Casa De Luz: Vegetarian and Gluten Free Food

Healthful vegetarian, gluten-free fare is what’s cooking in the kitchen of Case De Luz, a non-profit eatery in South Austin, where a love of fresh, lovingly-prepared food and a community spirit is the credo. Visit and you'll stroll past the garden and into the peaceful ambiance of the dining room. Settle in at one of the community tables and prepare to make your tastbuds happy and your body healthy with one of this restaurant's flavorful meals. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. The price is $7 and includes a set menu of porridge with granola & raisins, soup, leafy greens, mixed vegetables, beans and freshly made tortillas. Lunch and dinner are both $12 and include many of the same items, plus a veggie entrée and a hot whole grain like brown rice, or quinoa. Casa de Luz is also kid-friendly, with a playground to occupy the little ones.

Casa de Luz
1701 Toomey Road
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-2535
http://www.casadeluz.org/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-de-luz-austin

FoodHeads: A Delightful Austin Restaurant

Fans of FoodHeads love their cheerful décor, friendly service and delectable menu. Breakfast is a primo time to stop by for dishes made with pasture-raised eggs, like some Breakfast Tacos filled with eggs and other ingredients. Try the Gypsy Grove with scrambled eggs, serano peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and avocado, wrapped in a fresh flour tortilla. Lunchtime serves up a bounteous array of sandwiches, including the Chicken Caesar, Pulled Pork or Tuna Melt. Dinner is served Thursday through Saturday, with tasty options like Barbeque Ribs & Grits, Veggie Lasagna, Steak & Arugula Salad, and Pan Fried Crab Cakes. Save room for one of their tempting desserts like Pasty Bread Pudding with sugar cane rum sauce. Yum.

FoodHeads
616 W. 34th Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 420-8400
http://www.yelp.com/biz/foodheads-austin

Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue

Located in a beautifully restored, historic building, Lambert's Downtown Barbecue is the place to go for modern, inventive barbeque and artisanal cocktails. Lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch are featured, plus they’ve got live music in their upstairs bar and lounge every night. The lunch menu features tasty sandwiches like Pulled Pork Cuban, Chopped Beef Brisket and Smoked Chicken Salad BLT. Dinner rolls out taste pleasers like Cold Smoked Lockhart Quail, Country Style Pork Ribs, Black Angus Filet and Jumbo Gulf Shrimp & Grits. Chocolate Cream Pie and Maple Bread Pudding are among the uber-yummy desserts that await you. Stop by for brunch to get your day started with Warm Brioche Cinnamon Rolls, Slow Smoked Brisket Hash and Lambert’s Eggs Benedict. Open every day.

Lambert's Downtown Barbecue
401 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-1500
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lamberts-downtown-barbecue-austin

Giovanni’s Pizza Stand: Al Fresco Pies in South Austin

What’s not to love about a down-home little outdoor pizza stand located smack-dab next to a gas station? South Austin's Giovanni’s has earned a host of fans who adore the thin-crust, sizzling pies turned out of this friendly little eatery. There are a few tables for sitting, but most pies go home with their new owners. Yummy toppings include portabella mushrooms, gorgonzola cheese, chipotle pesto, roasted eggplant, steak, kalamata olives and shrimp. Stop by at lunchtime for their bargain special and get a slice of pizza with two toppings, and soup or salad for $5.49. Pasta is also on the menu and their daily soup is reportedly super-tasty. Cruise by in the a.m. for some hearty breakfast tacos and fajitas. Giovanni's Pizza Stand is open Mondays through Saturdays.

Giovanni's Pizza Stand
2900B S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 442-7033
http://www.giovannispizzastand.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/giovannis-pizza-stand-austin-2

Parkside: Sophisticated American Cuisine

Accolades abound for Parkside, a casually sophisticated eatery showcasing a tasty menu of seasonal American fare. Stop into the expansive bar and lounge area for a glass of wine, an artisan beer or a creative cocktail like the El Charrito with tequila, Campari, gingersnap liqueur and orange peel. Have a nosh from the oyster bar or an appetizer like Potato Gnocchi, Crispy Sweetbreads, Fried Oysters, or Crab Fritters. The raw bar features Salmon with citrus & sweet peppercorns and Classic Ceviche with avocado. Entrees include Braised Lamb Shanks with Israeli couscous, Seared Salmon with bacon cider vinaigrette, Grilled New York Strip Steak with brown butter puree, and Marinated Pork Blade Steak with foraged mushrooms. Open Monday through Sunday from 5p.m. until 12a.m.


