Pieous: Try Out These Unlikely Pizza Pairings

Though Austin is known more for its barbecue than its pizza, Pieous may just change your mind about how the Lonestar State makes its pies. This quirky pizzeria is housed within a cozy, red building in the western part of the city, and it features a clean, modern interior with chalkboards covering many of the walls.

The pizza itself has a thin, crispy crust with a tender, soft interior, and the creative combinations of toppings include things that you just have to try to believe. Brussels sprouts and marmalade may not seem like the most likely pizza toppings, but hey, don’t knock it ‘til you try it! In addition to pizza, Pieous offers hearty pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, fresh salads, and chocolate chip cookies the size of the plate they come on. Throw in a great selection of wine and beer, and Pieous quickly becomes a go-to restaurant on any Austin foodie’s list.

Pieous
12005 Highway 290 West
Austin, TX 78737
(512) 394-7041
www.facebook.com/Pieous
www.yelp.com/biz/pieous-austin

Salata: Making Lunchtime a Little Healthier With Salads and Wraps

If you’re looking for a place to make your lunchtime meals a bit healthier, Salata is a great option in the North Austin area. This grab-and-go salad bar offers customizable salads, wraps, and made-in-house dressings and sauces that give everything major flavor. All of the veggies and proteins are prepped fresh daily, and everything on the menu is gluten free.

Salata runs like a well-oiled machine, with friendly employees tossing large salad bowls from behind a long, colorful salad bar filled with greens, vegetables, and an assortment of toppings. There are a number of different soups that change from day to day, and the selection of fresh juices complements the eatery's health-conscious menu.

Inside, Salata’s bright green dining room features light wood booths and tables where guests can enjoy both the lunch and the free Wi-Fi. Customers can even order their meals online and pick them up in person for added convenience on a busy work day!

Salata
10515 N. Mopac Expressway
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 487-5497
www.salata.com
www.yelp.com/biz/salata-austin

You Can’t Go Wrong With Jersey Giant Pizza

Austin locals know that the menu at Jersey Giant Pizza is simple: pizza with about a dozen different toppings to mix and match as you like. Try a classic pepperoni pie, or build something more unique, like pineapple, fresh basil, and chopped Roma tomatoes, or pile on the sausage, ham, bacon, and meatballs to make a meat-lover's delight. Whatever you order, it'll take just a few minutes to bake in the kitchen's custom-designed, super-heated brick oven.

There's no question that pizza is the main focus at Jersey Giant Pizza, but it's true that the kitchen serves up a few other Jersey-inspired specialties, too. Try a bowl of Grandma's meatballs covered in sauce, or order a trio of fresh baked pizza rolls. If you want something cold that's easy to eat on the go, try a sub sandwich heaped high with meats and cheese.

Jersey Giant Pizza
13908 Highway 71 West
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 263-3535
www.jerseygiantpizza.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jersey-giant-pizza-austin

Cool Off With Fruity Shaved Ice at The Purple Tongue

“Keep Austin Weird” is a mantra among locals in this Texas oasis, and the Purple Tongue is a great example of what they mean. This roving food truck offers a unique menu of hot dogs and shaved ice, and it’s won a dedicated following. If all you know about shaved ice is carnival stands pouring artificially-flavored sugary syrup, you’re in for a real surprise here. They make all of their syrups with fresh fruits and other ingredients.

Some favorite offerings include the strawberry banana, which might be the most popular, but also praised is the grapefruit mojito. The flavor menu is extensive, featuring classics like cherry and grape and more advanced flavors like dark chocolate and chai tea. You can get your ice topped with whipped cream, caramel, sweetened condensed milk, you name it. If you’re hungry, their dogs are well-regarded – locally-made bratwurst on a fresh roll slathered with mustard and onions will hit the spot.

