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

December 16, 2014 by

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 crunchy, to perfection and served with celery root slaw and hot sauce.

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

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

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Sip Sangria, Bite Into a Crawfish Po’Boy at Red’s Porch

December 9, 2014 by

Austin’s a pretty relaxed town, all things considered, so many of its eateries keep a pretty casual vibe. One place that locals love to hang out is Red’s Porch, a fun and funky Southern restaurant that draws a big crowd. Located around the back of the building, the space is airy and open, with patios on both sides of the restaurant that fill up quickly on nice days.

Start out with a glass of sangria or a margarita. When you move on to food, don’t miss the chicken-fried steak; it’s moist, tender, juicy and served with copious amounts of delectable gravy. Other fine menu options include the bacon wrapped shrimp and jalapeno skewers with remoulade sauce and dirty rice, as well as the poboy sandwiches (get the crawfish!).

Red's Porch
3508 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 440-7337
www.redsporch.com
www.yelp.com/biz/reds-porch-austin

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Make a Reservation to Enjoy a Prix-Fixe Meal at Barley Swine

November 18, 2014 by

Sit down, relax, and enjoy the chef-designed daily fixed-price menu at Barley Swine in Austin. This small, 36-seat restaurant works closely with local farms to bring you the highest quality foods available. It is recommended you make a reservation (up to a month in advance) to ensure you get a table, but the eatery will do its best to accomodate walk-ins.

The $75 prix-fixe meal includes a number of small plates both in individual and made-to-share portions. Dishes include quail eggs with steelhead row and jalapeno; squid jerky with watermelon, sunflower, and lime; blood crepe with sweet chili, duck breast, crispy leeks, and pear; and antelope leg served alongside eggplant and peppers. House-made desserts are rich and decadent and feature sorbets, ice creams, and more.

Barley Swine also serves beer and wine.

Barley Swine
2024 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-8150
www.barleyswine.com
www.yelp.com/biz/barley-swine-austin

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Home Slice Pizza: Authentic New York Pizza by the Pie or the Slice

November 11, 2014 by

Pizza is one of the foods that New York City is best known for, and Home Slice Pizza brings that authentic, New York-style pizza experience to the Austin area. The shop has an eclectic, stylish interior furnished with exposed brick, funky wall art, and mouthwatering pizzas sitting atop metal tiers on every table. There’s also a spacious outdoor patio for those customers brave enough to face the Texas heat.

This independent pizzeria makes all of its pies by hand, tossing the dough high into the air, just like you see in the movies. For guests who are over 21, the restaurant serves a basic selection of beer and wine to accompany your meal. Home Slice Pizza is available either by the pie or by the slice for smaller appetites, but no matter how you slice it, this is one Austin’s most beloved pizzerias.

Home Slice Pizza is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. The shop is closed on Tuesdays.

Home Slice Pizza
1415 S. Congress Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-7437
www.homeslicepizza.com
www.yelp.com/biz/home-slice-pizza-austin

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Odd Duck: Rustic-Contemporary Farm-to-Table Dining in Austin

October 21, 2014 by

Borne out of humble beginnings as a food truck hunting down the best farm-sourced ingredients, Odd Duck brings farm-to-table cuisine to Austin. In a modern-rustic setting, this 110-seat eatery serves dishes that rely on seasonal ingredients.

Menus vary by the season, but past highlights have included the steaming hot onion bread with housemade butter; the ham and cheese pretzel; Cajun grilled shrimp over okra stew; and a soft cooked duck egg with fried rice and gourmet mushrooms. Next, order the succulent lamb ribs in a soy glaze, or go for the foie gras mousse with a cured duck breast and figs. Save room for the fig trifle, lime panna cotta, or a coconut latte popsicle for dessert. Draft beer, signature cocktails, and wine are also served.

The restaurant serves dinner daily, while lunch is served weekdays. Swing by for happy hour 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, and don't miss brunch 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

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

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Tacodeli: Take a Taste of Some of Austin’s Favorite Tacos

October 14, 2014 by

Tacodeli’s owner, Roberto Espinosa, trained for years in kitchens throughout the Yucatan. The result is a small chain of restaurants throughout Austin, each of which is dedicated to using local ingredients and making each menu item entirely from scratch every day.

