Little Barrel and Brown: Don’t Miss the Dewberry Farms Fried Chicken

Austin’s culinary culture has come a long way in the last decade, and one of the town’s most promising eateries is Little Barrel and Brown. This exceptional New American bistro specializes in unique takes on familiar foods.

Start off with a selection from the “little snacks” menu at the bar. The caramel corn with cracked black pepper and sea salt is delicious, and the cheese fries with cheddar, smoked gouda, and scallions are decadent and tasty. Moving on to entrees, regulars rave about the burgers topped with “marrownaise,” a creamy spread created from whipped bone marrow. Also awesome is the roasted pork shoulder with lentils and acorn squash, which is fork-tender and perfectly spiced. However, the one can’t-miss meal on the menu here is the Dewberry Farms fried chicken, which is crisped to perfection and served with celery root slaw and hot sauce.

Prices are reasonable, especially considering the high quality of the cuisine on offer.

Little Barrel and Brown
1716 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 582-1229
www.littlebarrelandbrown.com
www.yelp.com/biz/little-barrel-and-brown-austin

Enjoy Fish Tacos at Cabo Bobs Burritos

Austin has no shortages of places to dine on excellent Mexican food, so you have to really do something special to stand out. What brings people back to Cabo Bob’s Burritos time and time again is simple: the best fish tacos anywhere in the city. Upon your first visit, you might be a little intimidated by the line from the counter, which can stretch all the way to the door on busy days. But have patience and you will be rewarded!

These tacos are made with perfectly fried fish slathered in chipotle crema and served with a mango pico de gallo salsa that’s sweet and spicy. When you’re ready to move on and try the rest of the menu, some other dishes that win raves from regulars include the great brisket burritos, which fold slow-cooked beef in an ancho chile tortilla with cheese, rice, beans and the house special "66 red" sauce.

Cabo Bobs Burritos
500 E. Ben White Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 432-1111
cabobobs.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cabo-bobs-burritos-austin

Taste Unique Tacos at Doc’s Motorworks on South Congress

Located right on South Congress is Austin's own Doc's Motorworks. The atmosphere at Doc's is friendly and a little loud, like a good sports bar should be. There are plenty of TVs and patrons can enjoy a game of washers, too. Doc's claims to have one of the largest selections of Texas beers, so if you enjoy indulging in local flavor, then you'll be pleased with what's on tap.

Leave your taco comfort zone with a bite of the chicken fried avocado with tomatillo cream sauce, or chow down on chicken eggrolls served with beans. Other must-haves include the massive Frito pie with all the fixings and the veggie tacos with marinated portabella mushrooms. Check out the website for daily specials (including the dollar tacos on Wednesdays) and event schedule.

Doc's Motorworks
1123 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 448-9181
eatdrinkdocs.com
www.yelp.com/biz/docs-motorworks-austin-2

Curra’s Grill: Mexican Fare in South Austin

Craving Mexican fare in Austin? One top spot might be Curra's Grill. Start off with one of this place's signature drinks like an Avocado Margarita with a creamy blend of that pear-shaped green fruit you don’t normally think of as compatible with tequila. Move on to an appetizer like some crispy Chips & Guacamole, or Chile con Queso – creamy melted cheese with chiles. Follow that up with an entrée like Carne Guisada – flank steak in a rich, tomato, pepper & onion sauce, Chile Colorado – pork simmered in guajillo sauce, or Pollo Chipotle – grilled chicken breast smothered in chipotle sauce, cheese & avocado. Stop in for breakfast for tasty day-starters like Breakfast Tacos and Huevos Rancheros. Curra's Grill is open Mondays through Saturdays.

Curra's Grill
614 E. Oltorf Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-0012
http://www.currasgrill.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/curras-grill-austin

Classic Tex-Mex Food in Austin at Guero’s Taco Bar

Housed in a seed and feed store that dates back to the 1800s, Guero's Taco Bar is a local Tex-Mex favorite. Guero's uses homemade tortillas, savory refried beans, crisp corn, and expertly-made rice to create authentic Tex-Mex food right here in Austin.

Try the Santa Fe enchiladas, filled with your choice of meat and sauces, the three tamale plate, or the ground beef tacos with carrots and potatoes. Regulars insist that one of the highlights of this restaurant is the salsa bar, where you can select from a variety of different salsas and toppings, like jalapenos and onions, to complement your main entree. Guero's accommodates those those with special diets fabulously by featuring both a gluten free and a vegan menu that boasts soy chorizo, mushrooms, potatoes, and beans.

Guero's opens early Saturday and Sunday for breakfast.

