food & Wine Best New Chef and, in 2011, acclaimed by Bon Appetit for his Congress as a Best New Restaurant. Enjoy the seven-course tasting menu or the three-course prix fixe. (For lighter fare, please see Second Bar + Kitchen under Uniquely Austin, below.)
Jack Allen’s Kitchen. www.jackallenskitchen.com. 7720 Hwy. 71 West at Oak Hill. 512-852-8558. When returning from LBJ country or the Hill Country wineries, you may want to stop here. Foodies flock to the farm to table concept.
ASIAN CUISINE
Uchi. www.uchiaustin.com. Close to downtown at 801 S. Lamar. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS. 512-916-4808. 2011 James Beard Southwest Chef Tyson Cole has drawn national accolades for Uchi. Best sushi in Austin. Fish flown in fresh daily from around the world.
Uchiko. www.uchiaustin.com/uchiko. North of downtown at 4200 N. Lamar, #140. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS. 512-916-4808. Uchiko is Uchi’s “son”. Chef Tyson Cole’s second creation. Hip Zen atmosphere. Offers new twists based on Japanese farmhouse dining.
BAKERIES
1886 Café and Bakery. www.1886cafeandbakery.com. Downtown in the historic Driskill Hotel at 116 E. Sixth St. 512-391-7066. Fabulous pastries for brunch and all day long.
Walton’s Fancy and Staple. www.waltonsfancyandstaple.com. Downtown at 609 W. Sixth St. Owned by Sandra Bullock, Walton’s offers gourmet coffee and baked goods.
BARBECUE
Artz Rib House. www.artzribhouse.com. South Austin at 2330 S. Lamar. 512-442-8283. Very best baby back ribs in the city.
Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue. www.lambertsaustin.com. 401 W. Second St. RESERVATIONS. 512-494-1500. Very upscale BBQ. Don’t miss the green chile cheese grits as a side. Sunday brunch. Live music nightly in bar.
Opie’s Barbecue. www.opiesbarbeque.com. 9504 Hwy. 71, Spicewood. 830-693-8660. Fabulous open pit BBQ. Don’t miss when heading to the Hill Country wineries. Bring your own beer or wine.
The Salt Lick. www.saltlickbbq.com. 18300 FM 1826, Driftwood. Southwest of Austin, towards severall wineries and Wimberly. BBQ served family style. Bring your own beer or wine.
CAJUN
Evangeline Café. www.evangelinecafe.com. Far South Austin at 8106 Brodie Lane, #110. 512-282-2586. Pistolette rolls stuffed with creamy shrimp or crawfish are great. Decent gumbo and fried shrimp. Live music late.
FRENCH/CONTINENTAL
Driskill Grill. www.driskillhotel.com. Downtown at 604 Brazos. 512-391-7162; 800-252-9387. Superlative “white linen” dining with class and elegance in this National Historic Trust hotel. (If you happen to stay here, ask for a tour.)
Fabi + Rosi. www.fabiandrosi.com. Near downtown at 509 Hearn St. RESERVATIONS. 512-236-0642. Modern European menu with predominantly French and German fare.
Olivia. www.olivia-austin.com. South Austin at 2043 S. Lamar Blvd. RESERVATIONS. 512-804-2700. One of Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants in 2009. Fresh daily rotations.
Wink. www.winkrestaurant.com. Near downtown at 1014 N. Lamar. RESERVATIONS. 512-482-8868. The freshest ingredients from local organic farms. BYOB.
GAME
Hudson’s on the Bend. www.hudsonsonthebend.com. In the Hill Country nearLakeTravis at 3509 N. Ranch Road (RR) 620. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS. 512-266-1369. Chef Jeff Blank has created one of the Austin area’s very best restaurants specializing in game—rattlesnake cakes, venison, fish.
ITALIAN
Siena Ristorante Toscana. www.sienaaustin.com. 6203 N. Capital ofTexas Hwy. RESERVATIONS. 512-349-7667. A beautiful Tuscan-designed facility in the hills of Northwest Austin. Try the wild boar bruschetta and the veal rib chop.
