Verde’s Mexican Parrilla: A Spicy Option for Tonight’s Dinner

A large, lively restaurant in Austin, the family-friendly Verde's Mexican Parrilla has an atmosphere that’s a bit more polished than some Mexican fare eateries. The building’s exterior is designed to look like the buildings found throughout Mexico, complete with arched doorways, an adobe-style facade, and even a spacious outdoor patio with rustic fixtures and a covered roof to shield you from the sun. Inside, there is a spacious dining room, a full bar, and touches of Mexico throughout.

Verde’s menu includes carne asada, beef enchiladas, and fresh-made tortilla soup, as well as a large list of wines, beers, and cocktails. Finish your visit with a piece of chocolate tres leches cake and you’ll likely leave feeling more than satisfied.

Don't skip a discounted margarita or sangria during Verde's happy hour, served 4-6:30p.m. daily!

Verde’s Mexican Parrilla
16018 Hamilton Pool Road
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 263-0500
www.verdesmexican.com
www.yelp.com/biz/verdes-mexican-parrilla-austin

Baguette et Chocolat Is a Cafe With a Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi

If you think that you have to jet off to the City of Light in order to find an authentic taste of Paris, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you visit Austin’s Baguette et Chocolate. This traditional French patisserie and boulangerie creates some of the most popular pastries and baked goods from French cuisine entirely from scratch, and it even has the same cozy, intimate feeling as a cafe found on the cobblestone streets of Paris.

Sample colorful macarons and gourmet éclairs au chocolat with a steaming cup of espresso, or pop in for a casual lunch of fresh croque madame sandwiches and pressed paninis around midday. If you’re planning a special occasion, Baguette et Chocolate is also one of the best places in the area to find custom cakes with your choice of decorations.

If you’re looking for an elegant and uniquely cultural lunch option in the Austin area, you’ll find it at this Parisian bakery.

Baguette et Chocolat
12101 Bee Cave Road
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-8388
www.baguetteetchocolat.com
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-nature-and-science-center-austin-2

Bee Cave Coffee Co: Feed Your Caffeine Craving

Bee Cave Coffee Co. has just about everything you could want in a coffee shop. It's locally owned, has plenty of seating, lots of electrical outlets for laptops and tablets, and offers free Wi-Fi. Best of all, though, this place serves up some of the tastiest coffee in the Austin area, according to regulars. Try a rich, foamy cappuccino, or sip on a sweet vanilla latte. Get serious with a straight shot of espresso, or relax with a plain old cup of joe.

Bee Cave Coffee Co. serves more than your morning caffeine jolt, though. You can fuel up with breakfast tacos and burritos stuffed with cage-free eggs, spiced potatoes, sausage, and shredded cheddar. At lunch try turning your attention to chicken salad served on a croissant, or bite into toasted flatbread piled high with caramelized onions, mild red and yellow peppers, peppery arugula, and fresh, tangy goat cheese.

Whatever you order, you can expect the service to be quick, friendly, and efficient.

Bee Cave Coffee Co.
13420 Galleria Circle
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-9900

www.beecavecoffee.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bee-cave-coffee-co-bee-cave

Don’t Miss the Ainsworth at Fricano’s Deli

The Ainsworth doesn't refer to a single sandwich at Fricano's Deli, but rather a concept. It's new each day. That's thanks to the creative sandwich makers at Fricano's who improvise the Ainsworth on a daily basis. Using whatever fresh ingredients they have on-hand that day, they pile a brand new sandwich into existence—maybe one that's never been on the menu before.

So it should come as no surprise that the Ainsworth is a popular item to order when you visit Fricano's Deli, but it's far from your only option. Another customer favorite is the spicy Reuben, a twist on the classic with the addition of pepperoncini peppers, pepperjack cheese, red onion, and "Rocket sauce." No matter which sandwich you choose, you can't go wrong with any of the spreads slathered inside. They range from a garlicky pesto to an Italian olive tapenade to roasted red pepper hummus.

Fricano's Deli
2405 Nueces Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 482-3322
www.fricanosdeli.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fricanos-deli-austin-15

Marye’s Gourmet Pizza Pub: Making Pizza a Bit More Nutritious

By using only fresh, local ingredients and nutritious cooking techniques, Marye’s Gourmet Pizza Pub offers a healthier take on the usual pizza. This thoughtful approach to pizza doesn’t sacrifice its delicious flavor, however: the restaurant’s tasty pies are still flavorful, delicious, and indulgent.

Stop by this local favorite pizzeria and discover pizzas with names like the Mother Lode and The ‘Que, as well as classics like the veggie-loaded Nature’s Treat and the decadent Four Cheese. There are gluten-free pizza crusts for those with restricted diets, and if you’re not in the mood for pizza, Marye’s even offers large sandwiches, lasagna, and salads that are just as delicious. Have a glass of wine or beer with your pizza in the minimal, modern restaurant, or take it to go to enjoy at home while relaxing in front of a movie.

Marye’s is open Mondays through Thursdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Marye’s Gourmet Pizza Pub
3663 Bee Caves Road
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 327-5222
www.maryesgourmetpizza.com
www.yelp.com/biz/maryes-gourmet-pizza-austin-2

Stop Into Jason’s Deli for a Fast and Healthy Lunch in Austin

RETIRED: CLOSED.

