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J Mueller BBQ: Hit The Pit

June 18, 2013 by

Texas is one of the country’s big destinations for barbecue, with a beef-centric menu and some serious slow-cooked flavor. The Hill Country is rife with barbecue joints, but locals will almost unanimously recommend J Mueller in Austin. Owner John Mueller hails from a barbecue dynasty in Taylor, Texas – his grandfather Louie’s restaurant is internationally known as one of the temples of Texas ‘cue. It took a lot for John to set out on his own, but he quickly found success in Austin. His business has had some ups and downs since then, but since opening the new location in Austin’s Bouldin Creek neighborhood, things have been looking up for Mueller. And for good reason – this is incredible barbecue, perfectly tender and flavorful. The brisket here is the meal of choice, and it’s done up as well as you can possibly do it. Beef ribs and sausage are also quite good. Note that this place has become a little more popular since it was profiled on Anthony Bourdain’s TV show.

J Mueller BBQ
1502 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 229-7366
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jmueller-bbq-austin

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Home Slice Pizza: Get a Great Slice in the Lone Star State

June 13, 2013 by

Pizza isn’t what you would consider a regional specialty of Texas, but you have to realize that Austin isn’t really much like the rest of the state. It’s a semi-isolated town that plays by its own rules, which means in this case, great pizza. The creatively-named Home Slice was founded to present authentic New York-style pizza—thin crust, minimal toppings, lots of attitude—and it accomplishes that task splendidly. Regulars rave about the no-nonsense pies—there’s no fusion food going on here, and none of the barbecue chicken pizza that locals seem to love. Instead, these are classic Italian combinations of fried eggplant, white sauces, and more. If you want a side, the classic salads will do you up, with special mention given to the Greek. The place is small and almost always crowded, which should give you a hint as to how good the pies are.

Home Slice Pizza
1415 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-7437

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Man Bites Dog: Not Your Typical Hot Dog Stand!

June 11, 2013 by

Warning: this is not your typical hot dog stand! 

Man Bites Dog is South Austin’s hot dog hot spot, where signature franks are 1/5th of a pound.  The ingredients are fresh and flavorful, and you won’t find any boring buns here — they’re fluffy, sweet brioche that hold up the the mountains of toppings. The menu features inventive wieners like the Danger Dog — bacon wrapped, topped with jalapeños, hot sauce, and cotija cheese.  And, its not only beef franks on the menu; the Bruschetta Dog, for example, is made with Italian chicken sausage. These dogs are a full meal at a great price. (Smaller dogs are available for those that want a lighter snack.) There are even vegetarian franks, vegan chili, and gluten-free buns.

Man Bites Dog
3005 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 215-0422
www.yelp.com/biz/man-bites-dog-austin-4

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Patika Coffee: Drink Up

May 21, 2013 by

Looking for the perfect way to start your day? Head to Patika Coffee for some fantastic java. It’s a sweet little coffee trailer on Congress Avenue, so you can take in the sights and sounds of the area while you sip your cuppa joe. Their brew is made from fresh beans from  Austin’s premier roaster, Cuvee, so it has that robust taste without a trace of bitterness. Whether your coffee style runs to espresso, cappuccino, latte, or just a black cup with or without cream, you’ll love what they have to offer. Like your coffee flavored? They make their own super-yummy syrups. Not a java fan? Not to worry. They’ve got chai and Italian sodas, too. Open Monday through Friday from 7:30am unti. 5:30pm, Saturday from 8:00am until 2:00pm.

Patika Coffee
4th St and Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 535-3955
http://www.yelp.com/biz/patika-coffee-austin

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Dine in Grand Style at Austin’s Green Pastures

May 14, 2013 by

Dubbed the “Grande Dame of Austin Restaurants" by the Austin Chronicle, Green Pastures offers a majestic dining experience on the grounds of a restored southern mansion in South Austin. Dining rooms are decorated with elegance, featuring antiques and fine china. You can enjoy a picturesque view of the grounds including stately live oaks, and peacocks that roam the property. The menu offers elegant French-inspired entrees with a southern twist, like pecan salmon with lobster bread pudding.  

Sunday Brunch at Green Pastures is a step into a better, more elegant world. Be sure to try their milk punch, which tastes like spiked vanilla ice cream. White linen service is friendly and top-notch, with customers swearing that the food is just as good as the atmosphere. This is THE place for an elegant special occasion meal — be sure to make a reservations.

