Whether you're a seasoned wine expert or a novice to wine drinking, the service and selection at The Red Room Lounge just might make this place your new go-to wine bar in Austin. The knowledgeable sommeliers are happy to put together tasting flights, make recommendations, educate you about the wine-making process, and help you find just the right vintage for your own particular taste.

The Red Room Lounge’s atmosphere is dramatic, featuring dim lighting, exposed brick, deep leather couches, and lots of dark wood. Note, however, that this is not a place where you should expect to get dinner along with your wine. The Red Room Lounge offers a small selection of cheese and charcuterie plates, but this dedicated wine cellar focuses mainly on drinks.

The Red Room Lounge
306 E. Third Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 501-1536
www.redroomatx.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-red-room-lounge-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill

If you’re searching for great barbecue in the South Austin area, simply drop what you’re doing and head to Franklin Barbecue. This old-fashioned barbecue joint uses family cooking traditions passed down from generation to generation, but its brick and mortar location is the ideal blend of Austin’s signature eclectic decor and a sleek, modern flair.

The menu is very small, but each dish is so expertly prepared that you won’t even think of anything else. Plates and sandwiches made with chopped beef, pulled pork, sausage, and other smoked meats are served with your choice of pinto beans, slaw, or potato salad, and Franklin Barbecue has sold out of its famous pulled pork every day since its opening in 2009.

Hailed as one of the top barbecue restaurants in the country by Bon Appetit, the New York Times, Southern Living, and many other esteemed publications, Franklin Barbecue is an absolute must-try Austin restaurant.

Franklin Barbecue
900 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 653-1187
www.franklinbarbecue.com
www.yelp.com/biz/franklin-barbecue-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/erik forsberg

With dim lighting, contemporary furnishings, and fresh sushi, Tadashi is a unique experience for all of your senses. This authentic Japanese restaurant is located in an upscale plaza near a movie theater and other restaurants, and its interior features a spacious sushi bar, a wall of wine, and a comfortable outdoor patio filled with sleek tables and bold red chairs.

Tadashi takes great interest in using only the highest quality ingredients in every dish, and the restaurant even flies in hard-to-find types of fish from all over the world. Each roll is beautifully prepared and features artistic garnishes arranged on the plate, and the menu also lists other Japanese small plates and entrees for those who don’t prefer sushi. Tadashi offers a full wine, beer, and sake menu for of-age guests, and the welcoming staff is always available to recommend a good pairing.

Tadashi
12820 Hill Country Boulevard
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-3200
www.home.tadashiaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/tadashi-bee-cave

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Jouko Karvonen