Uchi: Japanese Fare Made With Local Ingredients

The farm-to-table culinary movement is the backbone of a number of Austin’s most popular restaurants, and although the ingredients come from local suppliers, eateries like Uchi prove that they can be used to create cuisines from around the globe. This Japanese farmhouse restaurant and sushi bar serves creative, modern takes on traditional Japanese dishes using meats and produce from farms around the Austin area. The restaurant is located inside of a renovated bungalow-style house in South Austin, and it is decorated with colorful cherry blossom wallpaper, rustic wooden tables, and an elegant sushi bar where guests can sit and watch as talented chefs prepare each roll by hand.

Uchi’s menu includes a tasting menu of small hot and cool dishes, a full list of sushi, soups and other Japanese fare delicacies. There is also a sake social menu that offers the perfect sake pairing for any dish on the menu.

Uchi
801 South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-4808
www.uchiaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/uchi-austin

Order the Garden Vegetable Sandwich at Kneaded Pleasures Cafe

One of the regulars at Kneaded Pleasures Café describes it as “so much more than just a bakery.” Kneaded pleasures offers baked goods, specialty coffees, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even gelato for dessert. The atmosphere is always bright and cheerful yet very comfortable and you’ll definitely feel right at home.

The food at Kneaded Pleasures is always fresh and well prepared. Their menu is full of comfort foods. The breakfast menu is served all day. The garden vegetable sandwich is the go-to lunch item on the menu. It includes fresh herb focaccia, peppercorn ranch dressing, jack cheese, marinated red onions, sprouts, avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and red bell peppers. As for the gelato, it's smooth, rich, and creamy and just the right amount of sweet without making you too full after your meal.

Kneaded Pleasures Café
3573 Far W Blvd
Austin, TX 78731
(512) 527-0699
www.kneadedpleasures.com

Cipollina: An Austin Favorite for Italian Cuisine

Cipollina was established in 1999 and has since grown into the well respected restaurant that it is today. The restaurant has a rustic ambiance and a neighborhood feel that makes you always feel welcome.

The menu at Cipollina features classic and authentic Italian dishes, like pastas, locally sourced entrees, and their unique wood-fired pizzas. The kale salad is bursting with flavor and has a lemon zest, tart cherries, and crunchy pistachios to top it off. Be sure to try their signature Cipollina pizza, which is cooked in a wood-fired oven and includes mushrooms, sweet onion compote, balsamic and chevre. Be sure to save room for tiramisu for dessert!

With all of the food sourced locally, you can tell that they put a lot into their meals and make sure to find the freshest ingredients they can.

Cipollina
1213 West Lynn Street
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-5211
www.cipollina-austin.com

Sip, Swish and Savor at The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen

Wine lovers in the West Austin area know that when you’re looking for a spot to sip Chardonnay with friends, The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen is the place to go. This sleek and modern wine bar is filled with light and ample seating, making it a wonderful eatery for large groups and small dates alike. There is a long, lime green bar area where visitors can relax with a glass of wine and some appetizers, or if you’re looking for a larger meal, the spacious dining room features numerous wooden tables and cozy booths.

For lunch and dinner, The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen serves a full menu of bruschetta samplers, entrée salads, and seasonal pastas, as well as light, healthy seafood, grilled meats, and local veggies. Pair any meal with a glass (or a whole bottle) from the impressive wine list for an evening out that you won’t soon forget.

The Grove Wine Bar and Kitchen
6317 Bee Caves Road
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 327-8822
www.grovewinebar.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-grove-wine-bar-and-kitchen-austin-6

Henri’s: Take a Taste of Europe’s Finest Delicacies

Walking into Henri’s feels like entering a quaint European bistro, from the white stone fixtures to the wall of wines and cheeses.

The charming cheese shop stocks a thoughtful selection of cheese and charcuterie, as well as simple sandwiches and salads that are well-suited to an elegant, casual lunch. Later in the evening the shop serves wine, cheese, and charcuterie pairings only, an ideal arrangement when you simply want a nightcap or you’re waiting for a table at one of the upscale restaurants nearby. Each cheese plate comes with a generous assortment of lovely preserves, freshly baked bread, and nuts that complement the cheese selection. For dessert, Henri’s serves French-inspired baked goods such as decadent chocolate cake.

Henri’s serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and wine and cheese from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The retail store is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Sunday lunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. only.

