If you'll be in NYC, Gotham, Gramercy or Union Sq should fit the bill quite nicely (I see that Gramercy has several vegetarian entrees on the current menu.) All allow corkage. I've heard good things about the Modern, though I haven't eaten there recently. Bouley and Jean George may/may not allow corkage, but the food is spectacular and well worth the effort. A recent lunch at Bouley was relatively inexpensive, and the chef kept sending over new items for us to try, ultimately turning what was supposed to be 5 courses into 10 or 11.

Austin's restaurant "scene" is still very much a work in progress, driven as much by the needs of the hard-drinking, meat-loving, "more is better" crowd as by the need for sophisticated restaurants. And don't get me started on the !(@*&%*&^ wine restrictions.

Turns out the big restriction is the Texas ABC, as any restaurant that has a license for hard liquor cannot allow patrons to bring in wine. (That is why you got turned down at Congress) That said, here are some restaurants that will allow corkage.

Uchiko
Great cooking, not particularly vegetarian friendly. Lots of bacon everywhere. I see your comment about the wine matches, and agree that their food would be a better match with either a great older Riesling or a mature Corton Charlemagne. Well, I wouldn't turn down a mature Chevalier or a great Chablis from Raveneau either.

Wink
Somehow overlooked. Intimate, very friendly staff. Very good cooking if not quite at the Uchiko or Congress level. Desserts are superb and one or two would pair nicely with your '67.

Olivia
Has a 2 bottles limit, menu typically relies on lots of meat. They do have a few vegetarians-friendly options. Cooking can be superb or indifferent, often at the same time.

Lenoir
Not the fanciest setting, but the food is very very good, and the menu is extremely wine friendly. Hard to get reservations.

Other oenophiles will chime in, I'm sure!

Mike, The wine list at Pappas is truly spectacular. Unfortunately, it looks like many of the treasures come straight from Rudy's cellars.

Ah, we should define our terms about wine.

1) Because of the arcane, idiotic and down-right ridiculous liquor laws, restaurants cannot buy older gems at auction.
2) Not many of the great Burgundy producers make it into Texas; still fewer are available in Austin and a much smaller set are available for restaurants.
3) By local standards, hell, by any standards! a list with Dujac, de Montille, Barthod, Bonneau du Martray, Mugnier, F. Jobard, Lafon, Liger-Belair and Lafarge is a great list. Add in some reasonably priced DRC's (hah! That's an oxymoron.) and the list looks pretty amazing. Sure, it would be nice to see some older wines and more depth, but see 1 & 2 above.
4) In California, tastes are finally moving away from "more oak + more alcohol = a great wine." There are Chardonnays from Hanzell, Stony Hill, Littorai and Mayacamas, who collectively have been making wine for nearly 2 centuries. These are mostly minimally oaked, moderate-alcohol wines at very reasonable prices.

That said, we probably disagree about "hidden gems." That's fine. I'll keep the rest hidden. They are there, but usually in the arcane areas from off-beat producers.

So - let's talk about wine here in Austin. Most places have very simple lists that look like a wine rep suggested the wines and the descriptions. Even Wink, which I think has pretty good food (and superb desserts!) has at best an indifferent wine list.

There are, however, a few restaurants with great wine lists:

Olivia: First place in town that carried Occhipinti, Texier, and Paolo Bea. Stephanie Childs is the sommelier and she does a great job of matching the wine to the cooking.
Congress: June Rodil's list has no equal in Austin. Truly wonderful, with lots of great producers at all price points.
Uchi/Uchiko: Also great wine list. Not in the same league with June's list at Congress, but interesting in its own right.
Paggi House: Lots of high-end Burgundy and Bordeaux, including plenty of DRC, Dujac, etc. Prices are reasonable, though not cheap by any measure.
June and Olivier: Good list with some excellent possibilities. Have only been once and reserve further judgement.

Everywhere else you're better off sticking to beer.

One quick phone call verifies that Olivia is alive and well. Do you suppose they were cleaning?

