How to Make a Healthy Snack
McBites = Modern McNuggets?
Slow Cooker Recipes
When Should Bars Cut You Off?
How to Scrape a Vanilla Bean
Best Riffs on Hot Chocolate
Restaurants and Bars
DOWNTOWN
Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas
409 Colorado St., 512-476-1320
1120 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-476-1320
Call for showtimes.
A movie theater with table service offering beer, wine, mixed drinks, and
really good food, Alamo brings up the question: Why hasn’t this concept taken
off across the country? Food like pizza, burgers, and brownies with espresso
in them is served at a narrow table that runs the full length of the row. Movies
are mainstream (at the time of this writing, Casino Royale was showing), and
big-name directors often prescreen flicks here and take audience questions
afterward (Quentin Tarantino makes regular appearances). Watch for special
theme nights when food is paired to a movie’s subject matter. There are several locations, including one downtown, but the original, biggest, and most popular theater is on South Lamar Boulevard in South Austin. (Downtown and South Austin)
Aquarelle
606 Rio Grande St., 512-479-8117
Tues.–Thurs., 6 p.m.–9 p.m.; Fri.–Sat., 6 p.m.–10 p.m.
$$$
A cozy converted 1920s bungalow serving impressive French-influenced
cuisine made with seasonal, market-fresh ingredients. Dishes such as rabbit
loin with artichokes and sunchokes, or cold foie gras with green grape
chutney and sancerre syrup, are elegant and delicious without being precious
or stuffy. No vertical towers of food or little drops of sauce you can’t make
use of. A great wine list with French, American, and notably Texan selections
(see The Best Local Beer and Wine). If you’re looking to celebrate a
special occasion, this cozy, quiet restaurant is the place to go. Reservations
recommended, especially during SXSW. (Downtown)
Betsy’s Bar/The Hi-Lo
301 W. Sixth St., 512-480-9433
Betsy’s, daily, 8 p.m.–2 a.m.; Hi-Lo, Wed.–Sat., 8 p.m.–2 a.m.
$–$$
It’s two, two, two bars in one! Betsy’s Bar features overstuffed antique
furniture, a laid-back crowd, and two Atari game consoles. This is the kind of place where you can carry on a conversation with friends and never want to leave. Better during the week when the upscale swingers from the connected Hi-Lo don’t spill in. Accessed through the doorway, the Hi-Lo
exudes a curvilinear swank, suede-covered ‘70s vibe, with top-shelf cocktails
and a beautiful crowd. (Downtown)
The Brown Bar
201 W. Eighth St., 512-480-8330
Mon.–Tues., 4 p.m.–midnight; Wed.–Fri., 4 p.m.–2 a.m.; Sat., 5:30 p.m.–2 a.m.
$$–$$$
An Austin bar striving for big-city impact, the Brown Bar serves specialty martinis
($8 and up) and the best mojitos in town in swanky shades-of-brown decor to
beautiful people and those who aspire to be. (Downtown)
Casino el Camino
517 E. Sixth St., 512-469-9330
Daily, 4 p.m.–2 a.m.
$
A neighborhood-style bar in the midst of hectic Sixth Street that manages to attract both the after-work crowd and those sporting extreme ink. If you’re
lucky, local circus sideshow man Mr. Lifto may be tending bar and lifting beer
kegs by his nipples. Serves up the best hamburgers in Austin, along with
giant orders of fries, but it can take a while. Order at the grill window, then
relax with a cocktail or hit the excellent jukebox. (Downtown)
Club de Ville
900 Red River St., 512-457-0900
Tues.–Fri., 5 p.m.–2 a.m.; Sat.–Mon., 7 p.m.–2 a.m.
$
Arguably the most magical outdoor patio in a city where bar patios are standard, Club de Ville’s is set beneath a gorgeous, naturally occurring limestone cliff face. (It’s also decked out with Christmas-tree lights, ample seating, and a great stage where live music is often featured.) Enjoy one of the well-made cocktails and contemplate the Paleozoic Era in an atmo that attracts an artsy-hipster crowd. Conveniently located a few short blocks from the conference center. (Downtown)
Driskill Bar
604 Brazos St., 512-391-7162
Tues.–Sat., 5:30–10:30 (bar until midnight, Fri.–Sat. 2 a.m.)