Green Pastures
811 W. Live Oak Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-4747
www.yelp.com/biz/green-pastures-restaurant-austin

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The Carillon: Ring The Bells

April 17, 2013 by

Austin’s culinary scene has been booming in recent years, with a number of focused, motivated chefs bringing new perspectives in fine dining to grateful eaters. Chef Josh Watkins’ tenure at The Carillon began in 2008, after he returned to Texas and worked alongside famed chef David Bull at the Driskill Grill. Watkins appeared alongside Bull on TV show Iron Chef America, where he showed off his impressive skills, and not long after he was recruited to open the Carillon. Every aspect of this restaurant is top-notch. The staff is attentive without being intrusive, the décor is classy and comfortable, and the food is some of the best you’ll find in town. Frequent diners rave about the incredible spinach salad with house bacon and poached egg yolk, as well as the duck leg confit with root vegetables and white bean cassoulet. They also offer both three-course and six-course tasting menus, which come highly recommended.

The Carillon
1900 University Avenue
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 404-3655
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-carillon-austin-2

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Beer Reigns at Black Sheep Lodge

April 10, 2013 by

South Austin's Black Sheep Lodge offers for good pub food, fun atmosphere, and cheap drinks.  There are bar specials every night of the week — including $2 cans like Lone Star and PBR tallboys on Friday and Saturday. You can catch the game on Sunday on one of their 20 TVs, while enjoying $2 off pitchers with friends. There are 26 beers on tap and over 100 bottles to choose from. Although beer is the heart of this establishment, don’t overlook the food — the menu features burgers and sandwiches with better taste and cheaper prices than most pub grub. Regulars love the “Little Stinkers Sliders” — garlic and beef patties topped with gorgonzola butter and mixed greens. If you’re in the mood to snack, the cheese curds are highly recommended, as are the fried pickles. The large outdoor patio is dog friendly.

Black Sheep Lodge
2108 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 707-2744
www.yelp.com/biz/black-sheep-lodge-austin

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Weird is Welcome at Bouldin Creek Cafe

March 26, 2013 by

Bouldin Creek Cafe started as a coffee house and has grown into a funky vegetarian restaurant and community destination. Austin vegetarians – and omnivores – praise this cafe for flavorful, fresh meals. It’s a popular spot for breakfast and features good vegetarian substitutes for breakfast meats – including their house-made “facon” or fake bacon. Regulars love their veggie burger that you can top with several homemade sauces like chipotle-pecan pesto. All the food is made to order, but you can enjoy a book, magazine, or game from their shelves while you wait.  There is nice outdoor seating — and bring Fido along, Bouldin Creek is dog friendly. The cafe tries to be as environmentally conscious as possible and is decorated with repurposed items like mason jar soap dispensers and bike rim light fixtures. This eclectic and free-spirited place has a welcoming, community-like atmosphere and you’ll soon become family.

Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 416-1601
www.yelp.com/biz/bouldin-creek-coffee-house-and-cafe-austin

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It’s Always Taco Time at El Taquito

March 19, 2013 by

Head to South Austin's El Taquito for amazing tacos. Regulars rave that this little taqueria is one of the best in town. The meats are moist and well-seasoned, and the salsas are perfectly spiced. The menu is mostly tacos and enchiladas, but there are some breakfast options as well.  The Barbacoa and Al Pastor tacos are big favorites. The salsa bar provides many options to top your meal — make sure to give the roasted red pepper salsa a try. El Taquito offers authentic mexican beverages too, like La Fresca and Horchata, a cinnamon rice milk. They're open well past midnight every night so you can enjoy tasty tacos after a night on the town. Just don’t expect fast service — this place is quite laid back.

El Taquito
1713 E. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78741
(512) 851-8226
www.yelp.com/biz/el-taquito-austin

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Regal Ravioli: Fit For a King

March 12, 2013 by

Don’t let the food truck fool you — South Austin's Regal Ravioli is fit for a king.

It serves homemade ravioli and gnocchi made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.  The small menu is packed with flavor, like roasted beet caramelized onion and orange zest ravioli, or spicy sausage and bell peppers ravioli.  Their sauces won’t let you down either; lamb bolognese, pecan pesto … it's all fresh, it's all good. The individual raviolis are huge, but they're so good that you'll be left wanting more!  Food is made to order — even the ravioli stuffing — so the wait might be a bit longer than a typical food truck. But it's worth it. Oh, it's worth it.

Note: Regal Ravioli only serves dinner. And it does so well.

Regal Ravioli
504 West Oltorf Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 364-9752
www.yelp.com/biz/regal-ravioli-austin

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