The Purple Tongue
1012 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 413-7329
www.facebook.com/ThePurpleTongue.ATX
www.yelp.com/biz/the-purple-tongue-austin-2

Ng BMT: Banh Mi and More in Austin

Although its name sounds like a secret code that only Austin locals understand, Ng BMT is actually a Vietnamese sandwich spot located within the Hong Kong Supermarket. This unique sandwich cafe-meets-bakery serves traditional Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches on fresh-baked baguettes.

Each banh mi is available with your choice of peppered shrimp, tofu, pork, or other meats to accommodate both meat eaters and vegetarian guests. Diners new to the banh mi might enjoy the pork banh mi, which sandwiches slices of marinated pork within a warm baguette with creamy mayo, pickled carrots, cilantro, and, for a little spicy kick, jalapeno peppers! Counter the heat with the chilled sweet tofu dessert.

Ng BMT is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Regulars note that the prices at Ng BMT are easy on the wallet, so you can grab a cheap lunch that’s bit out of the ordinary.

Ng BMT
8557 Research Boulevard
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 931-1088
www.ngbmt.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ng-bmt-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 Paseo at Bee Cave 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

Jack Allen’s Kitchen: Locally Sourced Goodness With New Items Nightly

This impressive restaurant uses only fresh, locally-sourced meats and produce to create its refined, Southern-inspired menu, and new dishes are featured nightly depending on what ingredients are the most plentiful that season.

The restaurant itself is furnished with warm wooden fixtures, sumptuous fabrics draped from the ceiling and a patio area with an outdoor fireplace. Dinner begins with a plate of pimento cheese and crackers to snack on, and an impressive list of wine, beer, and handcrafted, seasonal cocktails are also available to accompany any meal. Whether you opt for the traditional crispy catfish and slaw dish or a more adventurous pumpkin seed pesto chicken, Jack Allen’s offers a taste of Texas that’s both unique and traditional.

To make a reservation at Jack Allen’s Kitchen, visit the convenient website or call the restaurant directly.

Jack Allen’s Kitchen
7720 Highway 71 W
Austin, TX 78735
(512) 852-8558
www.jackallenskitchen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jack-allens-kitchen-austin

The League Kitchen & Tavern: Comfort Food for the Sophisticated Palate

The League Kitchen & Tavern offers a unique dining experience. The dining room at this Austin hotspot is decorated to evoke the feeling of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, and once you're seated you just might find yourself glancing over your shoulder as you order a cocktail in your historic-feeling surroundings.

The food at The League Kitchen & Tavern, however is, thoroughly modern. The kitchen is focused on elevating familiar comfort foods, and regulars say the hand-cut truffle fries served with garlic aioli shouldn't be missed, while the bacon wrapped shrimp atop a smoked gouda grit cake makes a tasty start to any meal. The spinach and kale salad mixes savory and sweet with a combination of shaved cheddar, tart granny Smith apples, candied walnuts, and red onions, and hearty eaters will enjoy the chicken fried pork chop accompanied by mashed potatoes and a creamy jalapeno gravy.

Whatever you decide to order, Yelp reviewers say you're sure to enjoy the restaurant’s innovative preparations.

The League Kitchen & Tavern
1310 Ranch Road 620 South
Lakeway, TX 78734
(512) 263-3279
leaguelakeway.com/page/home
www.yelp.com/biz/the-league-kitchen-and-tavern-lakeway

Barley Swine: Go On a Tour of the Senses at This Adventurous Eatery

Austin’s food scene is very big on locally sourced ingredients, and Barley Swine is equally dedicated to the cause. This popular South Austin gastropub is both complex and sophisticated, and it appeals to a very adventurous, open-minded palate. With that said, many view this as one of the finest restaurants in Austin.

Your meal comes in the form of 14 courses, each with a small plate of a completely different flavor, and most diners opt for the wine or beer pairings, as well. Innovative cooking techniques and adventurous plating result in dishes like antelope leg with shishito pepper or poached salmon with blackberries, though you never quite know what the chefs will come up with next. With a sleek, modern exterior and a dining room accented with warm wood and comfortable seating, Barley Swine is truly an experience for all of the senses.

Barley Swine is open 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.

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

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

Pin It on Pinterest