$$$
A favorite of the record label folks, the bar of this gorgeous historic Texas hotel is quite a scene on the nights of SXSW. The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies put out by the hotel staff mingles with herbal aromas wafting from closed doors, and rich, artsy types with expensive haircuts get drunk in the amber lighting on buttery leather seats. An all-encompassing wine list and great food (see Splurge) make it even better. (Downtown)
Driskill Grill
604 Brazos St., 512-391-7162
Tues.–Sat., 5:30–10:30 p.m. (bar until midnight; until 2 a.m, Fri.–Sat.)
$$$
An expense account is a plus here, but the cost is worth it. Exciting, exuberant, innovative New American cuisine with Texas nods by executive chef David Bull, served up in Austin’s most gorgeous, historic hotel. Standout dishes include beef tartare with fried oysters, caviar, and hot mustard; pistachio-crusted scallop with chanterelles; and veal tenderloin with sweetbreads, papardelle pasta, and mornay sauce. Be sure to check out the bar as well. During SXSW, it’s packed with entertainment-industry bigwigs (see Power Bars). (Downtown)
Four Seasons Hotel: The Lobby Lounge
98 San Jacinto Blvd., 512-478-4500
Mon.–Thurs., 1 p.m.–1 a.m.; Fri.–Sat., 11 a.m.–2 a.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.–midnight
$$–$$$
Hobnob with the high-flyers over lychee martinis (yeah, they’re still serving them in Texas), truffled popcorn, and tuna sashimi on the patio overlooking the lake. That’s Town Lake, the verdant public water hole made from the damming of the Colorado. Stake out your table early! (Downtown)
The Ginger Man
304 W. Fourth St., 512-473-8801
Mon.–Fri., 2 p.m.–2 a.m.; Sat.–Sun, 1 p.m.–2 a.m.
$$
The Jackalope
404 E. Sixth St., 512-469-5801
Daily, 11:30 a.m.–2 a.m.
$
A friendly dive with a punk-rock edge, the Jackalope is a favorite
for its central location, reliably strong drinks, and superior bar
(blackened burgers with blue cheese, jerk-chicken hoagie, chipotle
wings). Inside is red-padded leather, painted-on-velvet nudes,
pool tables. Outside is a patio with a fire pit. (Downtown)
Las Manitas
211 Congress Ave., 512-472-9357
Mon.–Fri., 7 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sat.–Sun., 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
$
You’ll no doubt wind up here anyway during SXSW, but if for some reason you haven’t yet, stop into this downtown Austin breakfast and brunch joint for Mexican made from high-quality ingredients. Migas (see Local Lingo) with mushrooms, menudo with marrow, chile relleno, and the Zacatecan enchiladas are required eating. Fried plantains are also delicious. Check the board for daily specials. (Downtown)
The Mohawk
912 Red River St., 512-482-8404
Tues.–Sat., Grizzly Bar, happy hour, 5–8 p.m.;
the Mohawk Main Club, 8 p.m.–2 a.m. (when there’s live music)
$
Club de Ville’s neighbor the Mohawk has not one but two outdoor patios (upstairs and out back), a fireplace, a dance floor, and three stages often featuring live music and local DJs. The bar’s website describes the decor, all made out of reused hardwoods, as “woodsy recycled Texas ski lodge.” CHOW likes the Mohawk so much that we’re throwing our SXSW party there. (Downtown)
Roaring Fork Saloon
701 Congress Ave., 512-583-0000
Daily, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
$$
A Western-themed watering hole on the street level of the beautiful old InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, the Roaring Fork does one better than your typical hotel bar with its drinks and food. It’s a popular gathering spot for the after-work crowd from the capital and downtown districts, so expect to see some Dockers. Try the huckleberry margarita or the Big-Ass Burger: 12 ounces of juicy, aged, wood-grilled beef loaded with cheddar and toppings. (Happy hour is 4:30–7 p.m. daily for half-price apps and drink specials.) (Downtown)
Whole Foods Market Flagship Store
525 N. Lamar Blvd., 512-476-1206
Daily, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
The massive flagship of the Whole Foods grocery store chain, which first opened in Austin in 1980, is 80,000 square feet and features a chocolate café with a chocolate fountain you can dip fruit and cookies into, a Pike Place Market-esque fish market, an ice cream/gelato shop, a smokehouse, a wine bar, a massive prepared-foods area, and over 600 cheeses. Like the San Francisco Marina Safeway of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, this WF is a notorious Austin pick-up scene for 20- and 30-somethings, as well as a date spot where couples move from mini-restaurant to mini-restaurant and make a night of it. While you’re in the neighborhood, check out Book People across the street, the largest independent bookstore in Texas, and the famous indie record shop Waterloo Records nearby at 600A N. Lamar Blvd. (Downtown)
another good option that's not right downtown is Patsy's (Cowgirl) Cafe...on your way to/from the airport if you're super hungry! Live music every night and a great happy hour...we love the burgers and it has a deck to sit outside too! maybe check this out on your next trip to Austin :)
that's not possible to include ALL of the great places to eat in Austin. However, if you one day decide to enhance the listing, remember about Hoboken Pie from downtown (Red River st) http://www.hobokenpie.com :)
I like The Foundry as well. Great beef ribs.
