Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine: From the Sushi Bar to the Sake Bar

Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine offers a creative, inventive take on classic Japanese cuisine, blending the best of both old and new culinary techniques.

For lunch and dinner, you’ll find delicious sashimi options, unique maki rolls, and even rice-free sushi dishes for those who are cutting carbs, and each one is almost to pretty to eat! (Because Beluga encourages a “shared table” style of dining, guests are encouraged to order a number of small plates to share amongst the table in order to experience every dish.) Beluga also features a full bar of wines, beers, and spirits, as well as traditional Japanese sake to make your experience feel truly authentic.

Visit Beluga for the two-for-one weekday sushi lunch special, then return for the post-work happy hour discounts!

Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine
661 Louis Henna Blvd
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 255-6454
www.belugasushi.net

Truluck’s: Fete a Special Occasion Over Steak and Seafood

The next time you’re celebrating a special occasion, consider making a reservation at Truluck’s. This upscale steak and seafood restaurant in Austin has a festive feel, from its light-covered marquee and beautiful stone patio to its romantic, old-fashioned interior. The eatery is very large and features a dark wooden bar and spacious tables that can accommodate the whole family.

On the menu, Truluck’s offers premium cuts of steak, Florida stone crab, and Chilean seabass, and its extensive wine list and handcrafted cocktails pair perfectly with any entree. Appetizers like the famous smoking shrimp cocktail start the meal off right, while the dessert martinis and extravagant cakes conclude every meal on a sweet note.

Truluck’s serves dinner seven days a week. Happy hour is held between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. daily.

Truluck’s
10225 Research Boulevard
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 794-8300
www.trulucks.com
www.yelp.com/biz/trulucks-austin-2

Quattro Gatti: Italian Cuisine Complemented by the Capitol Building

Take a date to Quattro Gatti in downtown Austin for an Italian meal in the shadow of the Capitol building. Its ambiance is intimate, yet cheerful. Bright yellow walls are offset by an antique wooden bar, and tables are topped with romantic candles. Many regulars come for the thin crust pizza. Try the Montanara, a pizza topped with prosciutto, arugula, and two cheeses.

Quattro Gatti's menu also offers formal Italian dishes, including plenty of pasta and main course items. Try the Rigatoni aella Nonna, replete with tomato sauce eggplant, mozzarella, and basil or the Lombatina di Vitello, a grilled veal chop seasoned with olive oil and rosemary. Customers find the prices reasonable for the generous portions.

Quattro Gatti
908 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-3131
www.quattrogattiaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/quattro-gatti-austin

Savor Sweet Corn Sorbet at Uchiko

The gourmet Japanese creations that Uchiko's chefs craft for dessert almost outshine the inventive fare they serve for the main course, at least according to online reviews. Fans rave about the sweet corn sorbet, an entirely unique sweet that comes with polenta custard, caramel salt, and just a dash of lemon. The fried milk garners wide acclaim, too, a mix of chocolate milk, toasted milk, and iced milk sherbet. Olive gelato, tobacco cream, and seasonal sorbets round out the selection of treats.

Before you get to the sweets, though, you should indulge in an entree or a few small plates. They're inspired by Japanese cuisine, but feature farm-fresh fare. Try the cook-it-yourself Wagyu beef or Atlantic salmon served with dinosaur kale, Asian pear, and yuzu. Uchiko also dishes out inventive sushi and maki rolls, like the Ham and Eggs makimono with katsu pork belly, yolk custard, and espelette.

Uchiko
4200 N. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 916-4808
uchiaustin.com/uchiko
www.yelp.com/biz/uchiko-austin

El Pollo Regio: Mesquite Charcoal Grilled Chicken With Humble Beginnings

El Pollo Regio came from humble beginnings before growing into a chain of 49 locations, including several in Austin. Opened by Juan Jorge Bazaldua in a special trailer with a mesquite charcoal grill, El Pollo Regio features the founder’s popular marinated chicken. You can order the whole chicken, which comes with rice, beans, and tortillas. You’ll also the chicken in such menu options as the chicken tostada, chicken soup, and chicken poblano mole. The menu also lists grilled carne asada and flour tacos.

If you want to share the popular, authentic Mexican dishes with your friends, El Pollo Regio provides catering services. Nostalgic fans of the restaurant can take it a step further and pay homage by traveling to Oklahoma City, where the original trailer is still in use at one of the branches.

El Pollo Regio
1110 B. East William Canonn Drive
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 215-0235
www.elpolloregio.net
www.yelp.com/biz/el-regio-austin

Salata: Making Lunchtime a Little Healthier With Salads and Wraps

If you’re looking for a place to make your lunchtime meals a bit healthier, Salata is a great option in the North Austin area. This grab-and-go salad bar offers customizable salads, wraps, and made-in-house dressings and sauces that give everything major flavor. All of the veggies and proteins are prepped fresh daily, and everything on the menu is gluten free.

