Odaku Sushi: Korean and Japanese Cuisine Favorites

Odaku Sushi in Austin is a quiet spot to enjoy Korean and Japanese food. Their menu has a wide variety of traditional Japanese sushi and sashimi. Their maki specialities are artful and creative such as the dragon dance, which crafts crab, cucumber, eel, avocado and other flavors to resemble a Chinese dragon. Bento boxes – especially the lunch specials – are highly recommended; the portions are generous and include a variety of tastes at a reasonable price. Although sushi is in the name, many come for the Korean menu, which offers many favorites, including juicy BBQ meats like bulgogi and gal bi. They play a fun mix of Asian pop music – so the food isn’t the only thing that will make you smile. The restaurant is a good place if you are looking to take your time savoring the food. 

Odaku Sushi
2501 W Parmer Lane
Austin, TX 78727
(512) 834-9304
www.yelp.com/biz/odaku-sushi-austin-2

The Jalopy: Classic Cuisine

Need a bite to eat? Look for the giant, brightly painted truck and get ready to chow down at The Jalopy. Everything is made in-house in their mobile kitchen, including bread, salsas, pickles, and veggie chips. They also brine their chicken, so it’s super moist and succulent. Chicken sandwiches include the El Campo with chipotle adobo sauce, cabbage & pickled peppers, the Gadd Thai with coconut peanut sauce, sriracha & pickled onions, and the Suite 709 with tomatillo cilantro pesto, fresh herbs & red cabbage. Some creatively inspired veggie sandwiches are also on the menu, like the Butler with double cream brie, apples, almonds & agave nectar and the Jelly Gibson with peanut butter, onion marmalade, almonds & berries. Open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch.

The Jalopy
1502 San Antonio St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 814-8557
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-jalopy-rotisserie-and-press-austin-2

Austin Food and Wine Alliance

The Austin Food and Wine Alliance is dedicated to promoting food/wine pairings in Central Texas community through grants, educational programming and fun events. The annual Chef’s Wine & Dine Series gives diners a chance to partake of a five-course meal paired with wine, prepared by some of the finest chefs the area. Wine & Swine is another yearly event that Austonians look forward to when area chefs prepare their favorite pork recipes for eager diners. Live music, an eclectic wine selection and hayrides add to the festivities. See their website for information on volunteering and upcoming events.

Austin Food and Wine Alliance
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 348-6847
http://www.yelp.com/biz/wine-and-swine-austin

Enchiladas y Mas: Down-Home Tex-Mex Cuisine

Enchiladas y Mas is a cozy little spot that serves up some of Austin’s favorite Tex-Mex food.  Since 1994 this family-owned restaurant has relied on their family recipes to fill bellies and and put smiles on customers’ faces. They love the saying ‘never trust a skinny cook’ — leave your calorie counter at home and get ready to indulge in cheese smothered goodness.  Regulars love the spicy salsa and guacamole.  Entrees are generously portioned and don’t hide the meat.  Their specialties are enchiladas and fajitas — which have won many awards, including best fajitas from the Austin American-Statesman. This recognition can make for a busy restaurant, but the food is worth the wait. You can pass the time enjoying a margarita or Mexican beer at the bar. Remember, the art is in the food …

Enchiladas y Mas
1911 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 467-7100
www.yelp.com/biz/enchiladas-y-mas-austin

The Steeping Room: Relax and Refresh

Whether refreshing yourself with a nice pot of tea or sitting down for a full meal, The Steeping Room is a wonderful place to visit. Service here is great, and the interior is bright and casual, making you feel right at home. The Steeping Room's selection of teas is pretty astonishing, with an extensive menu for each of the seven types of tea available. It makes it great fun to investigate and try to uncover new favorites. A number of tea services are available, or order a la carte from the menu from delicious sandwiches, salads, and other comforting dishes. There are also, of course, delicious sweets and baked goods to accompany your tea, too! The Steeping Room is also a great breakfast and brunch spot, and has happy hour specials on weekday afternoons. Whenever you come, get ready for a relaxing and pleasant time sipping and snacking the time away.

The Steeping Room
11410 Century Oaks Terrace
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 977-8337
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-steeping-room-austin

Swad: Dig Into a Dosa

A vegetarian restaurant with tantalizing food from the North and South of India, Swad is an exotic and delicious treat. The flavors and aromas here are incredibly enticing, making it a great destination even for the most carnivorous diner. The samosas are a wonderful way to start, but the real star here are the enormous dosas. Dosas are crepes made with a batter of rice and lentils, and are not only delicious, but enormous in size. Thali is another great option, in which you are served incredible bread and a plate full of numerous little dishes to eat it with. For the quality and size of the dishes here, the prices are incredibly low, too! For a fantastic, fast meal, give Swad a shot and prepare to be delighted.