Polvo's is right, but I'd suggest the "exotic" enchiladas.
Wink is the place for a splurge during SXSW. It has happens to have the best win bar in Austin. The happy hour is a steal, serving apps from next door for half off.
Uchi is great but way too expensive and way too hyped. Sushi Zushi is fabulous fish without all the crushed ice with 3 ft tall floral arrangements.
Also Korea House on Anderson (for bulgoki and kimchee), Chinatown Restaurant on Greystone (for dim sum including chicken feet), and the cluster surrounding the MT Supermarket on Lamar.
For Mexican cuisine that isn't Austin kitsch, Fonda San Miguel at North Loop, Manuel's on Congress and Vivo's on Manor, in descending order of price.
I have been relying on Chow for information on good food in cities I dont know about, and I must say that this Guide has completely destroyed my faith in its editors' judgment, palate, and work ethic. Whoever put this list together has no idea what the food scene is in Austin and made no effort to find out.
In recent years Austin has become a fantastic place to eat, IF you know where to go. I...+READ
I have been relying on Chow for information on good food in cities I dont know about, and I must say that this Guide has completely destroyed my faith in its editors' judgment, palate, and work ethic. Whoever put this list together has no idea what the food scene is in Austin and made no effort to find out.
In recent years Austin has become a fantastic place to eat, IF you know where to go. I would have thought that was the purpose of an online guide for foodies, eh?
Visitors wishing to avoid cliche Austin food should eat at Vespaio's Enoteca, FINO, Sushi Zushi, Lambert's, ASTI, East Side Cafe, etc.
What a disgrace.-COLLAPSE
Vespaio's is amazing. Try their homemade mozzerella cheese made daily. Nothing can touch the risotto. The service is always friendly and never the phoney Hello my name is ---- and I will be taking care of you this evening attitude.
Sucky list. Try better next year. Kudos to Austinites that cried foul. Better food can be found with street vendors than some of these picks.
It's almost travesty that you neglected to mention Stubb's BBQ, which has fabulous smoked turkey and amazing sides although their brisket might not be the best. They always have the best SXSW bands play there too. As far as BEST bbq in Austin, try the following: 30 miles southeast of town Krew's (pronounced Krite-says) has out-of-this-world pork chops, so good there is no sauce served with them,...+READ
It's almost travesty that you neglected to mention Stubb's BBQ, which has fabulous smoked turkey and amazing sides although their brisket might not be the best. They always have the best SXSW bands play there too. As far as BEST bbq in Austin, try the following: 30 miles southeast of town Krew's (pronounced Krite-says) has out-of-this-world pork chops, so good there is no sauce served with them, ask if you dare. Rudy's is a fantastic gas station/bbq joint and they have great brisket, beans, and ribs.-COLLAPSE
Where to eat for SXSW 2008? KENICHI! Kenichi will be offering bar food at their location on 5th and Colorado. The bar will be opening at 4pm daily all week long. This is a limited menu just for the bar, that includes items like yaki udon, thai fried chk wings, vietnamese chicken curry, tuna tacos and japanese hot dogs. This food is reduced in price and will cater to the sxsw crowd. All of the...+READ
Where to eat for SXSW 2008? KENICHI! Kenichi will be offering bar food at their location on 5th and Colorado. The bar will be opening at 4pm daily all week long. This is a limited menu just for the bar, that includes items like yaki udon, thai fried chk wings, vietnamese chicken curry, tuna tacos and japanese hot dogs. This food is reduced in price and will cater to the sxsw crowd. All of the items will be from $8-$15. Kenichi will also have drink specials, and a regular happy hour menu. Come on by and see us!!!-COLLAPSE
Am confused as to why this feature would show up in a stories sidebar in August but figured I'd put in my 2 cents. No Threadgill's or La Zona Rosa?
