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Round Rock Donuts: Not Just Donuts

January 23, 2013 by

Since 1926, Round Rock Donuts has been a Texas tradition with their famous golden doughy delights. Their signature donut — glazed, warm and Texas-sized — has been featured on national TV food shows. Other donut options are simple and traditional — don’t expect any fancy flavors or sprinkles. In addition to the glazed, cake, and cream filled donuts, the bakery also offers a variety of other baked goods like danishes, fritters, muffins and coffee cakes.  Customers rave about the cream filled eclairs. And though Round Rock Donuts is a famous area landmark, it hasn’t gone to their heads — everything is reasonably priced and the lobby has a homey feel with stone walls and wood paneling. 

In a hurry or don't want to be tempted? Use the drive-thru. Round Rock Donuts also creates custom cakes for birthdays, graduations, weddings and other special occasions.
 

Round Rock Donuts
106 W Liberty
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 255-3629
www.yelp.com/biz/round-rock-donuts-round-rock-3

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Main Street Grill: Big City Dining for Less

January 16, 2013 by

Some great restaurants don’t blow you away with decor, but let the food speak for itself. Sure, Main Street Grill looks classy enough inside, with high-backed booths, crisp linens, candles on the tables, and cool modern art on the walls. But nothing grabs you, nothing makes a grand claim. That’s the food’s job—and the food speaks loudly. In Dallas or Chicago, fine new American cuisine like this would break the bank, but here in Round Rock it’s not exactly cheap, but along with the smooth, attentive service, a meal here is of extraordinary value. Start with savory green grill cheesecake, a creamy, pungent delight under a pool of cilantro dressing and pico de gallo. You are also sure to enjoy the Asian-spiced venison medallions, cooked medium rare, with perfectly fried polenta, baby asparagus, and button mushrooms sauteed in wine. A sweet blackberry demiglace sauce, with thin lines of wasabi-spiked mustard running through it, accompanies the tender and tasty meat. The dessert and wine lists are equally decadent. Main Street Grill is open for lunch and dinner Monday – Friday, and for dinner on Saturday. Closed Sundays.

Main Street Grill
118 E. Main St
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 244-7525

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Happy Hour Deals and Steals at Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine

January 9, 2013 by

Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine in Round Rock serves up flavorful Japanese fare in a classy setting.

Regulars swear by the ahi tower appetizer, which layers tuna tartar, avocado, cucumber, sushi rice, caviar, and creamy wasabi sauce. Elegant presentation makes dishes look as good as they taste, like their filet mignon, which features sea urchin butter and a shitake mushroom sauce. The maki rolls are huge — try the Spicy Jen-Jen with spicy tuna, cucumber, and avocado, wrapped in salmon and crunchy flakes.  

What really sets Beluga apart is the great deals every day of the week. Lunch specials from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. feature 2-for-1 sushi, and daily happy hours keep the fun moving. Happy hour features $3 Sake-tinis and $4 large sakes, a roll selection for about $5, and all sushi under $2.  

Stop by on Saturday evening where Beluga offers an all you can eat sushi special for about $35 per person (everyone at the table must order the special).  
 

Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine
661 Louis Henna Blvd
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 255-6454
www.yelp.com/biz/beluga-japanese-cuisine-round-rock

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Carmelo’s: From Sicily To Texas

December 24, 2012 by

This top-flight Italian eatery has been dazzling Austinites for years, and one bite of Chef Carmelo Mauro’s spectacular cuisine will make you a convert as well. Mauro opened the first Carmelo’s in Houston in 1978 and expanded to Austin in 1985. In the three decades he’s been in the restaurant business he has assembled a legion of devoted fans who claim that his place offers the best Italian in Texas, hands down. For appetizers, the beefsteak tomatoes topped with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil can’t be beat, as well as the mussels, flavorful and simmered in garlic white wine broth. Entrees that garner special attention are the chicken Parmesan, which is lush and delicious, as well as signature dishes like the tender Ossobucco and fettucine carbonara, which is cooked tableside. In general, the seafood here is beyond reproach, with tender, perfectly-cooked salmon a highlight. Carmelo’s also has an excellent wine selection. For dessert, the lemon cake, served from an old-school three-tiered dessert cart, is some of the best in town.

Carmelo’s
504 E 5th St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 477-7497

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Classic BBQ at Johnny T’s

December 18, 2012 by

Johnny T's BBQ in Austin is a classic Texas BBQ experience, offering a good balance between smoky and spicy. Regulars flock here for the pork ribs that fall off the bone. Others love the moist brisket that lives up to its name, well-seasoned and cooked just right. This is a great lunch spot, with fast service and specials.  If you’re lucky, you’ll stop in on a day when their famous smoked brisket chili makes an appearance on the specials menu. And don't miss the homemade mustard BBQ sauce, which makes a tangy topper to your pulled pork sandwich.  