Swad
9515 N. Lamar Boulevard #156
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 997-7923
http://www.yelp.com/biz/swad-austin

Casual Homemade Italian Food at Mezzaluna

 

Mezzaluna Italian Grill is a homey little italian restaurant in Austin's Wells Branch neighborhood, just a few minutes from The Marquis at Canyon Ridge.

Diners love the oven-fresh bread that starts the meal. Salads are fresh and served with homemade dressings – try the blue cheese vinaigrette. If one of their daily specials doesn’t peak your interest, the huge seafood ravioli is a go-to choice. Meat dishes are ultra-tender and the Veal Saltimbocca alla Romana – a veal cutlet wrapped with prosciutto in a lemon sage sauce – is highly recommended. 

Pizzas have fun gourmet toppings like goat cheese, grilled asparagus, and smoked salmon. Many wines are available by the glass – including several from Texas wineries – as well as a small selection of craft beers. The atmosphere is quiet and comfortable, perfect for a casual yet romantic date.
 

Mezzaluna Italian Grill
14735 Bratton Ln
Austin, TX 78728
(512) 252-1444
www.yelp.com/biz/mezzaluna-italian-grill-austin-2

Black Star Co-Op: Good For Your Conscience

At Black Star Co-Op Pub and Brewery, you can enjoy tasty pub food without worrying your conscience. This north Austin brewpub is founded on ethics; sustainable, local ingredients, fair employment with a livable wage, and democratic management. Their menu is simple and offers traditional pub grub with just as many options for vegetarians as meat-lovers.  For example, in addition to offering traditional fish and chips made from locally sourced Texas redfish, they also offer fried portobello and chips.  Try their burger made from ethically raised meat that is ground in-house.  Customers love their crispy fries!  You don’t need to be a member to enjoy dinner at Black Star.  Although the co-op title might be intimidating, the staff is friendly and there are signs to guide you through; order your dinner in one line, beer in another, and you choose and clear your own table. Livable wages for staff make tipping unnecessary.
 

Black Star Co-Op Pub and Brewery
7020 Easy Wind Dr
Ste 100
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 452-2337
www.yelp.com/biz/black-star-co-op-pub-and-brewery-austin

Try a Flight and Buy a Bottle at Vino 100

Round Rock's Vino 100 is an easy and elegant way to shop for wine. Tucked away in an unassuming shopping center, it's a distinctive wine bar and store. Chef and owner Bryan Gano has created a cafe that features light meals and an extensive wine selection. Bryan and his staff are happy to help you choose a wine flight (several small samples) to pair with your meal. The menu offers unique and flavorful dishes like the spicy shrimp diablo or new twists on old classics, like lamb burgers. Customers rave about the bread pudding for dessert. It's a great place for a fun date — after finishing your wine flight and meal, you can put your new knowledge to use and take home a bottle. All wines in their store are accompanied by Vino 100’s standardized information sheet, which includes a wine barometer that indicates its flavor (fruity to dry) and body (light to full).  The store is laid out accordingly, which helps you find the best wine for you.

Vino 100
3021 S Interstate 35
Ste 120
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 255-0526
www.yelp.com/biz/vino-100-round-rock

French Quarter Grille: Cajun Fare in Austin, Texas

If you’ve ever been to New Orleans, you know that Cajun food can be presented two different ways. There’s the quick and tasty plates of shellfish and oyster po’ boy style, and then there’s the upscale, French-influenced dining that brings out some of the most intense and nuanced flavors that the cuisine has to offer. The French Quarter Grille in Austin ably bridges the gap between those two styles, presenting excellent Cajun and Creole food at good prices in a classy atmosphere. Start your meal with an order of the crawfish beignets – these small French donuts are stuffed with spicy, tender seafood and come with a light jalapeno tartar sauce for dipping. Entrees are diverse and universally good, with some favorites including the exceptional blackened catfish gumbo, the pecan-crusted trout, and the blackened ribeye Ponchartrain, which updates surf & turf with a perfectly-seared steak topped with shrimp, crab and crawfish in a mushroom brandy cream sauce.

French Quarter Grille
13000 N. IH 35
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 832-9090
http://www.yelp.com/biz/french-quarter-grille-austin

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