Very short season even in my former haunts in New England. I haven't seen them anywhere here, though I would very much like to have them. In desperation, you might try Browne Trading Co in Portland Maine. I would expect them to be very expensive. http://www.brownetrading.com/fish/fre...

Couple of observations:

A) Uchi/Uchiko are musts. Truly wonderful fusion of Japanese and Western influences. In particular, any of the daily specials are worth a try as is the sashimi. The wine list is very very good and quite fairly priced.

B) Congress is also very good, but I have a few caveats. First, the wine list is truly world-class and prices are very fair. The sommelier, June, really knows her stuff and even the inexpensive wines are hitting above their weight. That said, I think the food and the dining are all a bit too precious, and I keep finding some residual sugar/sweetness in the food. Expect to pay well north of $200/person with wine.

C) I personally like the coffee at Patika, a small trailer at 2nd and Congress. And they have croissants from Barrie Cullinan who is Austin's best baker. Just smelling her almond croissants will add 2 inches to your waistline. Houndstooth also has superb espresso, but their pastries are only decent. [Royal Blue also carries croissants from Barrie Cullinan.]

D) Olivia also has a superb, fairly priced wine list. The cooking ranges from fair to great, sometimes both at the same time and in the same dish! The setting is very pleasant and the service quite professional.

E) Pizza varies from execrable to superb; without too much effort, you can always find Domino's or its near equivalent. At the high-end, many people like Home Slice, others East Side Pies. I like the pies at Backspace, a small 6-8 table place right behind Parkside. But stick with the pizzas, as the rest of the menu isn't in the same league.

Hope these suggestions are useful!

Village Baking Company as at the Barton Creek Farmer's Market every Saturday. Clint Cooper worked at Acme Bakery in SF and his sourdough is among the best I've ever had. His stand at the BCFM does not have a sign, so look for it carefully. He also makes a multi-grain boule that my friends think is equally great, but I haven't tried it yet. His croissants and cinnamon rolls are good, but not in the same league with the sourdough.

There are two good bread bakers: Barrie Baking Company, run by Barrie Cullinan; and Village Baking Company out of Dallas. Barrie's breads are available at Antonelli's Cheese and she also sells at Boggy Creek Farm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Her ciabatta is very good; her croissants are extraordinary. The croissants are available at La Boite, Patika, Royal Blue and perhaps a few other places around town.

Village Baking Company comes to the Barton Creek Farmer's Market every Saturday. Their baker trained at Acme Bakery in San Francisco and makes superb sourdough that it is the equal of the best from Acme. My friends also like his multigrain boule, but I haven't tried it yet. His croissants and rolls are pretty good, but not in the same class with Barrie's. [Note: their stand lacks a sign so you just have to keep hunting for them.]

On the sweet side, La Patisserie makes very good croissants and macarons. And farther afield, Baguette et Chocolate has superb croissants and pastries, but they are all the way out in Bee Caves. Get there early as they sell out very quickly. They have a small selection at the Sunset Valley Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings.

The breads at Whole Foods and Central Market are acceptable in a pinch but are otherwise undistinguished.

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Central Market
4477 S Lamar Blvd Ste 100, Austin, TX 78745

Antonelli's Cheese Shop
4220 Duval Street, Austin, TX

La Boite
1700 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Try the one in Delf's wonderful cookbook. You'll never again be able to eat in a Chinese restaurant here in Austin.

I've tried them. Fair-to-middling, and not a patch on what you can fairly easily make on your own.

Two sources: Fuschia Dunlop's Land Of Plenty has two excellent recipes. They are rather different from each other, but both good. Then Robert Delfs in "The Good Food of Szechuan" has a wonderful recipe that I make all the time.

I have yet to find decent dan-dan here in Austin.

Sebastian at the downtown farmer's market breeds ducks and sells them. You should check with him about availability, price and size. He also sells duck eggs, wild hogs, and geese at Christmas time.

Actually, the point is that compared with New York, San Francisco, Washington and Chicago, we are a sad place to find high-end dining at lunch. For example, Jean Georges offers a wonderful 2-course $32 lunch and 11 Mad does a 3-course for $56 lunch. But in Austin, our top restaurants are closed for lunch except a few that do Sunday brunch.