Classic BBQ at Johnny T's
1318 Round Rock Ave
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 255-7447
www.facebook.com/JohnnyTsBBQ
www.yelp.com/biz/johnny-ts-bbq-round-rock

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Wonderful Wines Under $15

December 11, 2012 by

Wine can get expensive, but one of the more heartening trends in food and drink has been the rise of delicious yet relatively inexpensive wines. If you're seeking something perfect for a trip out to a new BYOB or a great dinner party gift, Food and Wine has compiled a great set of lists of some of the top wines you can find for just under fifteen bucks. Here are some of their lists:

For more guides on finding the best wines and the perfect pairings, visit Food and Wine's website.

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Swad: Dig Into a Dosa

December 4, 2012 by

A vegetarian restaurant with tantalizing food from the North and South of India, Swad is an exotic and delicious treat. The flavors and aromas here are incredibly enticing, making it a great destination even for the most carnivorous diner. The samosas are a wonderful way to start, but the real star here are the enormous dosas. Dosas are crepes made with a batter of rice and lentils, and are not only delicious, but enormous in size. Thali is another great option, in which you are served incredible bread and a plate full of numerous little dishes to eat it with. For the quality and size of the dishes here, the prices are incredibly low, too! For a fantastic, fast meal, give Swad a shot and prepare to be delighted.

Swad
9515 N. Lamar Boulevard #156
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 997-7923
http://www.yelp.com/biz/swad-austin
 

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Louisiana Longhorn Cafe: “Where the Bayou Meets the BBQ”

November 27, 2012 by

According to the restaurant, Louisiana Longhorn Café boasts “The Best Cajun Food West of the Sabine River.” Where’s that? In the heart of the Louisiana Bayou, of course. All the proprietors hail from Cajun Country, and LLC recreates the laid-back world they grew up in.  When we say this is an authentic experience, we’re not just talking about the Mardi Gras beads; we mean all the food comes from “borrowed” family recipes, the piquant, generations-old work of people with French names and the patience to make sure those Fried Pickles have just the right snap. The Shrimp Acadiana is a peppery eye-opener, and we haven’t had Etouffee this good since we spent a long night in New Orleans. Grab some of “The World’s Coldest Beer” and toast the alligator on the wall—they fry up his buddies here, and after one bite, you’ll wish you had a few in your back yard, too. Louisiana Longhorn Café is closed Mondays.

Louisiana Longhorn Cafe
200B E Main Ave
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 248-2900

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Truluck’s: Sustainable Seafood For a Delicious Meal

November 20, 2012 by

More and more people are concerned about the future of our oceans, and commercial fishing is becoming less and less sustainable as populations decline. Restaurants like Truluck’s are working hard to ensure that our food supply is sustainable for future generations. This top-flight restaurant has implemented a fantastic program that sources food from carefully-selected providers, including their own crab fishery outside of Naples. This tight control over where their ingredients come from translates into amazing food that has diners raving. Open your meal with the fantastic stone crab claws, served on a bed of ice, and then proceed to the great crab macaroni and cheese, sesame-crusted Hawaiian tuna, tender and succulent filet mignon, or pretty much anything else on the menu. Desserts are also great, with the carrot cake garnering special attention. This place is always a winner, with extremely consistent food and service, good-sized portions, and reasonable prices.

Truluck’s
400 Colorado Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 482-9000

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Driskill Grill: Austin Farm to Table Fare

November 13, 2012 by

One of Austin’s most prestigious restaurants, the Driskill Grill – located within the Driskill Hotel – is an award-winning New American restaurant that serves up innovative and exciting food to a clientele of appreciative diners. The establishment has pulled in multiple Awards of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine, as well as solid Zagat ratings year after year. Under the guidance of Executive Chef Jonathan Gelman, the kitchen produces exceptional menus that dazzle diners. If you don’t feel like deciding, put yourself in the chef’s capable hands with his nightly three-course “farm to table” prix fixe menu, which never disappoints. Eaters who feel like dining a la carte have an excellent selection of dishes, with some favorites including the prime aged filet mignon with smoked cheddar grits, roasted wild mushrooms and glazed onions, as well as the Hawaiian ahi poke.

Driskill Grill
604 Brazos Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 391-7162
http://www.yelp.com/biz/driskill-grill-austin

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