Order the Garden Vegetable Sandwich at Kneaded Pleasures Cafe

One of the regulars at Kneaded Pleasures Café describes it as “so much more than just a bakery.” Kneaded pleasures offers baked goods, specialty coffees, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even gelato for dessert. The atmosphere is always bright and cheerful yet very comfortable and you’ll definitely feel right at home.

The food at Kneaded Pleasures is always fresh and well prepared. Their menu is full of comfort foods. The breakfast menu is served all day. The garden vegetable sandwich is the go-to lunch item on the menu. It includes fresh herb focaccia, peppercorn ranch dressing, jack cheese, marinated red onions, sprouts, avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and red bell peppers. As for the gelato, it's smooth, rich, and creamy and just the right amount of sweet without making you too full after your meal.

Kneaded Pleasures Café
3573 Far W Blvd
Austin, TX 78731
(512) 527-0699
www.kneadedpleasures.com

Expect Bold Flavors and Fresh Ingredients at Uchiko Austin

Uchiko is a Japanese farmhouse style dining establishment on North Lamar. The ambiance is set with eclectic modern lighting and a mix of tile and wood accents that add to the upscale but comfortable farmhouse feel.

Award-winning chef and Uchiko owner Tyson Cole never fails to amaze with his culinary creations, which showcase bold flavors and fresh ingredients. The best way to try a bit of everything is to choose one of the chef’s tasting menus, which change daily and offer both hot and cold small plates. The dishes include highlights like fresh ceviche or a hot rock with Wagyu beef and ponzu sauce. Not only are the dishes bursting with flavor, they are so carefully plated that each is like a work of art.

Uchiko accepts only a few reservations daily to ensure they have room for walk-in guests. The restaurant is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Don’t miss sake socials daily from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the bar!

Uchiko
4200 North Lamar
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 916-4808
www.uchikoaustin.com

Jasper’s Big Dog Saloon: Darts, DJs, Karaoke and Cocktails in Lakeway

Jasper's Big Dog Saloon is a neighborhood favorite, filled with regulars every night of the week. The bartenders at this unpretentious Lakeway bar are skilled at mixing cocktails, and the beer selection is solid, too. The food menu focuses on elevated snack foods like broiled shrimp and bruschetta, as well as hot sandwiches and personal pizzas.

Jasper's Big Dog Saloon also hosts frequent special events, and you'll likely find that there's something going happening here nearly every night of the week. Depending on when you visit, you might find yourself singing karaoke, competing against your friends in a video trivia competition, playing a few hands of Texas hold-em poker, or dancing the night away to music provided by popular local DJs. Of course, you can always just play a friendly game of darts or pool with friends. And if you're lucky, you might even meet Jasper himself, a 130-pound Goldendoodle who is everyone's favorite pal.

Jasper’s Big Dog Saloon
1310 RR 620 South
Lakeway, TX 78734
(512) 432-5073
www.jaspersbigdogsaloon.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jaspers-big-dog-saloon-lakeway

Cipollina: An Austin Favorite for Italian Cuisine

Cipollina was established in 1999 and has since grown into the well respected restaurant that it is today. The restaurant has a rustic ambiance and a neighborhood feel that makes you always feel welcome.

The menu at Cipollina features classic and authentic Italian dishes, like pastas, locally sourced entrees, and their unique wood-fired pizzas. The kale salad is bursting with flavor and has a lemon zest, tart cherries, and crunchy pistachios to top it off. Be sure to try their signature Cipollina pizza, which is cooked in a wood-fired oven and includes mushrooms, sweet onion compote, balsamic and chevre. Be sure to save room for tiramisu for dessert!

With all of the food sourced locally, you can tell that they put a lot into their meals and make sure to find the freshest ingredients they can.

Cipollina
1213 West Lynn Street
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-5211
www.cipollina-austin.com

Bite Into Fresh Seafood at Turf N Surf Po’ Boy in Austin

You’ll discover a whole lot more than just po’ boy sandwiches at Turf N Surf Po’ Boy, a casual seafood favorite in the Austin area. This nondescript local spot may not look like much from the outside, but experienced locals know that it’s one of the best places in town for fresh and tasty fried fish.

You’ll find jalapeno hush puppies served alongside fried catfish po’ boys, and if you’re in the mood for something a bit lighter, you can also order your po’ boy topped with blackened mahi mahi or other grilled fish. All of the shrimp, lobster, and fish selections are priced at market values that change from day to day, but no matter which style you order, everything at Turf N Surf Po’ Boy tastes better when paired with the cilantro French fries.

Enjoy it all inside the colorful, bar-style eatery, or even order through the window if you’re looking to pick up food to go!

