Expect Farm-to-Table Dining at Ajo Restaurant in Round Rock

“A hidden gem in the heart of downtown Round Rock.” That’s how one local patron describes Ajo Restaurant, a family-owned and -operated restaurant serving farm-to-table fare in Round Rock. The restaurant has a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere, with soft blues music playing in the background. It’s definitely ideal for your next date night.

It’s easy to tell that each item on Ajo’s menu has been well planned. The Asian-style ribs with ponzu sauce, peanuts, and celery carrots are a perfect starter to your meal. As for the entree, the red snapper is a crowd favorite. The snapper has lobster sauce, crispy fried kale, and toasted almonds. Don’t leave without trying the bread pudding for dessert, which is a decadent combo of white chocolate, black cherries, and vanilla ice cream.

Ajo Restaurant
121 East Main Street
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 992-2335
www.ajorestaurant.com

North Italia Offers a Modern Take on Italian Cooking

Every once in a while, chain restaurants can pleasantly surprise you. The Austin location of North Italia is just one example.

North Italia is well known for its unique cocktail menu. The go-to drinks are the apple bourbon punch and the red sangria. North Italia also serves a variety of local beers from around the Austin area. As for the food, you can’t go wrong with the house-specialty Bolognese pasta, which is best paired with the crowd-favorite heirloom beet salad. It arrives piled high with roasted beets, apples, arugula, hazelnut, ricotta salata cheese, and lemon crème fraiche. You’ll want to save room for dessert: the salted caramel budino is a must-try!

As a bonus, North Italia has a cozy patio with ceiling heaters to keep you warm. A word of advice: Make reservations, especially if you’re planning on going during the weekend.

North Italia
11506 Century Oaks Terrace
Austin, Texas 78758
(512) 339-4400
www.northitaliarestaurant.com/locations/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

The Roaring Fork: Comfort Food With A View

The Roaring Fork puts a modern spin on American cuisine classics. The lengthy menu offers plenty of options, but crowd favorites include the bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, the rainbow trout, the Mexican street corn, and the green chili mac and cheese.

The interior of The Roaring Fork is pleasant and comfortable, with plush booths and chairs and mood lighting surrounding the dining area. An island bar sits in the center of one side of the restaurant, while a beautiful view is visible out of the windows on the adjacent walls. Behind the establishment is a pond that catches the light in the evenings as the sun sinks beyond the water. Outdoor patio seating is also available, weather permitting, so grab the opportunity to take in a view when you go.

See what everyone has been buzzing about at this upscale place with a down-home feel.

The Roaring Fork
10850 Stonelake Blvd
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 342-2700
www.roaringfork.com

Explore Innovative Japanese Fare at Uchiko

The sibling eatery to Uchi, Uchiko features a new menu but with the same innovative and fresh cuisine as its predecessor. If you’re on the search for fresh sushi, sashimi, or nigiri, Uchiko is the place to go.

Some of the plates are so unique, they actually look like works of art. That said, steer away from your usual spicy tuna or California roll! Step out of your comfort zone and try Uchiko’s shime saba or hamachi rolls. If possible, sit at the sushi bar so that you can watch the chefs prepare your meal. It is suggested that you explore the sake menu, as they have a wide selection by the glass with detailed descriptions. Regulars suggest ending your meal with the tobacco cream.

Uchiko is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Uchiko
4200 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 916-4808
www.uchikoaustin.com

Toast a Special Occasion Over a Steak Dinner at Jeffrey’s

If you’re looking for your next special occasion splurge, consider making a reservation at Jeffrey’s, a venerable Austin dining destination that's been in business since 1975.

Expect to be pampered here. Diners' cars, for instance, are parked by the complimentary valet service, while plush intimate seating encourages you to sit and linger. The waitstaff is professional and hospitable, so don't be shy about requesting that they pass by with the martini and cheese carts before your meal. The menu is crafted with care and encompasses steaks, unique appetizers like burrata with strawberries, and soups and salads galore. Save room for one of the decadent desserts, like the poached pear tart!

