Easy Tiger: Take it Easy

‘Slow Down, Stay a While’, is the motto at Easy Tiger, a friendly little bake shop and beer garden where you can settle in with a brew, a baked pretzel and a knockwurst. Order up a Snack Board with freshly baked pretzels, beef jerky, beer cheese, and some house mustard and munch away to your heart’s content. Artisan sandwiches include Smoked Pastrami with kraut & Swiss cheese, Smoked Turkey Breast with avocado & jalapeno aioli, and House Smoked Salmon Spread with cream cheese & cucumber. All are served on their freshly baked bread, which is also sold by the loaf. Order one of their house made sausages on a tasty pretzel bun. Sides include collard greens, grilled broccoli, sauerkraut and potato salad. Coffee drinks, beer, wine and cocktails are also served.

Easy Tiger
709 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
http://www.yelp.com/biz/easy-tiger-austin

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

Ballet Austin: On Point

Austin is a culturally rich city, boasting a fair number of highbrow performance groups. One of the most long-lived and praised is Ballet Austin, which has been putting on impressive performances for over 50 years. Under the direction of Stephen Mills, the company encompasses 20 professional dancers recruited from a nationwide talent search, staging five productions yearly, including an extremely popular presentation of The Nutcracker. The productions are uniformly elegant and sensual, with talented dancers and engrossing choreography. Regulars rave about the avant-garde spin that Mills and company put on staid classics. In addition to their professional performances, Ballet Austin hosts a number of educational programs which draw locals in droves. The classes are held on a drop-in basis at The Butler Center, ranging from traditional ballet and tap to more unique offerings like hip-hop, Pilates and “Broadway Fit.” Prices are reasonable and the instructors are top notch. It’s a great resource for anybody interested in dance.

Ballet Austin
501 W. 3rd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-9151
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ballet-austin-austin

III Forks: A Terrific Steakhouse

III Forks is a fine dining steakhouse offering a sophisticated, upscale setting, including a piano bar/lounge area, an expansive dining room, and patio seating with a primo view across Cesar Chavez Avenue to the river. Sample a varietal from their extensive wine selection stocked with over 4,000 bottles from the world over. The menu is Texas-French, with a sumptuous array of starters like Bacon-Wrapped Scallops, Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Bisque and Crabcake St. Francis. Entrees include Filet Mignon, Bone-In Ribeye, USDA Prime Porterhouse, Rack of Lamb, Atlantic Salmon and Chilean Seabass. All entrées are served with duchess potatoes, creamed corn and fresh veggies. Other sides include sautéed spinach, fresh asparagus, sautéed mushrooms and sweet potato hash. Open for dinner only every day.

III Forks
111 Lavaca St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-1776
http://www.yelp.com/biz/iii-forks-steakhouse-austin

Peche: Sensational Cocktails

Looking for a sensational artisanal cocktail? Head to Peche, where you can imbibe the once-banned libation absinthe and other spirits in a Parisian-style environment. Nestle up to the bar, order a refreshing cocktail like the Spicy Bee’s Knees, the Corpse Reviver, or a Fig Manhattan and prepare to be bowled over by deliciousness. Food can be ordered at the bar, or settle in at a table and curb your hunger with something tasty from the French-influenced menu. The menu changes daily and might include Roasted Corn Chowder, Grilled Baby Chicken with cacciatore sauce, Roasted Marrow & Escargot, Bouillabasse in white wine broth or Steak Nicoise Tartine. Stop in for great specials during happy hour on weekdays from 4 until 6p.m.

Peche
208 W 4th St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-4011
http://www.yelp.com/biz/p%C3%A9ch%C3%A9-austin-3

The Backspace: Gastropub Goodness

The Backspace is a great little gastro-pub is helmed by revered Austin chef Shawn Cirkiel. His small, Italian-themed menu is eclectic, giving diners some yummy options for antipasti, pizzas and desserts to pair with wine, beer and cocktails. Order yourself a fruity chardonnay or rich cabernet sauvignon alongside an antipasti like Lamb & Pork Meatballs with stewed tomatoes, Baked Ricotta with lemon poached tomato, Farm Greens Salad with pecorino romano, or Brussel Sprouts & Fontina. The pizza selection includes the classic Margherita with mozzarella, basil & tomato, the Bianco with arugula, mozzarella & ricotta and the Roasted Mushroom with ricotta, tomato, capers & thyme. Delectable desserts include Hazelnut Chocolate Budino, Salted Caramel Panna Cotta and Ricotta Cheesecake. Open Monday through Sunday from 5p.m until 11p.m.