And for ethnic restaurants, most the Austin ones are a poor, distant cousin to their counterparts in DC. Yes, I know that Lamberts, La Condessa, and East Side Cafe offer decent meals. But they aren't a patch on the best available in other cities. [And I forgot about Haddington's. Haven't made it there yet.]

Lunch as a fine-dining experience hasn't yet caught on here in Austin; the best restaurants aren't open so you will have to make do with somewhat more mundane fare or go to an ethnic place. Unfortunately the ethnic restaurants in Austin can't hold a candle to those in DC, so either you or or friend might be somewhat disappointed with the selection.

With these facts in mind, here are some suggestions for good, solid cooking at a decent price:

Second Bar & Kitchen (2nd and Congress). Little brother to Congress restaurant. Have had a very nice lunch here at a reasonable price. Not super-out-of-this world, but very nice.
Annie's Cafe & Bar - informal, good if not memorable. Salads, soups, sandwiches, simple cooked dishes. Nice bar scene, even at lunch. Good place to catch-up with your friend as they aren't in a hurry to turn the tables.
Trace in the W Hotel. The gimmick is that they use only locally source ingredients; the downside is that the cooking has been quite variable. Should be okay for lunch. Stick with the simpler dishes. Good bar scene in the evening with lots of 20-somethings competing for attention.
Chez Nous - a charming, unpretentious French bistro in an unprepossessing area. Steak + frites are quite good. Service can be erratic.
Bess Bistro - slammed because it's owned by Sandra Bullock and most people come here in the hopes of catching a glimpse of her. Nearly deserted at lunch, but the food is pretty decent. Not great, but decent. Stick with the simple dishes.

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Chez Nous
510 Neches St, Austin, TX 78701

Some of the farmers at the various FM's will carry it from time-to-time. Prices tend to be lower than WF, but not always.

I would add a few other thoughts:
a) Antonelli's carries some of the Delysia line. I haven't tried them because they were more expensive than I was willing to pay. And that's a strong statement, because I've been buying chocolate truffles of one form or another for more than 35 years.
b) Antonelli's also used to carry Askinoise chocolate bars. These are single-origin bean-to-bars made in Missouri (of all places!) by the eponymous Shawn Askinoise. They are now carried by CM.
c) Oddly enough, the store Extraordinaire on 5th and Lamar carries an interesting selection of truffles. They used to carry some from Amedei and Michel Chabon; haven't been in a few months so not certain what they have in the store right now.

Otherwise, the selection around Austin is decidedly limited. Oh, and for a brief while, WF carried Amano chocolate bars. They were great, but probably too expensive even by WF's standards. And they were marketed poorly, to boot.

Some new places have popped up recently; and while cost might be a factor, they are certainly worthy trying.

Congress is only 4 blocks away at 2nd and Congress in the ground floor of the Austonian. The wine list is simply spectacular, and the food very very good. Service was also very good, though I went while they were still working out some of the details. Very expensive, even by New York City standards.

Right next door is Congress' little brother, 2nd Street Bar and Kitchen. While it has many of the same dishes as its more expensive relative, the ambience is very different. Meant to be much more informal, with an emphasis on cocktails and casual food. I haven't been, and reviews have been all over the place.

Other high- to moderate-end places include:
Trace at the W Hotel: concept is locally grown and sourced food prepared to highlight the ingredients. I haven't been so cannot comment.

Trio at the Four Seasons: Again, another expensive place with beautiful views over the river. I have been multiple times, often on business. Service ranges from good to awful, and the chef has a very heavy hand with the sugar and salt. Stick with the cocktails and plain salads. But I will say there are lots of beautiful people eating here.

La Condessa: Upscale, Mexican street food. Pretty good, but not truly authentic. Nice drinks and a very nice outdoor seating area. Moderate.

Inexpensive:
backspace: Truly wonderful pizzas, the best I've had since leaving New York. The other food stuffs were only okay, but wait for those wonderful pies! Limited seating and can get very crowded after about 7PM. Not the world's nicest area, either.

