Bombay to Kathmandu Kitchen: The Only Restaurant in Austin Serving Cuisine From Nepal

It had its grand opening July 1, and Bombay to Kathmandu Kitchen has been wowing diners ever since. It's easy to see why — this restaurant is the only one in Austin serving authentic cuisine from Nepal, which is similar to Indian food. As the name suggests, Bombay to Kathmandu Kitchen also serves Indian cuisine, and the two blend together perfectly, diners say.

Dig into Nepalese specialties like dal, which is a soup made with lentils and spices. Or how about momo, one of the most popular dishes in the country? They're spiced dumplings filled with chicken or vegetables. And a Nepalese meal isn't complete without chutney. Those who've tried Bombay to Kathmandu Kitchen praise the freshly grilled mutton as well as the chicken momos. The specials can't be beat, either. Veggie samosas are on special for 99 cents every day here — deal! Make the 10-minute drive from Folio for a taste.

Bombay to Kathmandu Kitchen
9616 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 490-6432
bombaytokathmandu.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bombay-to-kathmandu-kitchen-austin

Get French Fries Your Way at the Newly Opened Boise Fry Company!

If you live at Folio and you're a true fry lover, you’re in luck. Boise Fry Company opened in late July a little less than two miles from Folio, giving you easy access to this haven of fried potatoes and toppings! You don't have to settle for white potatoes — you can choose whatever type of potato or other veggie you want (and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try some of their Brussels sprout fries), and you also have the option of choosing your own cut style. Are you a curly fry type, or are you more of a shoestring person? You can get it all here.

You can’t have fries without a burger, and Boise Fry Company knows how to make burgers. The popular bison burgers are made fresh, and they go great with their own special fries. Whether you’re craving fries for a snack or burgers for lunch or dinner, Boise Fry Company is the place for you to be.

Boise Fry Company
11005 Burnet Road
Austin TX 78758
(512) 614-1663
www.yelp.com/biz/boise-fry-company-austin

LA Crawfish, a New Austin Eatery, Combines Crawfish with Vietnamese Flavors!

Combine Vietnam and Louisiana with a little Houston flair and what do you get? LA Crawfish! Based in Houston, this mini chain has just expanded to Austin and has taken up residence in a spot that's 10 minutes away from Folio.

Houston has become a boomtown for the Vietnamese crawfish craze — think boiled crawfish flavored with Cajun spices, garlic butter, or hot and sour spices. And now Austin has welcomed this dining trend with open arms. In addition to boiled crawfish, the menu is filled with a variety of other tempting dishes, like the crawfish pho, five-spice basil chicken wings, and Cajun curry. This location is owned by a local family who provides above-and-beyond service, according to Yelp reviews. As a bonus, LA Crawfish is a BYOB, and the portions are huge, making a meal here a great value.

LA Crawfish
2525 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 243-5599
www.yelp.com/biz/la-crawfish-austin

Offering Breakfast Until 4 p.m. on Weekends, Galaxy Cafe Continues to Satisfy Diners

With four locations in Austin, Galaxy Cafe is a local chain that recently opened a new location about 15 minutes from Folio. Galaxy Cafe has a mission of offering superior service as well as great food made with all-natural ingredients and, judging from the Yelp reviews, it's succeeded.

The breakfast menu ranges from its signature wraps to “breakfasts from around the galaxy” with plates inspired by Mexican, French, and Mediterranean cuisines – and it serves breakfast until 4 p.m. on weekends! Lunch offers a wide selection of wraps, salads, and sandwiches, and guests rave the most about the sweet potato fries. There are additional specials for dinner, including the delicious Galaxy Buddha Bowl, all for reasonable prices. A highlight of Galaxy Cafe is the extensive gluten free menu, which diners applaud. Galaxy Cafe also scores points from patrons for its eco-friendly policies — it uses biodegradable to-go packaging and it converts its used vegetable oil into biodiesel.

Galaxy Cafe
1000 W. Lynn St.
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-3434
www.galaxycafeaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/galaxy-cafe-austin-6

Grab Gourmet American Fare at This New Location of Twisted Root Burger Co.

Twisted Root Burger Co. was a labor of love for Jason Boso and Quincy Hart. A former corporate peon, Jason escaped the suit-and-tie life for culinary school. It was there that he met Quincy Hart, and the pair quickly struck up a romance. After culinary school, they both worked a few restaurant jobs, but only for the sake of pursuing their real dream: opening their own gourmet burger joint. They scrimped and saved to make this dream a reality and, in 2005, it happened.

Ten years later, Twisted Root Burger Co. has taken over the state of Texas. In fact, a new location just opened in May 15 minutes from Folio. Armed with the signature pickle bar and an impressive menu of specialty burgers, this Twisted Root lives up to the franchise's lofty reputation. Locals highly recommend the Kevin Bacon, a burger crowned with three strips of crispy bacon and Danish bleu cheese. However, you can also opt for guacamole, fried onion strings, or even French fries on top of your burger.

Twisted Root Burger Co.
7211 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 925-2161
twistedrootburgerco.com/austinnorth
www.yelp.com/biz/twisted-root-burger-co-austin-4

Dig Into Asian Fusion Fare at Saffron, a New Restaurant in Austin!

