Honor the Austin Food Scene at Stella San Jac!

You’ve heard of contemporary American cuisine, and may have even dined at an American fusion restaurant, but have you eaten at a place that serves Austin-American food?

Stella San Jac opened a few weeks ago inside the Westin hotel, just two miles away from Lamar Union, and the menu honors the city’s unique culinary scene. Reviewers have described this chic restaurant as having a straightforward approach to Southern food, with standouts such as deviled eggs with sausage, crispy Brussels sprouts, crab cakes, fried avocado salad, and s'mores fondue for dessert. You won’t find any fusion dishes or “______-style takes” on your favorite foods at Stella Jan Jac, just good old fashioned Austin cuisine. The open kitchen, inspired menu, and live music are sure to make this restaurant a must dine for Austin foodies.

Stella San Jac
310 E. 5th St.
Austin TX 78701
(512) 391-2333
www.stellasanjac.com
www.yelp.com/biz/stella-san-jac-austin-2

Odd Duck: A Top Choice For Brunch in Austin

Winning rave reviews for its superb cuisine, especially its to-die-for brunch, and only about 400 feet from Lamar Union, Odd Duck has made a splash in the Austin culinary scene. It started back in December 2009, when owners and chefs Bryce and Dylan Gilmore turned a trailer they dubbed Odd Duck into a go-to restaurant for locally-sourced, delicious cuisine.

The runaway success of their trailer restaurant led them to built a brick-and-mortar location of Odd Duck on the same spot in 2013, and now Odd Duck is a brunch destination restaurant. The menus change frequently due to the in-season only ingredients, but some recent brunch choices include the crushed duck egg with jalapeno, togarashi mayo, and fried okra, and the creme brulee doughnut with pear and maple custard. The service is said to be wonderful and creates a relaxed feel. Reservations are recommended for this must-try eatery.

Odd Duck
1201 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 433-6521
oddduckaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/odd-duck-austin-2

The Golden Goose: A Fresh New Face in the Austin Cocktail Scene

Taking up residence in the former space of The Horseshoe Lounge, The Golden Goose is a brand new, laid-back spot with a lot of promise. The large bar is well-stocked with everything you could imagine for cocktails. No beers are on tap yet, but bartenders can offer a wide variety of bottles and cans.

The Golden Goose has ample seating at tables, comfy couches, and benches. The decor is a blend of dive bar and high-class lounge that really works, according to those who've visited. A shuffleboard table and plenty of TVs make it a great place for watching a game and hanging out. It also has a small stage that may be used for performances in the future. Despite being in the soft opening stages and still hiring, the staffers are efficient and friendly. A promising start for a bar just a half mile from Lamar Union, The Golden Goose is worth checking out!

The Golden Goose
2034 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
www.yelp.com/biz/the-golden-goose-austin

Create a Farm-To-Table Meal with the HOPE Farmers’ Market

There’s something so appealing about having a true farm-to-table meal, but that’s getting more and more difficult to find. You can go out to a sustainable restaurant that buys their food from local sources, but it's much more challenging to achieve the same type of meal at home at Lamar Union.

That is, of course, unless you focus on shopping at farmers' markets. And there's no better place than the HOPE Farmers' Market. It brings together local farmers and merchants every Sunday so you can have the farm-to-table experience in your own home. The HOPE Farmers' Market is much more than a place where you can buy good food from local purveyors. It's a gathering spot for the East Austin community and it supports a regional food system that other places have replicated. There’s always an eclectic mix of vendors, the occasional live band or musician, and a variety of events and activities.

The HOPE Farmers Market is open every Sunday and is only 10 minutes away from Lamar Union. Be sure to get there early so you don’t miss out on what East Austin has to offer!

HOPE Farmers Market
11 a.m to 3 p.m. every Sunday
412 Comal St.
Austin, TX 78702
www.yelp.com/biz/hope-farmers-market-austin-2

Caffe Medici: A Brand New Coffee Spot at Lamar Union!

If you can’t imagine starting your day without coffee, you don't have to. Residents of Lamar Union are lucky enough to have the perfect coffee shop waiting for them in their own building — Caffe Medici. It can't get any easier than that to get your morning caffeine fix.

Caffe Medici opened in June, and it’s already doing brisk business. This environmentally conscious cafe takes coffee seriously — it only offers the finest brewed beverages made with time-honored techniques. People have already fallen in love with its laid back artsy atmosphere and superior drinks, so you shouldn’t be surprised if you make Caffe Medici your new go-to coffee shop!

Caffe Medici
1100 South Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
www.yelp.com/biz/caffe-medici-austin-5

Juliet: A New Spot for Italian Dining in Austin!