Guero's Taco Bar
1412 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
http://www.guerostacobar.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gueros-taco-bar-austin

Casa De Luz: Vegetarian and Gluten Free Food

Healthful vegetarian, gluten-free fare is what’s cooking in the kitchen of Case De Luz, a non-profit eatery in South Austin, where a love of fresh, lovingly-prepared food and a community spirit is the credo. Visit and you'll stroll past the garden and into the peaceful ambiance of the dining room. Settle in at one of the community tables and prepare to make your tastbuds happy and your body healthy with one of this restaurant's flavorful meals. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. The price is $7 and includes a set menu of porridge with granola & raisins, soup, leafy greens, mixed vegetables, beans and freshly made tortillas. Lunch and dinner are both $12 and include many of the same items, plus a veggie entrée and a hot whole grain like brown rice, or quinoa. Casa de Luz is also kid-friendly, with a playground to occupy the little ones.

Casa de Luz
1701 Toomey Road
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-2535
http://www.casadeluz.org/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-de-luz-austin

Enjoy Inventive Italian Fare and a Serenade at Botticelli’s

Botticelli's is a family-owned Italian restaurant located right in the heart of the South Congress shopping district. Owners Andrew and Matt Botticelli work hard to ensure their restaurant serves authentic Italian food with integrity and inventiveness. Menu items include ravioli stuffed with butternut squash, pansotti pasta featuring mushrooms and ricotta cheese, and duck breast with ravioli and black pepper fig sauce.

There is a wide choice of wines and a happy hour on Sundays and Mondays, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Besides the food and drink selection, customers enjoy relaxing in the idyllic beer garden, where diners can expect to be serenaded by live music Thursdays through Saturdays. Large parties are advised to make reservations and the beer garden fills up fast, too.

Botticelli's
1321 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-1315
http://botticellissouthcongress.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/botticellis-austin

Black Sheep Lodge: A Popular South Austin Bar and Grill

Twenty large-screen HD TVs, pool tables, shuffleboard, darts and free Wi-Fi are a few of the reasons to stop by South Austin's Black Sheep Lodge. A hefty beer selection, both on tap and bottled, plus cocktails and wine are also part of the appeal of this popular sports bar and eatery. When you need a nosh, settle in with some Fried Pickles with ranch dressing, Smoked Chipotle Wings, Beer-Battered Fried Cheese Curds or Chips & Salsa. If your hunger requires something more substantial, order yourself a Black Sheep Burger, a Carnitas Sandwich with slow-roasted pork & coleslaw, a Chile Cheese Dog, or a Portabella Cheesesteak Philly. Sit inside or rustle up a spot outside on their dog-friendly patio and watch the action on South Lamar. Black Sheep Lodge is open every day.

Black Sheep Lodge
2108 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 707-2744
http://www.blacksheeplodge.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-sheep-lodge-austin

Grab a Bucket of Delicious Chicken at Lucy’s Fried Chicken

With two locations in Austin, on South Congress and Burnet, no one has an excuse for missing out on Lucy's Fried Chicken. Try fried gizzards and livers made using a secret buttermilk blend, fried chicken spaghetti, or a blackened catfish sandwich served on Texas toast with pimento and jalapeno jelly. Of course, you can never go wrong ordering a bucket of chicken at Lucy's and sharing it between the table. Regulars also tout Lucy's as one of their favorite spots to grab a plate of oysters, raw or smothered in buffalo sauce, garlic butter, or chili sauce, and wood-fire grilled. Attempt to save room for dessert, or consider taking a slice of their homemade pies home for later.

Lucy's has a relaxed, homey atmosphere and makes a great spot for a large, casual get together or more intimate gatherings. Lucy's is open Mondays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. 

Lucy's Fried Chicken
2218 College Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 297-2423
http://lucysfriedchicken.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lucys-fried-chicken-austin-2

Taste Rare Indian Curries at New India Cuisine

New India Cuisine on South Congress offers up homemade Indian food with an American twist. New India takes pride in using natural ingredients that are free from artificial colorings and MSG. Another bragging point: New India is the only restaurant in America that serves Malvani and Gomantak curries. There are also plenty of vegan and gluten free options, as well as delicious yeast-free naan.

Inside this cozy restaurant, you can select from traditional dishes like the gingery tikka masala or go for a quesadilla made with Indian seasonings. For drinks, New India is now serving craft beers and organic wines. There are also some yogurt based drinks that come in flavors like mango and cumin.

There's plenty of parking, but if you take your bicycle or walk in management will give you a dollar off your meal. It's the staff's way of encouraging people to go green.

New India Cuisine
2304 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 445-9727
http://www.newindia.us/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/new-india-cuisine-austin

Pin It on Pinterest