Henri’s
2026 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 442-3373
www.henrischeese.com
www.yelp.com/biz/henris-austin

Enjoy Inventive Italian Fare and a Serenade at Botticelli’s

Botticelli's is a family-owned Italian restaurant located right in the heart of the South Congress shopping district. Owners Andrew and Matt Botticelli work hard to ensure their restaurant serves authentic Italian food with integrity and inventiveness. Menu items include ravioli stuffed with butternut squash, pansotti pasta featuring mushrooms and ricotta cheese, and duck breast with ravioli and black pepper fig sauce.

There is a wide choice of wines and a happy hour on Sundays and Mondays, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Besides the food and drink selection, customers enjoy relaxing in the idyllic beer garden, where diners can expect to be serenaded by live music Thursdays through Saturdays. Large parties are advised to make reservations and the beer garden fills up fast, too.

Botticelli's
1321 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-1315
www.botticellissouthcongress.com
www.yelp.com/biz/botticellis-austin

Experience More Than Just A Meal At Wink in Austin

“Dining at Wink is more than just a meal, it’s an experience.” That’s how a guest describes her time at this intimate, cordial dining venue in Austin. When you walk through the door at Wink, you instantly feel welcome. Wink only uses the freshest food and ingredients from local and national farms and purveyors. Therefore, the menu at Wink is updated on a daily basis.

The employees at Wink know their stuff, and they're very knowledgeable about the food they prepare and the wines that go with them. There's no pretense here, however. Instead, the staff wants every guest to explore and try new things and ask questions so they can have the best experience possible.

Wink is open Mondays through Saturdays. Because of the restaurant's attentive staff and popular, fresh menus, it is strongly recommended that you reserve a table in advance.

Wink
1014 North Lamar Blvd
Austin, Texas 78703
(512) 482-8868
www.winkrestaurant.com

Little Barrel and Brown: Don’t Miss the Dewberry Farms Fried Chicken

Austin’s culinary culture has come a long way in the last decade, and one of the town’s most promising eateries is Little Barrel and Brown. This exceptional New American bistro specializes in unique takes on familiar foods.

Start off with a selection from the “little snacks” menu at the bar. The caramel corn with cracked black pepper and sea salt is delicious, and the cheese fries with cheddar, smoked gouda, and scallions are decadent and tasty. Moving on to entrees, regulars rave about the burgers topped with “marrownaise,” a creamy spread created from whipped bone marrow. Also awesome is the roasted pork shoulder with lentils and acorn squash, which is fork-tender and perfectly spiced. However, the one can’t-miss meal on the menu here is the Dewberry Farms fried chicken, which is crunchy, to perfection and served with celery root slaw and hot sauce.

Prices are reasonable, especially considering the high quality of the cuisine offered.

Little Barrel and Brown
1716 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 582-1229
www.littlebarrelandbrown.com
www.yelp.com/biz/little-barrel-and-brown-austin

The Emerald Restaurant: Taste the Luck of the Irish

The Emerald Restaurant is a beautiful and cozy eatery tucked away in a scenic part of West Austin that locals truly adore. Approach the cottage-style restaurant and you’ll be amazed at its quaint beauty and lush, green lawn, which creates a stunning backdrop for the many private parties, weddings, and graduation dinners that are held here.

The Emerald Restaurant serves an imaginative menu of Irish-inspired dishes, and everything is made entirely from scratch using tried-and-true family restaurants straight from Ireland. Roasts and meats are carved tableside on silver platters, while onion soups are served flambéed and Tipperary sweetbreads come wrapped in Irish bacon. Each artistic dish is hearty and a bit dramatic, and there are even complete two-person dinners perfect for special occasions.

No true Irish meal would be complete without an accompanying beverage, and The Emerald also boasts a long list of libations to choose from.

The Emerald Restaurant
13614 Highway 71 West
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 963-4272
www.theemeraldrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-nature-and-science-center-austin-2

Chago’s: Taste Puerto Rican Cuisine in Austin

Taste Puerto Rican cuisine in Austin at Chago's. Chef Chago creates an authentic take on the cuisine, building a menu that features dishes like fried pork chop with rice and beans, beer braised chicken with sweet plantains, and slow roasted pulled pork with pigeon peas. You can’t leave Chago’s without trying the Mofongo, which is made from mashed fried green plantains and pork crackling. If you come in for lunch, you may also want to try the restaurant’s Cuban sandwich, winner of Austin Chronicle’s 2012 “Critics Cuban Sandwich Smackdown.” (There are gluten free options available, as well.)

Come in for lunch, dinner, or a pina colada. The family-owned and -operated restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Visit its website to find out more.

Chago’s
7301 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 275-6013
www.chagos.biz
www.yelp.com/biz/chagos-austin

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