There’s nothing like having authentic Italian cuisine, but that can be hard to find living so far away from Italy. Mastering all of the distinct tastes and recipes can difficult for even the most skilled cooks, but luckily all of that comes naturally to the chefs at the newly opened Juliet in Austin.

Juliet is only a half-mile away from Lamar Union, so you won't have to travel to Rome for a real Italian meal. Juliet opened in late June, and it's already creating a lot of buzz on the local dining scene. The menu puts a refined fine-dining spin on rustic Italian dishes, which in turn gives eaters a truly memorable meal.

This is the ideal place to go on a warm Austin night. Juliet has a sprawling outdoor dining area surrounded with beautiful greenery. Yelpers suggest making reservations, especially for weekend nights.

Juliet
1500 Barton Springs
Austin TX, 78704
(512) 479-1800
www.yelp.com/biz/juliet-austin

Taste the Famous Kimchi Fries at Chi’lantro!

From food truck to restaurant, Chi’lantro is open just down the street from Lamar Union. The Korean barbecue-inspired eatery is a casual spot for interesting takes on barbecue classics.

Try the rice bowl topped with kimchi or the super-popular kimchi fries — french fries with meat or tofu, cheese, onion, cilantro, caramelized kimchi, and many more delicious ingredients. Chi’lantro is also known for its K-Pops, or Korean-fried chicken wings topped with your choice of sauce. The bar serves up beer and wine to accompany the food. Many of the items on the menu are staples when visiting the food truck, like the fries, but a number of items have been added now that the brick-and-mortar eatery is open.

The South Lamar location is one of two outposts in Austin for the Korean eatery. The success of Chi’lantro is evident, as the eatery has even held its own on Eater Austin’s list of the hottest restaurants in the city last month!

Chi'lantro
1509 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
512-428-5269
www.chilantrobbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/chilantro-austin-3

Cantine: A New Spot for Modern Italian Cuisine in Austin!

Cantine is a bar and restaurant that aims to elevate Italian cuisine in Austin. Having opened in May in the same building as Lamar Union, Cantine offers brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks, making it a great place to stop for a bite at almost any time.

Appetizers like the already-beloved fried goat cheese and the blistered shishito peppers are a nice start to a dinner or a great accompaniment for drinks. The noodles for the pasta are handmade in-house, making a delicious base for a meal. Portions are quite generous and everything is beautifully plated, according to Yelpers. Cantine offers a wide selection of wines, as well as specially-crafted cocktails and craft beer. The soft-serve affogato would make a wonderful after-dinner treat for espresso lovers. The decor is modern and streamlined with a few whimsical touches, giving Cantine the perfect ambiance for a late-night date or get-together with friends.

Cantine
1100 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 628-0348
cantineaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cantine-italian-cafe-and-bar-austin

Pay What You Wish to See “Hairspray” at Zilker Park!

Each year, more than 60,000 people take full advantage of the outdoor performances put on at Zilker Park, located less than a mile from Lamar Union. The beloved Austin greenspace plays host to the Zilker Hillside Theatre, a not-for-profit organization that organizes the annual Zilker Summer Musical. It runs every weekend from July to August, and this year the show on deck is Hairspray.

Like all of the musicals produced by the Zilker Hillside Theatre, this musical pays homage to Broadway by pulling out al the stops. From the sets to the cast, every aspect of the show is professional and polished, making for a fun night out with your family or friends. You can "pay what you wish" for your spot at the Beverly S. Sheffield Hillside Theater in Zilker Park, so you won't have to break the bank on this outing, either. Round up the troops this weekend and take them to the park this weekend for a fun, colorful show interlaced with soulful tunes and poignant plotlines.

Hairspray
Zilker Hillside Theatre's Summer Musicals
2201 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 479-9491
zilker.org/hairspray
www.austintexas.org/listings/Zilker-Hillside-Theatre

Take Part in a One-of-a-Kind Celebration at Keep Austin Weird Fest

Many have heard about the Keep Austin Weird Fest, and most know two things: it’s some kind of a festival in Austin, and, well, it’s weird. If you’ve been curious about it but have never gone, let this be your year!

Only about one mile away from Lamar Union, you have a chance to experience this unique celebration that only the people and spirit of Austin can deliver. The main attraction is the 5k, billed as “the slowest race on the planet.” All participants wear costumes and join in different activities at “Fun Spots” along the way. A new addition is the Side Show, which will feature wacky events like Big Toe Wrestling and a Smelly Chamber (one can only imagine what that entails!). Live bands perform throughout the day, and whoever wins the costume contest gets a year of free ice cream from Amy’s Ice Cream! Don’t miss this crazy event in your own backyard.

Keep Austin Weird Fest
1:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 27
Long Center
701 W. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78704
keepaustinweirdfest.com

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