Beets Living Foods Café: Refresh with Raw Creations

Beets Living Foods Café is a vegan, raw food establishment that makes food that will impress any diner. Passion and creativity are at work in the kitchen to create healthy and good tasting meals. These dishes aren't your typical, bland sort of health food fare. Inventive items like the raw reuben and an eggplant B.L.T. are all over the menu, as are an impressive selection of side and entree salads. There's also an array of refreshing fruit and vegetable smoothies. Beets also regularly offers classes on raw cooking, and can be rented out for events at extremely great rates. Relax in the spacious dining room and enjoy a nice meal or a quick refresher. Whatever you do, be sure not to miss Beets Living Foods Café. You'll be amazed that so much flavor can come out of raw cooking, and your body will thank you for it!

Beets Living Foods Café
1611 W. 5th Street
Suite 165
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-2338
http://www.yelp.com/biz/beets-living-foods-cafe-austin
 

Gourmands: Sandwiches with Personality

Do you want a sandwich? Then there’s one place in Austin that you need to try: Gourmands, opened in 2011, has earned a reputation for seriously great food at fair prices. Located in an old bar that’s been thoroughly remodeled, the atmosphere is quirky and overflowing with character, from the checkerboard tile on the walls to the slight lean to the building. That character comes through in the food as well. These aren’t your ordinary deli sandwiches – each of them has real personality. The menu is extensive, and just about everything is great, but some favorites include the Second Deadly Sin (smoked turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, sprouts and fried avocado) and the Cool Hand Luke (house-made egg salad, celery and caramelized onions). One of the best things about Gourmands is the house-made potato chips that come with every sandwich. Fresh from the fryer, they’re perfectly crispy and salty and will leave you craving more.

Gourmands
2316 Webberville Road
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 610-2031
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gourmands-austin-2

TRIO: Fine New American Fare

Austin diners looking for a high-quality meal have been flocking to Trio in the Four Seasons Hotel for years, knowing that a meal here is a delight. Chef de Cuisine Grant McDonald brings a fascinating life experience to the kitchen here, from a boyhood in Norway eating farm to table to a chemistry major at McGill University, McDonald’s diverse influences show up in the beautifully-composed menu, which boasts dishes like awesome Gulf ceviche as an appetizer. Entrees are equally impressive, with diners raving about the perfectly-cooked flatiron steak, the rack of lamb cooked in rosemary, garlic and house-made mustard, and the gulf redfish with corn and pumpkin. The wine list is very good as well, pairing excellently with the flavors on the menu. The Sunday brunch buffet packs the restaurant to the rafters with an incredible selection of tasty options, including unforgettable made-to-order eggs Benedict, stuffed French toast, pastries, muesli and more.

TRIO
Four Seasons Hotel
98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 685-8300
http://www.yelp.com/biz/trio-austin-2

French Quarter Grille: Enjoy Cajun Cuisine

With fantastic cajun cuisine, the French Quarter Grille is a friendly spot that's great for casual fine-dining. This cozy space serves up a menu full of incredible gulf specialties. Incredible incarnations of classics like etoufée and gumbo along with inspired culinary creations like pecan-crusted trout and crawfish beignets. Pastas and salads are also available. Save some room for dessert, too, to sample incredible fare like a croissant bread pudding or an orange crème brûlée. The lunch menu has a number of these great choices, and some classic po-boy sandwiches, too! Portions are generous without being overwhelming, and service is professional and helpful. French Quarter Grille is Cajun cooking at its finest.

French Quarter Grille
13000 N. IH-35
Suite 600
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 832-9090
http://www.yelp.com/biz/french-quarter-grille-austin

Torchy’s Tacos: Tacos Perfected

If you haven’t ever had an elaborate taco, it can be hard to imagine that such a thing exists. After all, how interesting can a dish that comprises nothing but a bit of meat, a handful of veggies, and some grated cheese be? Check out Torchy’s Tacos in Austin to see the true potential of the taco. For its signature taco, Torchy’s has taken a tip from New Mexico and crafted the Green Chile Pork: roasted pork carnitas with green chiles, dressed in fresh queso sauce and topped with cilantro, onions, and lime. Or check out Torchy’s Tacos's monthly specials. One recent favorite was the American (their proudest taco yet, they say), with crispy fried chicken, pineapple coleslaw, jack cheese, pico de gallo salsa, and cilantro, drizzled with chipotle ranch sauce.

Torchy’s Tacos
5119 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 382-0823

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