It was apparently destroyed by fire but just reopened about a month ago in a new location:
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=171303
do go.
ok, i know this isn't a place where someone in town for sxsw may go but one MUST visit Dot's in North Austin, if it is still there. Cafeteria style southern food run by Dot and her family. There's roast beef, fried chicken, super butter potatoes, sweet potatoes, greens, sweet potato pie, homemade lemonade. God I used to love this place when I went there. Prepare to leave ridiculously stuffed.
You forgot to mention Kreuz's! http://www.kreuzmarket.com/ My 90-yr old granddad STILL drives out of his way to get some of that!
No one paid to be in this list, nor anywhere on the site, and it's not meant to be comprehensive. As it says in the intro, it's geared toward SXSW attendees - "We’ve concentrated our attention around SXSW venues" – and not towards locals. They already know where to go.
I can't believe y'all left off Rudy's and the County Line. As a native Austinite living in New England for school, just thinking about Rudy's sausage and egg breakfast tacos with Sause or fresh baked County Line bread is making my mouth water.
Other restaurants that should have made the cut, in my opinion: Z Tejas (tex-mex), Dan McKlusky's (steak), and The Alligator Grill (cajun; a scene from...+READ
I can't believe y'all left off Rudy's and the County Line. As a native Austinite living in New England for school, just thinking about Rudy's sausage and egg breakfast tacos with Sause or fresh baked County Line bread is making my mouth water.
Other restaurants that should have made the cut, in my opinion: Z Tejas (tex-mex), Dan McKlusky's (steak), and The Alligator Grill (cajun; a scene from Office Space was filmed there). I could easily come up with more, but I'm getting too hungry.
And if you're ever visiting Austin from a Northern state, stop by a Chik-Fil-A and try the original chicken sandwich. I never properly appreciated them until I discovered that Chik-Fil-A's are just a southern thing.-COLLAPSE
How could you leave out places like Rudy's from the list? I know it is a chain, but it is definitely an Austin favorite. And to include Ruby's is an abomination. I lived in Austin for sometime, went there once, and vowed never to go back.
I would still say that one of my favorite places though, was Cooper's up in Llano, TX. A bit of a drive (1.5 hour), it is more than worth the drive.
I have to add that I had a fantastic meal at Lambert's on 2nd and Guadalupe. It hadn't been reviewed at press time, but this place has fantastic barbecue, great appetizers, and killer pies in a beautiful historical space. I highly recommed it for those who want a slightly more upscale Austin dining experience. (Great bar and live music upstairs too!)
I found the Saltlick to be 90 percent hype. It reminded me of those crab houses here on the east coast that after a little success turn into huge factory feeding operations. I could get better BBQ at a Bob's Big Boy. And maybe the locals know to bring their own beer, but if you're marketing to tourists, spring for the damn license, huh? Or, if it's a matter of local regs, move to a place that...+READ
I found the Saltlick to be 90 percent hype. It reminded me of those crab houses here on the east coast that after a little success turn into huge factory feeding operations. I could get better BBQ at a Bob's Big Boy. And maybe the locals know to bring their own beer, but if you're marketing to tourists, spring for the damn license, huh? Or, if it's a matter of local regs, move to a place that lets you sell beer.
Ruby's was just okay. Had a decent BBQ lunch at a place downtown. Think the name was The Foundry, or some metalworking theme like that.
Austin's a great town, though.-COLLAPSE
the alamo drafthouse's original location is downtown (4th and Colorado) but your right, the south lamar is the best.
Wow, this is an abomination. I can’t believe anyone would write/print such junk let alone read it. Your bit on “how to drink more” is unbelievable. SXSW is a wonderful Austin experience and to cloud the image of our out-of-town guest with lessons on gluttony is just unfortunate. I hope that the people coming to town for this wonderful, educational and unique celebration don’t think you are our...+READ
Wow, this is an abomination. I can’t believe anyone would write/print such junk let alone read it. Your bit on “how to drink more” is unbelievable. SXSW is a wonderful Austin experience and to cloud the image of our out-of-town guest with lessons on gluttony is just unfortunate. I hope that the people coming to town for this wonderful, educational and unique celebration don’t think you are our ambassador.
Nor do I hope that they think this list is all inclusive of the wonderful offerings this town has both culinary and culturally.-COLLAPSE
Not very comprehensive. Is this an unbiased list (in which case you could add a lot to it) or did these businesses pay to be included?
You might elicit input from Chowhound members?