At Tacodeli, the menu comprises a very impressive variety of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetarian tacos with fresh sauces and garnishes, as well as salads, sides and starters that are equally authentic and delicious. If your taco craving starts as soon as you wake up, Tacodeli also offers breakfast tacos from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

Tacodeli's Spyglass Drive location is bright and colorful, with a covered outdoor patio that makes it a perfect spot for a relaxing lunch.

Tacodeli
1500B Spyglass Drive
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 732-0303
www.tacodeli.com
www.yelp.com/biz/tacodeli-austin-3

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Home Slice Pizza: A Taste of the Big Apple in Austin

September 16, 2014 by

Take a bite out of the Big Apple with a hefty slice of crispy New York-style thin crust pizza at Home Slice Pizza. This Austin pizzeria offers a retro, diner-esque ambiance with tables and a counter, while Italian-American cuisine comprises large plates of Italian comfort food.

Plenty of salads and antipastos head up the menu, with hot and cold sandwiches, calzones, and design-your-own pizza options following suit. In the traditional style, pizza slices are served on white paper plates. (The menu even tells you the "proper" New York way to eat a slice if you haven't gotten the method down!) If you have room, treat yourself to a cannoli or a slice of cheesecake or tiramisu for dessert. Beer, wine, and soda are available by the glass, carafe, or bottle.

Home Slice Pizza is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 11 p.m. Sundays. Take-out is offered.

Home Slice Pizza
1415 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-7437
www.homeslicepizza.com
www.yelp.com/biz/home-slice-pizza-austin

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Bring a Craving for Doughnuts to Gourdough’s Public House in Austin

September 9, 2014 by

If you're a fan of doughnuts, Gourdough's Public House is a must-try. Doughnut sandwiches, doughnut burgers, doughnut entrees, and even doughnut desserts don the menu at this quirky Austin eatery.

Try the Dirty South, a hand-battered chicken fried steak with a potato pancake, gravy, and jam, or opt for the Pig in the Poke, a jalapeno sausage with spicy mustard, peppers, onion, and candied jalapenos. Grandma's Dumplings are a popular favorite; this dish offers chicken and doughnut hole dumplings with pepper vinegar. Salads are even served with a garlic doughnut on the side! Gourdough's Public House hosts a full bar and offers a lively daily happy hour.

Gourdough’s Public House is open 11 a.m. to midnight weekdays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to midnight Sundays.

Gourdough’s Public House
2700 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 912-9070
www.gourdoughspub.com
www.yelp.com/biz/gourdoughs-public-house-austin

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South Congress Cafe: An Upscale Brunch Spot With National Recognition

August 19, 2014 by

The folks behind South Congress Cafe were inspired by Austin’s growing artist community and its new generation of foodies, and in 2003 they set out to open a restaurant that reflects that creative culture. The restaurant itself is housed in a former 1940s drugstore, and it maintains much of the original charm. The exposed brick bar is one of the main focal points, but the rest of the restaurant is colorful and modern.

South Congress Cafe is best known for its delicious brunch, and its bloody Mary was voted one of the best in America by the Huffington Post! Brunch is served daily and includes unique dishes like jalapeno venison meatloaf, carrot cake French toast, and gumbo with duck and oysters. With a stylish, mid-century aesthetic and a menu full of creative Texan dishes, South Congress Cafe is a truly out-of-the-ordinary eatery.

South Congress Cafe is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends.

South Congress Cafe
1600 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 447-3905
www.southcongresscafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/south-congress-cafe-austin

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Explore the Flavors of Mexican Cuisine at El Alma

July 22, 2014 by

Obviously there is no shortage of Mexican food in Austin, but locals will unanimously say that one of the can’t-miss eateries here is El Alma. This upscale Mexican restaurant is named after chef Alma Alcocer, who was born in Mexico City and attended the legendary Le Cordon Bleu academy in Paris for culinary training. After her studies, she moved to Austin where she paired with restaurant magnate Carlos Rivero to open El Alma in 2012. The restaurant’s location is unique and charming; it’s built into a limestone hillside with an awesome outdoor patio.

Of course, the food is the biggest reason to take a trip here. Some of the menu’s most-loved dishes include the incredible duck emmoladas—mole-covered enchiladas stuffed with healthy portions of some of the most tender, flavorful duck you’ll ever eat—as well as the shrimp chelada, a dish of seafood cooked in citrus, ceviche-style, and topped with beer.

El Alma
1025 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 609-8923
www.elalmacafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/el-alma-austin-2

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