Local, seasonal ingredients form an important part of the menu at CRAVE in Austin. Although not every ingredient comes from a local source, CRAVE's chefs incorporate locally sourced ingredients whenever they can.

CRAVE's menu of options includes some upscale, creative dishes, like crab-crusted filet mignon and egg rolls stuffed with chicken and avocado. Those are two of regular customers' favorites, but they're by no means the only things to enjoy here. The menu is expansive, encompassing a huge array of dishes, from pizza and pasta to pan-roasted sea bass, fried chicken and waffles, and even spicy lamb burgers. There's also a sushi menu, a huge list of specialty and cooked rolls, and the equally impressive cocktail list. Visitors can complement the upscale fare with a ginger pear martini, blackberry sage tea, agave margarita, or a sweet glass of sangria.

Visit CRAVE's website to learn more about this Austin restaurant!

CRAVE
340 E. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 469-0000
www.cravetexas.com
www.yelp.com/biz/crave-austin-4

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Don LaVange

Even if you don’t plan on bulking up or competing in weight lifting competitions any time soon, strength training is a crucial part of any exercise regimen. Here are three great reasons to incorporate weight training into your workouts.

1. It promotes strong bones. Weakening bones is a concern that all people have to face as they age. The stress that strength training puts on your bones increases their density and prevents osteoporosis, keeping you strong and healthy as years pass.
2. It helps to control your weight. While you might relate weight loss with intense cardiovascular workouts, strength training is just as important if you want to lose weight. Gaining muscle increases your metabolism and causes your body to burn calories more efficiently.
3. It gives you more energy. Like all workouts, strength training increases your stamina and helps you to stay alert and focused. After a few weeks of regular weight lifting or body weight exercises, you’ll notice that you feel more energized throughout the day. Some scientific studies even show that years of regular strength training exercises help to sharpen your focus and keep your mind attentive as you age.

Strength training: Get stronger, leaner, healthier [Mayo Clinic]
7 Reasons to Add Strength Training to Your Workout Routine [Everyday Health]
Benefits of Strength Training [Body Building]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr davco9200

Southern Italian food is the specialty at Numero28, but even this gourmet food plays second fiddle to the warm, welcoming owners. Many Yelp reviewers mention Marco and Bernardo by name, citing them as part of the reason they return to Numer28 on a regular basis. The owners take special care to make every guest feel at home—and they watch over what's going on in the kitchen so that each and every dish is crafted carefully.

The menu boasts a slew of traditional favorites, including thin-crust pizzas. From the classic margherita with tomato, mozzarella, and basil to the Austin pie with jalapeno, sausage, and red peppers, the pizza menu offers a wide array of options for all tastes. And if you aren't into pizza, you have plenty of other entrees to choose from. Dig into the classic lasagna Bolognese (or a vegetarian version), the ziti with eggplant and mozzarella, or the porchetta with wild herbs and spices. Add a glass of wine to your meal for the full Numero28 experience.

Numero28
452 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-5510
www.numero28austin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/numero-28-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr neil conway