Slightly farther away: Wink, Uchi, Olivia, Uchiko. All expensive to very expensive, with very good to wonderful food. But these might be more adventurous than your crowd will tolerate.

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Uchi Restaurant
801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Four Seasons
98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

Uchiko
4200 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78756

Simmons Family Farm shows up at the Austin Farmer's Market with fresh Thai eggplant, Siam Queen Basil, Lemon Grass and Thai Cucumbers, and every once in awhile, with fresh lime leaves. They are very nice and friendly and well worth supporting!

Depends upon what you want and how much you value atmosphere, an eclectic wine list, panache, etc.

Here are some suggestions, all very much dependent upon your tastes and personal style:

Uchiko: Uchi's little brother in name only. Great food, stellar wine list. And they take reservations! Expensive, but worth every penny. Great vibe, somehow manages to be both casual and elegant at the same time.

Congress: Even more expensive than Uchiko. Very pretty dining room, and a truly outstanding wine list. By Austin standard, great service, table settings and flatware are wonderful. The food ranges from good to excellent, but does tend toward the sweet side.

Wink: Still very very good. Much less expensive than Uchiko or Congress and smaller and more intimate than either one. Excellent food, truly superb desserts. Wine list is good but not memorable.

Olivia: Very nice setting, good vibe. Very good to excellent wine list, priced quite fairly with some hidden gems. Food can be outstanding, but also much more variable than the other three. Moderately expensive.

I've not eaten at Jeffrey's, Paggi House or the Driskill, but I have eaten at Trio and have been sorely disappointed each time. You pays your money and you take your chances.

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Uchi Restaurant
801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Paggi House
200 Lee Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78704

Uchiko
4200 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78756

Not much flexibility in this. If a restaurant serves hard liquor, they cannot allow corkage. The Texas ABC is very strict about this rule; why, I do not know. But our is not to reason why, ours is but to do or diet.

The butchers at WF state that Grass Fed beef is fairly low in fat, hence, not a good choice for dry-aging.

I second Steven's recommendations, as I've eaten at and brought bottles to both Olivia and Wink. Not sure how well their food would go with a '75 Bordeaux -- that could be a tough match as the '75's were tough and tannic at birth and are notoriously slow to evolve. And back then, many of the now great estates were not using the best wine making techniques, so the wines are definitely less "refined" than today.

An alternative suggestion might be Mirabelle. The restaurant is very wine-friendly and while I'm not a huge fan of their cooking, the food would pair very well with an older Bordeaux. I'm sure if you call ahead and tell them what you're bringing they could pair something interesting with it.

Would suggest you try Thai Fresh at 909 W Mary. They carry lots of Thai groceries and many fresh ingredients as well. They certainly have Thai Basil (Siam Queen), and am fairly certain they have lime leaves.

The rice is supposed to a) protect the truffle during shipment, and b) absorb some of the flavors from the truffle. The rice itself makes a pretty decent risotto. A fully aromatic truffle is so strongly flavored no rice could possibly absorb it all. I am unimpressed with the flavor of the Oregon truffles and would rather save my money for the real thing. Now, if only we could find them here!

The white truffles I've seen here in Austin are all from Oregon -- and the few that I've "sniffed" have absolutely no scent at all. It is hard to believe they can be related to the distinctively aromatic white truffles from Alba. And for that reason, I never bother to buy the Oregon ones even though they are about 1/10 the cost of their Italian cousins.

I've had similar problems with Trio. Gorgeous setting, lots of beautiful people. Lackadaisical service that ran the gamut from terrible to outright rude. And the chef that night had a very heavy hand with maple syrup and brown sugar over everything. Great food for drinking coca cola, but did not match at all with the wines available. Sit outside if the weather is good, watch the bats fly out from under the Congress Street Bridge, drink a beer or a martini. But don't eat here!

I am not sure, but I believe Walton's no longer makes or sells macarons. However, to assuage the situation, the store Extraordinaire does sell locally made macarons, and they are quite good. Extraordinaire is on 5th Street across from Whole Foods.

B&C is at 12101 Bee Cave Road, which is on the south side of 2244 just before it merges with 71. I plan to be there when they open!