Vespaio Ristorante. www.austinvespaio.com. South Austin (SoCo) at 1610 S. Congress. No reservations after 6:30 or on Friday or Saturday but if you want to dine early during the week: RESERVATIONS. 512-441-6100. Seasonal menu keeps things interest. Focuses on true flavors and ingredients.
MEXICAN/LATIN AMERICAN
Buenos Aires Café Este. www.buenosairescafe.com/este. Near downtown at 1201 E. Sixth St. RESERVATIONS. 512-382-1189. Romantic, intimate café serving delicious Argentine fare.
Corazon at Castle Hill. www.corazoneatcastlehill.com. Near downtown at 1101 W. Fifth St. RESERVATIONS. 512-476-0728. Contemporary interior Mexican cuisine with emphasis on the chile pepper.
Matt’s El Rancho. www.mattselrancho.com. South Austin at 2613 S. Lamar Blvd. 512-462-9333. Serving a loyal clientele for 58 years. Do not miss the “knock out margarita”, Bob Armstrong dip, shrimp a la Matt, beef chile relleno, or the steak tampequena.
PRIVATE CLUBS
The Austin Club. www.austinclub.com. Downtown at 110 E. Ninth St. in Austin’s historic 19th century opera house. The AC has reciprocity with many clubs around the world. Make arrangements to dine there through your private club. Excellent beef and lobster bisque. This is probably the only place in Austin which requires gentlemen to wear jackets for dinner. No jeans.
SEAFOOD
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. www.eddiev.com. Downtown at 301 E. Fifth St. RESERVATIONS. 512-472-1860. And in Northwest Austin at 9400 B Arboretum Blvd. RESERVATIONS. 512-342-2642. An extensive menu of fresh seafood options.
Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar. www.perlasaustin.com. South Austin (SoCo) at 1400 S. Congress. RESERVATIONS. 512-291-7300. Oyster paradise which rotates daily. Cape Cod style cuisine. Don’t miss the crab louie with cornmeal fried green tomatoes.
Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House. www.trulucks.com. Downtown at 400 Colorado St. RESERVATIONS. 512-482-9000. Northwest Austin in the Arboretum at 10225 Research Blvd. RESERVATIONS. 512-794-8300. The place for Florida Stone crabs from their own Florida fisheries. Wonderful Scottish salmon with Béarnaise sauce.
STEAKS
Fago de Chao. www.fagodechao.com. Downtown at 309 E. Third. RESERVATIONS. 512-472-0220. Although a chain, a great traditional Brazilian steakhouse.
Perry’s Steakhouse. www.perryssteakhouse.com. Downtown at 114 W. Seventh St. RESERVATIONS. 512-474-6300. Prime steaks and a great large pork chop.
III Forks. www.3forks.com. Downtown at 111 Lavaca. RESERVATIONS. 512-476-1776. Prime-grade steaks, great rack of lamb.
UNIQUELY AUSTIN
24 Diner. www.24diner.com. Near downtown at 600 N. Lamar. 512-472-5400. Open 24 hours. Foodies go there for comfort food like great chicken and waffles, deviled eggs, country ham and Gruyere frittata.
Frank. www.hotdogscoldbeer.com. Downtown at 407 Colorado. 512-494-6916. Cocktails and uniquely gourmet sausages like antelope and rabbit with huckleberry compote.
Haddingtons American Tavern. www.haddingtonsrestaurant.com. Downtown at 601 W. Sixth St. 512-992-0204. Do not miss the duck and foie gras meatballs with a duck fat Sazerac cocktail. Unusual wine list. Open for brunch on the weekend.
Second Bar + Kitchen. www.congressaustin.com. Downtown at 200 Congress Ave. RESERVATIONS. 512-827-2750. More casual than Chef David Bull’s Congress but equally wonderful, it’s open late and offers Sunday brunch. The black truffle pommes frites with a thoughtfully composed cocktail is a real treat. Try a Miso Mule: whiskey, radish chunks, light miso paste, honey and lemon soda.