Swift’s Attic: Up the Stairs

September 12, 2013 by greystar

Head up the stairs in the historic downtown Austin Building and discover Swift's Attic. Farm to table is the name of the game here, and the menu features a changing roster of dishes that rely on what’s fresh from local purveyors. Fourteen draft beers and a plentiful wine supply are supplemented by some delectable cocktails. Try the playfully named Champampaloma Ba Wom Bam Boom made from citrus liqueur, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and champagne. Bar snacks include Market Pickles, House-Made Bar Nuts, and Old World Olives. Lunch offerings feature some delicious ‘sammiches’. Dinnertime rolls out entrees like Warm Niman Ranch Pork Cheeks, Broken Arrow Ranch Antelope Steak and Lockhart Quail.

Swift's Attic
315 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 482-8200
http://www.yelp.com/biz/swifts-attic-austin

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Austin Restaurants, Restaurants, Swift's Attic

Halcyon: Halcyon Nights

September 3, 2013 by greystar

Chocolate Espresso Martini? Check. Bananas Fosters Crepe? No problem. Head to Halcyon and you can have those delectable delights and more in a cozy, relaxed setting in the heart of Austin’s warehouse district. Breakfast is also an option, with tasty day-starters like a Breakfast Panini with eggs, sausage & cheese, a Yogurt Parfait with crunchy granola & fresh fruit and a Halcyon Burrito with egg, sausage, cheddar & black beans. Later in the day or at night, you can choose from a variety of panini, salads and wraps, like the Chicken Wrap with roasted corn salsa & black beans lovingly swaddled in a flour tortilla. Open every day with late night hours.

Halcyon
218 W. 4th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-9637
http://www.yelp.com/biz/halcyon-coffee-bar-lounge-austin

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Austin Dining, Austin Restaurants, Halcyon, Restaurants

FoodHeads: A Delightful Austin Restaurant

August 14, 2013 by greystar

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

By Glen MacLarty [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Austin Restaurants, FoodHeads, Restaurants

Parkside: Sophisticated American Cuisine

July 24, 2013 by greystar

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

By jules / stone soup (carrot soup) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Austin Restaurants, Parkside, Restaurants

Hopfields: Not Your Usual Pub

June 26, 2013 by greystar

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

By LWY (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwy/3378367602/) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Austin Restaurants, Hopfields, Restaurants

Second Bar + Kitchen: The Wow Factor

April 22, 2013 by greystar

Second Bar + Kitchen is a trendy little hotspot that will wow you. Order something from their hefty selection of beer, wine and artisan cocktails paired with an appetizer like Smoked Salmon Fritters, Black Truffle Pommes Frites or Green Garlic Gnocchi. Lunchtime offerings include a Congress Burger, a Fried Egg & Avocado Sandwich and Short Rib Sliders. Dinner rolls out some delectable artisan pizzas, plus entrées like Roasted Rainbow Trout with black radish salad, Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop with green chile hominy or Braised Beef Short Ribs with black truffle grits. Brunch offerings include Steak & Eggs, Brioche French Toast, Corned Beef Hash and Texas Eggs Benedict. Open every day.

Second Bar + Kitchen
200 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 827-2750
http://www.yelp.com/biz/second-bar-kitchen-austin

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Austin Restaurants, Restaurants, Second Bar + Kitchen

Frank: Frankly Good Hot Dogs

April 15, 2013 by greystar

Frank's artisan hot dogs are are paired with an amazing array of fresh ingredients. The Jackalope is made with antelope, rabbit, & pork, Notorious P.I.G. features pork, bacon, jalapeno & sage, and the Texalina is beef & pork. They come served on a bun and dressed up with a variety of toppings including barbeque sauce, spicy mustard, sauerkraut, curry sauce, cheddar cheese and mac & cheese. Not a meat eater? Get yours veggie or vegan-style. Add on some sides like cheese waffle fries, chili cheese fries, baked beans, ranch style beans, mac & cheese, coleslaw, and loaded baked potato salad. Coffee, beer, well drinks and cocktails are on the menu, too. Open for lunch and dinner.

Frank
407 Colorado St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-6916
http://www.yelp.com/biz/frank-austin

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Austin Restaurants, Frank, Restaurants

III Forks: A Terrific Steakhouse

February 20, 2013 by greystar

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

By photo by mase (photo by mase) [GFDL or CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Austin Restaurants, III Forks, Restaurants

The Backspace: Gastropub Goodness

February 6, 2013 by greystar

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

By Gonzosft (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.