Ronnie’s Real Food may not be for everyone but if you're an adventurous eater and looking for something other than typical table service, give this Austin, Texas restaurant a try. The business model is a bit different. It's more like eating in someone’s dining room. Rather than offering a menu that will take you twenty minutes to read, Ronnie offers a weekly four course meal of well executed dishes. Ronnie is the host, waiter, and chef. The dining room is seated at the same time and everyone dines as the same pace. Open Wednesday through Sunday for 7 p.m. dinner, reservations are essential. Menus are posted online, so you can plan your visit when a dish jumps out at you. Ronnie’s is BYOB with no corkage fee. The meal is a bargain at $25 per person – including tax and tip. Put it all together and this might be one of the most interesting dining experiences you can have in Austin!

Ronnie's Real Food
205 S. Commons Ford Road
Austin, TX 78733
(512) 402-9900
www.ronniesrealfood.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ronnies-real-food-bistro-austin 

Everyone has been to a traditional Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant, few have experienced a  place like Santa Catarina – a boutique gourmet Mexican restaurant that prides itself on offering a rare assortment of authentic dishes from the interior. When you pull up to a strip mall you may not believe that you are about to embark on one of the best meals you have had but just keep walking in the door and you will see. The tortillas are made fresh daily in house and where most restaurants offer a chili relleno they go above and beyond to offer multiple options stuffed with local Gulf seafood, corn Mexican truffles and sauteed vegetables.  The regulars come here for the food but stay for the fresh specialty drinks made in house from scratch including fresh grapefruit, agave nectar, and homemade sangria, all rich in flavor. This spot is worth the drive for adventurous diners. 

Santa Catarina
1310 Ranch Rd 620 S
Lakeway, TX 78734
(512) 300-0946
http://www.yelp.com/biz/santa-catarina-restaurant-lakeway

Austin is full of enough culture to keep you quite busy, but if you're interested in venturing outside of the city, there are a few places worth visiting just a short distance away. Take a break from the hustle and bustle with one of these great day trips. Have a little fun, and explore all that Texas has to offer. 

Splish-and-Splash
Cool off with a visit to Schlitterbahn Water Park. Kids and adults can enjoy the numerous rides like water slides and raft rides. There is even a pool with a swim up bar for grown-ups. From April to September take a fun filled day trip to this amusement park located in New Braunfels.

Enjoy Great BBQ
Treat your stomach to something delicious, and visit the barbeque capital of Texas in nearby Lockhart. Stop by each of the four famous BBQ joints for a taste test, and see which is your favorite. Digest your food as you stroll through the nearby park, or play golf on the 9-hole course. Come during wildflower season to enjoy your food with beautiful scenery.