The Backspace
507 San Jacinto St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-9899
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-backspace-austin

Olivia: Understated & Sophisticated

Owned by Chef James Holmes, Olivia has been named one of the “Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America” by Bon Appétit magazine.

The menu changes regularly to feature fresh and seasonal ingredients, but is known for its distinctive flavor combinations of sweet and savory.  Consider the Olivia Salad with pecans, ginger, pumpkin, and a pomegranate vinaigrette.  Perfectly braised chops are a regular feature on the menu, whether lamb, pork, or veal.  For dessert, try the duck egg creme brûlée.  Olivia features a fantastic wine list, and the friendly waitstaff is happy to make a recommendation.  Stop in for a classy brunch and try the South Austin Omelet with lamb chorizzo and salsa.  If you are feeling indulgent, try their six and ten-course tasting menus.  Stone walls and warm wood accents make the modern architecture stand out. Inside, the ambiance is romantic and sophisticated — perfect for an intimate date. 

Olivia
2043 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 804-2700
www.yelp.com/biz/olivia-austin

Violet Crown Cinema: King Of Film

One of Austin’s oldest nicknames is “The City Of The Violet Crown,” and that unlikely moniker gives this exceptional independent movie theater its name. Austin has long been known as a city that fiercely supports the arts, and the Violet Crown Cinema is one of the city’s best places to catch independent, foreign and documentary films on their first run. And they offer a number of amenities to make seeing movies here even more pleasant. Most interesting is reserved seating for every show – when you buy your ticket, you can pick your seat. Buy early enough and you can snag the super-comfortable front row seats. Prices are on par with other city theaters, and the concession stand is excellent. In addition to the typical popcorn and soda, the café features some truly awesome food, including the ginger pork tapas and some really good paninis. They also have a full cocktail bar with a top-notch beer and wine selection.

Violet Crown Cinema
434 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 495-9600
http://www.yelp.com/biz/violet-crown-cinema-austin

Stubb’s: Legendary BBQ and Live Music

The legendary Stubb’s Bar-B-Q was originally opened in Lubbock, Texas, under the careful supervision of barbecue king Christopher B. Stubblefield. His insanely good slow-cooked meats quickly became a favorite food for central Texas’s burgeoning music scene, and eventually live music became a part of the Stubb's experience. Some of the biggest names in Lone Star rock and country played on his stage, and when the business moved to Austin it prospered even more. Stubb’s is now one of the hottest spots in Austin, continuing the tradition of bbq and great live music. Regulars rave that the beef brisket here can go toe-to-toe with any ‘cue in the world, and the sides, especially the rich macaroni and cheese, are out of sight. Live music most nights of the week features local and national bands, and the Sunday gospel brunch is truly awesome. Live gospel music, traditional Southern brunch foods like migas and fried catfish, and a great crowd will have you coming back for seconds.

Stubb’s
801 Red River Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 480-8341

Holy Cacao Is For Chocolate Lovers

Holy Cacao is Austin's sweetest food truck, a chocolate lover’s dream featuring cake balls, shakes and chocolate drinks. Their version of cake balls are unique; the fresh cake is crumbled and mixed with frosting shaped into a ball and is then dipped into chocolate to form a shell.  There are several flavors to choose from including red velvet and carrot cake. The trailer also serves cake shakes that whirl their cake into traditional vanilla or chocolate shakes.  Holy Cocao is also known for their flavorful chocolate drinks – either hot or frozen – made with 65% chocolate for a creamy and rich treat. Their Mexican Chocolate is pleasantly spiced with ancho chile, cinnamon and cayenne. If you're a chocolate lover, or need a gift for someone who is, head to Holy Cocao for a sweet treat. 

Holy Cacao (in South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery)
1311 S 1st St
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 851-2253
www.yelp.com/biz/holy-cacao-austin

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