Parkside
301 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78701
Neighborhood: Downtown
(512) 474-9898
http://www.yelp.com/biz/parkside-austin

Malaga Tapas & Bar: Spanish Sunshine

Taking its cue from the lush Spanish city on the Costa Del Sol, Malaga Tapas & Bar features a plentiful array of drinks and small plates served in a romantic setting. Authentic dishes include Albondigas in Salsa Brava – baked beef & pork meatballs in spicy tomato sauce, Marmitako – fisherman’s stew with tomato broth & potatoes, Empanadas Salamanca – spinach turnovers with mushrooms & cheese, and Plato de Quesos Y Frutas – a plate of assorted cheeses & fruit. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10a.m. until 2p.m. with delectable fare that includes Baked Egg on Creamy Polenta, Veggie Scramble, and Torrijas – Spanish-style French Toast served with honey & lavender. Stop in on Wednesday nights for live flamenco. Open every day.

Malaga Tapas & Bar
440 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 236-8020
http://www.yelp.com/biz/malaga-tapas-and-bar-austin-2

Cru: Eclectic Wines

Housed in an elegant setting with a variety of seating options, Cru is the go-to spot to imbibe an eclectic array of wines. Wine flights, 30 wines by the glass and over 300 bottled varietals offer a wide selection of drinking options for even the pickiest grape-lover. Relax on the patio, sit at a communal table, or cozy up in a booth and sip to your heart’s content. If you need a bite to eat, order something delectable from the kitchen. Pan Seared Crab Cake, Cheese Fondue, Lamb Lollipops, Pan Roasted Chicken Picatta and Filet Mignon are among the dining options. Stone-fired pizzas are on the menu, too. Stop by on the weekend for Sunday brunch.

Cru
238 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-9463
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cr%C3%BA-wine-bar-austin-3

Hopfields: Not Your Usual Pub

If you’re on the lookout for a great neighborhood watering hole with a menu that ventures above the usual pub-grub, put Hopfields on your list of go-to places. It’s a fine spot to chill out with an artisan beer, glass of wine or refreshing cocktail. Order up something tasty from the French-themed menu to accompany your libation. Choices include Moules Frites – mussels in white wine broth with French fries, Ratatoille with fresh veggies, and Steak Frites – a 6-ounce filet with fries & Dijon mustard. The Pascal Burger is also a tasty option, topped with camembert, cornichons, caramelized onions & grain mustard. Save room for a luscious dessert crepe, like Tripel Karmeliet with lavender vanilla sugar and nutella. Open every day.

Hopfields
3110 Guadalupe St, Ste 400
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 537-0467
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hopfields-austin

Cork and Co.: The Mighty Grape

Aficionados of the mighty grape congregate at Cork and Co., where a plentiful supply of wine from around the globe is arrayed for imbibing. Order a wine flight to sample an array of varietals. Each flight contains three 2-ounce pours of your choosing. Accompany your libations with something yummy for your tummy, like the Antipasto, Cheese & Charcuterie Plate with a sampling of goodies of your choosing. Other food choices include Baby Zach’s Smoked BBQ Hummus Plate and a Piccante Italiana Panini with peppered salami, prosciutto di Parma, smoked provolone and spicy cherry peppers. Increase your knowledge and appreciation of wine with one of their fun, informative classes. Upcoming choices include Wines of California, Wines of Oregon and Lone Star Wines. Open Monday through Saturday.

Cork and Co.
308 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 474-2675
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cork-and-co-austin

Austin Food and Wine Alliance

The Austin Food and Wine Alliance is dedicated to promoting food/wine pairings in Central Texas community through grants, educational programming and fun events. The annual Chef’s Wine & Dine Series gives diners a chance to partake of a five-course meal paired with wine, prepared by some of the finest chefs the area. Wine & Swine is another yearly event that Austonians look forward to when area chefs prepare their favorite pork recipes for eager diners. Live music, an eclectic wine selection and hayrides add to the festivities. See their website for information on volunteering and upcoming events.

Austin Food and Wine Alliance
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 348-6847
http://www.yelp.com/biz/wine-and-swine-austin

Pin It on Pinterest