A chain restaurant with a presence in more than half of the nation's states, Jason's Deli proudly proclaims that it was the first eatery of its kind to ban artificial trans fats and high fructose corn syrup from its menu. So when you sink a fork, spoon, or tooth into Jason's Deli's organic salads, piping-hot soups, and loaded sandwiches, you can feel reasonably certain that your meal is in line with your healthy lifestyle.

The fast-casual restaurant's vibe is similarly wholesome; the chain appeals to families with its relaxed atmosphere and robust kids' menu. Little ones 12 and under can choose from well-balanced meals that include antibiotic-free chicken nuggets, grilled cheese on multigrain bread, and bowtie pasta with meatballs. A side of organic carrot sticks or apple slices helps ensure Junior gets his fair share of fruits and veggies.

Note that Jason's Deli also serves a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Jason's Deli
3300 Bee Cave Road
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 328-0200
www.jasonsdeli.com/restaurants/tx/austin/plaza-de-las-lomas-deli

Green Pastures: Elegant Austin Dining

Located on a lush Victorian-era estate with expansive lawns, strolling peacocks and spreading live oak trees, Green Pastures is known as ‘The Grande Dame of Austin restaurants.’ Go there for a splurge-worthy dining experience in an elegant, historic setting.

Sunday brunch is a favorite time to stop in for their famous Milk Punch spiked with bourbon, rum and brandy. The prix fixe brunch menu features a groaning board of dishes like Creole Spiced Beef, Green Lipped Mussels, Moroccan Chicken, Chilled Shrimp and Prime Rib. Lunch and dinner offerings include some yummy entrée salads, sandwiches and main dishes like Spiced Spring Rack of Lamb, Texas Redfish with Crawfish, Seared Duck Breast, Espresso Cocoa Ribeye, and Grilled Tofu with Spinach.

Green Pastures is open daily in Austin. Check out its website to find out more!

Green Pastures
811 West Live Oak Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-4747

www.greenpasturesrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/green-pastures-restaurant-austin

Turf N’ Surf Po-Boy: Don’t Miss the Mahi Mahi

It'd be accurate to call Ralph Gilmore a jack of all trades. He's worked beneath the hoods of ailing cars; he's constructed and sold customized bikes; he's designed modern living spaces. But he took on an entirely new type of venture in the early 2000s when he debuted Turf N' Surf Po-Boy, a food trailer that eventually spawned a more permanent kitchen (and sidewalk order window) on Lavaca Street.

You can choose to have your food one of three ways: as a po'boy, tacos, or a salad, Then just pick your fixings. The mahi mahi is a popular option, whether or not you go for a po'boy or taco. But you can also go for blackened ribeye with horseradish cream buffalo chicken with bleu cheese, or grilled veggies (known as The Hipster). You can also opt for a basket of fried shrimp, catfish, oysters, or even crawfish. On the side, order one of the popular costars from the menu: the cilantro fries or the jalapeno hush puppies.

Turf N' Surf Po-Boy
407 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 276-2763
lavacastreet.com/turf-n-surf
www.yelp.com/biz/turf-n-surf-po-boy-austin

Free Beer and Stellar Brisket: la Barbecue

Perhaps the only downside of eating at one of Austin's popular food trucks is that they always seem to have a line stretching away from the window, requiring would-be eaters to wait in the oppressive Texan sun. At la Barbecue, though, customers cross their fingers for a long line. The food truck offers a simple amenity to make the wait bearable, even pleasant: free beer.

Cool off your complimentary suds while you decide what to order. It should be a relatively easy decision, given the fact that la Barbecue's brisket is the favorite by far. However, pulled pork, sausage, turkey, and chopped beef are also on the menu. For some added flavor, order one of the specialty sandwiches like El Sancho Loco with your choice of meat and pickled red onions. Make sure you arrive well ahead of the lunch rush, though, because la Barbecue's opening hours are simply 11 a.m. to "sold out."

la Barbecue
902 E. Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 605-9696
www.labarbecue.com
www.yelp.com/biz/la-barbecue-austin-3

Maudie’s Hill Country: Where the Tacos Are Spicy and the Margaritas Are Icy

Maudie’s Hill Contry is a Tex-Mex favorite in a city full of similar eateries, which says a lot about the quality of its food. With a colorful, casual interior and a somewhat secret upstairs bar and patio, this popular spot is just as inviting as it is delicious. You’ll find flavorful Tex-Mex fare morning, noon, and night at Maudie’s, starting with breakfast dishes like blueberry pancakes, huevos rancheros, and sausage migas and a very wide selection of enchiladas, tacos, and burritos for lunch.

There are vegetarian options and gluten-free options for those with restricted diets, as well as affordable lunch specials throughout the work week. During happy hour at Maudie’s, you’ll find even more savings on the restaurant’s fresh, fruity margaritas and Mexican cervezas, and during the weekend brunch, the Bloody Marys are a must-sip.

Maudie’s Hill Country
12506 Shops Parkway
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-1116
www.maudies.com

Pin It on Pinterest