Can you call a brunch truly complete if it doesn't involve sipping a Bloody Mary? The folks behind one popular Austin restaurant doesn't think so, so they fashioned their brunch around the almightly beverage.

The Hightower is only about 2.5 miles from Elan East, and it offers Bloody Mary bar, so you have sole control over what goes into your cocktail. Not only that, mimosas are only $1.50 during brunch time. While it's easy to get excited about the drinks here, the food deserves applause, too. A few highlights include peanut butter Brussels sprouts, fried chickpeas, ceviche, smoked redfish spread, s'mores fried pie. Yelpers say the prices at The Hightower are more than reasonable when considering the large portion sizes, and the service is spot-on. Regulars recommend making reservations, especially for brunch — The Hightower tends to be hopping then!

The Hightower
1209 E. 7th St.
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-1448
thehightoweraustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-hightower-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr L.A. Foodie

Yelp reviewers can't say enough about the enticing flavors of the roasted pork jowl at The Hightower. The Austin eatery not far from Elan East offers plenty of well-regarded dishes—including many updated barbecue eats—but the roasted pork jowl shows up in glowing reviews time and time again. That's because in addition to the tender meat, the entree includes rice and egg yolk, burnt avocado, pickled shallots, cucumber, as well as fiery house sriracha sauce.

If you're interested in The Hightower's meat-free fare, try the smoked tofu. It earns similarly high marks from customers, and comes with pinto beans, huitlacoche, sopecitos, avocado, a crema crafted from cashews and almonds, and a dusting of sunflower seeds. Both dishes are available at lunch and dinner (though the accompaniments vary based on the hour). You can pair your chosen dish with one of the house's signature cocktails, perhaps the High Tail with Bulleit Rye and honey, or the Italian Fizz with vodka, blood orange soda, and Campari.

The Hightower
1209 E. 7th Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-1448
thehightoweraustin.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/the-hightower-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Edsel Little