In the mere two months since it opened, Saffron has racked up nearly 30 Yelp reviews—and they award it five stars almost across the board. Perhaps that's because this Indian restaurant doesn't really adhere strictly to culinary tradition. Elements of Pakistani, Himalayan, and Nepalese cuisine are prevalent in the menu, too, resulting in an entirely new genre of Asian fusion fare.

Saffron sits just about 10 minutes away from Folio, so head here for dinner to try a few of its standout dishes. Customers highly recommend you order some rosemary and cheese naan on the side of any main dish, as it's perfect for scooping up the last licks of your meal. When it comes to entrees, the goat curry stands out in the crowd. It showcases moist bone-in goat that's been carefully cooked with garlic, ginger, and a blend of exotic spices to create a tender, flavorful end product. Other dishes come fresh from the tandoor, a traditional Indian clay oven, and some feature seafood or skip the meat altogether.

Saffron
3616 Far West Boulevard
Austin, TX 78731
(512) 241-1732
www.saffronaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/saffron-austin-2

Grab Produce Straight from the Source at the Texas Farmers’ Market at Domain

At the Texas Farmers' Market at The Domain, one of three markets in the area, shoppers always get their groceries directly from the source. That's because all three of the Texas Farmers' Markets are producer-only farmers' markets, meaning the folks at each booth only sell what they've raised or grown themselves. There's no better way to cultivate a relationship between local farmers and the customers they serve. To ensure that each producer is up to snuff, market managers not only inspect photos of their products, but also go out to the farm or ranch once a year to make sure it's running smoothly.

At The Domain branch of the Texas Farmers' Market, you can pick up fresh veggies from OrganiCare Farms or a bouquet of flowers from Prickly Pair Farm. Austin Honey doles out sweet nectar, courtesy of local bees, and Winters Family Beef offers prime cuts of meat. Prepared foods like pasta, cheese, seafood, and even chocolates are also on the menu at Texas Farmers' Market at The Domain, which is only about 2.5 miles away from Folio.

Texas Farmers' Market
The Domain
3 to 6 p.m. July 5
3225 Amy Donovan Plaza
Austin, TX 78758
texasfarmersmarket.org/domain
www.yelp.com/biz/texas-farmers-market-at-domain-austin

The Steeping Room: The Ultimate Tea Experience

With a name that's sure to please tea aficionados, The Steeping Room offers all-day tea and meals, just a few miles away from Folio. It has an extensive tea list, with options in black, white, green, and oolong. Rare teas from all over the world are also stocked here, from China, India, Nepal, and Tanzania. Some teas are labeled with the year they were made as if to note the "vintage," like the 1989 Pu-erh Yunnan Reserve, a tea you can’t find anywhere else locally. Seasonal favorites like pumpkin chai appear throughout the year as well.

Unlike other places in the area, you can order tea cakes anytime during the weekend. The Steeping Room offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and much of the food is vegetarian; there are many gluten-free and vegan options too. If you need your tea fix at home, there's a small retail store where you can purchase tea by the gram.

The Steeping Room
11410 Century Oaks Terrace
Austin, TX 78758
www.thesteepingroom.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-steeping-room-austin

Garden Spot Cafe: A Hidden Gem Offering Salads that Hit the Spot!

Garden Spot Cafe is easy to miss. It’s a small spot on Burnet Road, about three miles from Folio. It’s also easy to miss the dining hours, which are just four hours per day, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and only on weekdays. But, if the planets align and you’re able to make it to this quaint eatery, you’re sure to be pleased with the food.

After all, it’s been around since 1982, serving lunch fare that’s made fresh every day. Some customer favorites include the Majestic Salad (smoked turkey breast, carrots, cabbage, provolone, cranberries, toasted pecans, tomatoes, and cucumbers with your choice of dressing), the Red Baron (smoked ham, cream cheese, mushrooms, and smoked provolone) and the tuna melt. Garden Spot also caters, so keep it in mind if you’re hosting a gathering.

Garden Spot Cafe
9415 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 835-1985
www.gardenspotcafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/garden-spot-cafe-and-catering-austin

Flaming Pizza: Fresh Pies in Four Minutes

Austin marches to its own beat, as evidenced by its slogan: "Keep Austin Weird." So even when it comes to shopping malls, you can expect something a little different in this Texas city. The Domain forgoes halls for fresh air, so you can soak up sunshine while you traipse from store to store or restaurant to restaurant. One of those stops should be a Flaming Pizza, a shiny new restaurant that just opened in May less than 10 minutes from Folio.

Chefs at Flaming Pizza craft their dough from scratch each morning, incorporating the best and freshest ingredients that they can find. There are more than 30 toppings on the menu, ranging from quality meats and cheeses to crisp veggies. Many of them are sourced from local farmers and ranchers. Build your own pie or order one of the pizzeria's signature creations and then wait for it to arrive. The fast-cooking pizza oven will bake your pie to golden brown in a matter of four minutes. What do you think of this new dining option at The Domain?

Flaming Pizza
The Domain
3220 Feathergrass Court
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 792-9595
www.flamingpizzausa.com
www.yelp.com/biz/flaming-pizza-austin

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