Jeffrey's is open for dinner 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Sunday is "wine night" with half-priced bottles from Jeffrey’s wine cellar, and happy hour is served daily from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Jeffrey’s
1204 West Lynn Street
Austin, Texas 78703
(512) 477-5584
www.jeffreysofaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jeffreys-austin

Banh Mi Tacos Meet Habanero-Infused Margaritas at The Peached Tortilla in Austin

The Peached Tortilla is a fusion in both make and menu, as this unique business operates a food truck and a brick-and-mortar location here in Austin. The food is expressive of the restaurant's personality: an eclectic mix of Southern- and Asian-influenced dishes, like bahn mi tacos for dinner and brisket hash with kimchi miso corn for brunch. Locals say you need to return regularly to ensure you taste a bite of every dish on the list.

The Peached Tortilla's hours vary during the week, so be sure to check the website before popping by, but don’t miss happy hour, offered 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. (Make sure you try one of the specialty cocktails, particularly the habanero-infused margarita or the Wasabi Mary, which is garnished with Thai peppers.) Another popular time to visit is during the Sunday Brunch, served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekly.

The Peached Tortilla
5520 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 222-8781
www.thepeachedtortilla.com

There’s More Than Just Wine on the Menu at Austin’s Vino Vino

Vino Vino in Austin is more than just your neighborhood wine bar. Beyond vino, the restaurant offers a variety of specialty cocktails, beer, and an extensive food menu. Vino Vino offers over 20 wines by the glass, selected by the owner who may come check on you during your visit. The menu is full of tapas-style plates, as well as a few larger plates and even a take-out menu. The interior has a comfy casual environment with dim lighting and wooden decor, where you can graze on a cheese plate and sip on a bold, earthy red all night long.

Many locals agree that the Old Fashioned is one of the best in town, especially during happy hour when it is $2 off. Happy Hour offers $2 off all wine, beer, and house cocktails, as well as a selection of half-priced appetizers. Happy hour is held 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays.

The kitchen and bar have varied hours, so be sure to visit the website so you don’t miss the chance to try your favorite dish!

Vino Vino
4119 Guadalupe Street
Austin, TX 78751-4222
(512) 465-9282
www.vinovinoaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/vino-vino-austin

Fonda San Miguel: An Austin Favorite for Mexican Fare Since 1975

With modern art, bold flavors, and a beautiful ambiance, Fonda San Miguel has been an Austin dining institution since 1975.

Recognized as one of the finest authentic Mexican restaurants in the country, Fonda San Miguel relies on fresh, sometimes rare ingredients and authentic Mexican recipes to create its raved-about fare. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu; however, regulars direct particular praise toward the camarones en crema de chipotle, which envelops shrimp in a creamy chipotle sauce. Fonda San Miguel is also known for its inviting atmosphere, as it is classic and has an authentic Mexican feel.

The restaurant is open seven days a week. Don't skip the Sunday brunch, served from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.!

Fonda San Miguel
2330 W North Loop Blvd
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 459-4121
www.fondasanmiguel.com

Don’t Miss the Sausages at The Salt Lick

Margaritas, Music, and Meat. That's what you can expect at The Salt Lick on the weekend. Oak trees stretch out over the stone patio, offering some shade from the glaring Texan sun while live musicians play tunes, customers suck down margaritas, and servers bring out plates full of The Salt Lick's signature barbecue fare at each week's Margaritas, Music, and Meat event.

There's really no bad time to visit this beloved Round Rock eatery, though. No matter when you do, you'll be able to indulge in its smoky food, including the wildly popular sausages. More than 200 Yelp reviewers rave about the sausages, which you can get alone on a platter with potato salad, coleslaw, and beans or combined with other barbecue fare such as brisket or pork ribs. You can also order the sausage in sandwich form. But some people wouldn't mind skipping the main course all together for The Salt Lick's classic sides: beans, coleslaw, and potato salad. You can get them by the pint, quart, or even the gallon.

The Salt Lick
3350 Palm Valley Boulevard
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512) 386-1044
www.saltlickbbq.com/pages/Round-Rock.html
www.yelp.com/biz/the-salt-lick-bbq-round-rock

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