Turf N Surf Po’ Boy
407 Lavaca St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 276-2763
www.yelp.com/biz/turf-n-surf-po-boy-austin

Baguette et Chocolat: A Colorful Parisian Culinary Experience

Baguette et Chocolat creates French pastries that are almost too pretty to eat, but they’re so decadent that you won’t be able to resist. The authentic French bakery and fine pastry shop is located in Bee Cave, Texas, and it features a quaint, modern interior with decorative light fixtures and a few cafe tables scattered throughout.

Baguette et Chocolat gets very crowded around breakfast and lunch times, but the spacious counter area makes ordering fairly efficient. The glass display case shows off the wide selection of intricate French delicacies, from almond croissants to colorful macarons in a variety of flavors. Regulars rave about the freshly brewed coffee and specialty espresso drinks, and croissant sandwiches and crepes make a unique meal.

However, Baguette et Chocolat is best known for its made-from-scratch baguettes baked fresh daily. Head over from Marquis at Barton Trails to try one for yourself.

Baguette et Chocolat
12101 Bee Cave Road
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-8388
www.baguetteetchocolat.com
www.yelp.com/biz/baguette-et-chocolat-bee-cave

Explore the Flavors of Spanish Tapas at Bullfight

A colorful quartet of fried delicacies, from crisp octopus to aromatic cheese and colorful vegetables, greet you in bright paper cones. Each dish offers a burst of color and flavor and sends your taste buds to the moon. To put it more succinctly, a meal at Bullfight is a journey for the senses!

Founded by renowned Austin chef Shawn Cirkiel, Bullfight pays homage to the chef’s first paying job in a five-star Spanish restaurant. Reminiscent of the vibrant colors and varied cuisine of Spanish farmer’s markets, the menu features tapas (small plates), like bacon-wrapped dates and the jamon croquettes, which are a melted blend of cheese, crisp potatoes, and sweet honey ham.

Bullfight serves dinner seven days a week beginning at 5 p.m. The restaurant encourages guest to make a reservation by calling ahead or booking online.

Bullfight
4807 Airport Blvd
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 474-2029
bullfight-austin.com

Don’t Miss the Sunday Brunch at Jack Allen’s Kitchen

Decorated with seasonal ornaments and colorful cookware, Jack Allen’s feels just like Grandma’s kitchen. This Austin eatery made its debut back in 2009 and has since been infusing Southern fare classics with locally sourced Texas ingredients.

The restaurant's unique offerings change each week according to what local farmers provide, but regulars would likely recommend you visit during the restaurant’s Sunday Brunch. With Texas-sized portions of everything from banana bread to biscuits and gravy and even gluten-free options, the brunch menu leaves no craving unsated! Among the must-haves on the menu are the dessert buffet's strudel muffins and the free pimento-cheese appetizer.

Jack Allen’s Kitchen serves up its Southwestern-style comfort food seven days a week. Be sure to arrive between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the crowd-favorite Sunday brunch!

Jack Allen’s Kitchen
3600 North Capital of Texas Highway
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 351-9399
jackallenskitchen.com

Expect Farm-to-Table Fare at Wink in Austin

Wink Restaurant is a fun, fresh and creative eatery in Austin that is consistently voted one of the top restaurants in the city. The kitchen operates on a farm-to-table system, sourcing almost all of its seasonal ingredients from local farms and suppliers in order to create dishes that are distinctly Austin.

The menu at Wink changes just about every day, and it often includes unique combinations such as grilled quail with coconut and lamb sausage and chilled poached flounder with white bean salad. There are also always a few options for vegetarian guests. At the bar, Wink focuses on wines from across Texas and around the world, and you’ll even find additional seating in this more casual area of the restaurant.

The next time you want to celebrate an occasion, have a hearty meal, a decadent dessert, and a perfect wine pairing at this beloved eatery.

Wink
1014 N. Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 482-8868
www.winkrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/wink-austin

Free Beer and Stellar Brisket: la Barbecue

Perhaps the only downside of eating at one of Austin's popular food trucks is that they always seem to have a line stretching away from the window, requiring would-be eaters to wait in the oppressive Texan sun. At la Barbecue, though, customers cross their fingers for a long line. The food truck offers a simple amenity to make the wait bearable, even pleasant: free beer.

Cool off your complimentary suds while you decide what to order. It should be a relatively easy decision, given the fact that la Barbecue's brisket is the favorite by far. However, pulled pork, sausage, turkey, and chopped beef are also on the menu. For some added flavor, order one of the specialty sandwiches like El Sancho Loco with your choice of meat and pickled red onions. Make sure you arrive well ahead of the lunch rush, though, because la Barbecue's opening hours are simply 11 a.m. to "sold out."

la Barbecue
902 E. Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 605-9696
www.labarbecue.com
www.yelp.com/biz/la-barbecue-austin-3

Pin It on Pinterest