Salata runs like a well-oiled machine, with friendly employees tossing large salad bowls from behind a long, colorful salad bar filled with greens, vegetables, and an assortment of toppings. There are a number of different soups that change from day to day, and the selection of fresh juices complements the eatery's health-conscious menu.

Inside, Salata’s bright green dining room features light wood booths and tables where guests can enjoy both the lunch and the free Wi-Fi. Customers can even order their meals online and pick them up in person for added convenience on a busy work day!

Salata
10515 N. Mopac Expressway
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 487-5497
www.salata.com
www.yelp.com/biz/salata-austin

Don’t Skip the Naan Wraps at Chicken Lollypop in Austin

Chicken Lollypop combines the cuisines of two cultures to create a flavor-filled dining experience in Austin. This small cafe serves Chinese-Indian fusion fare, boasting a succinct menu of sandwiches, wraps, soups, signature entrees, and fried rice.

The naan wraps are a popular choice here. Chef Imitiaz Shaikh cooks chicken or paneer (Indian cheese) in a Szechuan sauce and wraps it in naan with green chutney and a yogurt sauce. The chef also cooks chicken breast in a house ginger sauce and pairs shrimp with spicy Manchurian sauce. You can add such signature house items as sautéed spinach and herbs and Bombay potatoes with green peas and spices. While the flavor in each dish is great, the price is even better. Menu items are $10.99 and below.

You’ll find Chicken Lollypop inside the East Braker Lane Food Mart. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Chicken Lollypop
1005 E. Braker Lane
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 909-9826
www.chickenlollypop.com
www.yelp.com/biz/chicken-lollypop-austin

Troy Restaurant: Don’t Hum-Miss Out on This Mediterranean Eatery

The delicious combination of Turkish and Mediterranean fare is a treat that you won’t find just anywhere, which is exactly what makes Troy Restaurant such a gem in North Austin. Its bright red walls and modern decor create a unique backdrop for your traditional Mediterranean meal, but the long, shared tables and natural light make the entire experience feel friendly and relaxing.

Troy Restaurant’s sampler plates are arguably the best way to get a true feel for the menu, as they include an assortment of meats, rice, and salad, as well as unlimited tea and an authentic Turkish dessert at the end of the meal. Made-from-scratch hummus and Turkish coffee are made true to Turkish tradition, and the prices are affordable, as well.

Stop by for the lively Thursday night karaoke or a quiet weekend lunch and you’ll likely see why so many locals love Troy!

Troy Restaurant
8105 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 897-2860
www.facebook.com/troy.restaurantaustin
www.yelp.com/biz/troy-austin

Mother’s Cafe: Eclectic Vegetarian Fare in a Colorful Atmosphere

From its colorful outdoor patio tables to its equally bright, cheery interior, Mother’s Cafe is an eclectic eatery through and through, and a visit here is sure to brighten your mood. The menu is entirely vegetarian or vegan, but each dish is thoughtfully prepared and very filling. Soups and salads are made with fresh vegetables and spices, and the restaurant offers a number of different types of meat-free enchiladas. Specialty dishes, such as ravioli marinara and mushroom stroganoff, come in heartier portions that are great for dinner, while the quiches and sandwiches make great grab-and-go items for takeout.

Mother’s Cafe also offers a full wine and beer selection, while the eatery's made-from-scratch desserts are some of the restaurant’s most popular items. Add in convenient parking, friendly service and affordable prices and Mother’s Cafe will quickly become a staple on any Austin vegetarian or vegan’s go-to restaurant list.

Mother’s Cafe is open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Brunch is served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Mother’s Cafe
4215 Duval Street
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 451-3994
www.motherscafeaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mothers-cafe-and-garden-austin

Deli Meats Are Cured In-House at Melvin’s Deli Comfort

Melvin’s Deli Comfort makes lunchtime in Austin tastier with house-cured deli meats and made-from-scratch condiments. Meats include roasted pork, pastrami, turkey, ham, and pork belly confit. You can buy these meats by the pound or order them packed into one of the deli’s selection of sandwiches, which includes hot Italian beef, pork confit, or avocado Reuben with house Russian dressing. Patty melts arrive with fresh beef brisket that’s ground in-house, while the croquet monsieur is filled with ham, Gruyere, and house mustard.

If you’re especially hungry, order The Mezeluri, a sandwich that's piled high with a quarter-pound of roast beef, pastrami, ham, turkey, roasted pork, and bacon along with house condiments and veggies! Melvin’s Deli Comfort serves all of its sandwiches with chips. The staff builds every sandwich by hand under strict guidelines.

Melvin’s Deli Comfort
501 East 53rd Street
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 705-3906
www.melvinsdelicomfort.com
www.yelp.com/biz/melvins-deli-comfort-austin

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