Blue Star Cafeteria: Upscale Austin Comfort Food

Austin's Blue Star Cafeteria is more bistro than cafeteria, offering upscale comfort food in a vibrant, modern setting and serving brunch, lunch, and dinner. Stop by on Saturday or Sunday mornings to enjoy a mimosa alongside eggs Benedict, vanilla battered French toast, or quiche lorraine.

Blue Star's lunch offerings include oysters and chips, crab cakes, burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and coconut & cornflake chicken tenderloins. Dinnertime is a great time to try one of the Blue Star Platters like meatloaf with mushroom gravy, honey glazed grilled pork chops with mac & cheese, or garden vegetable bowls with cheese grits.

If you're craving something sweet at the end of your meal, you can order a dessert like buttermilk pie, chocolate cake or homemade fruit cobbler.

Blue Star Cafeteria
4800 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 454-7827
http://www.bluestarcafeteria.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/blue-star-cafeteria-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/avlxyz

Cafe Pacha: An Austin Cafe

Austin's Cafe Pacha is a popular go-to spot for a hot cup of Fair Trade organic coffee and a tasty bite to eat. It’s a tiny, brightly decorated spot and a great place to enjoy breakfast. Pacha's pancakes are some of its most well-regarded breakfast fare, filled with fruit and served with real butter and maple syrup. Breakfast tacos, french toast, omelets and burritos are also on the menu.

Cafe Pacha's food is made with organic produce, grains, dairy and eggs, and regular diners suggest that you can really taste the quality of the ingredients. You can even take home one of their delectable house-made deep dish quiches or pies. The quiche options include spinach & mozzarella, and quiche lorraine, while pie choices include apple, berry and pecan.

Located in Austin, Texas, Cafe Pacha is open daily.

Cafe Pacha
4618 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
Rosedale
(512) 800-7309
http://www.pachatx.com/Cafe_Pacha/Welcome.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pacha-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

Chow Down on All-American Homestyle Diner Fare at the Austin Diner

For home-style breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes, come to the Austin Diner. Located on Burnet Road near the North Loop Boulevard, the Austin Diner is an all-American spot for equally all-American food. Breakfast is a favorite here because you can get it in the morning or all day and night! Everything’s good, but folks really like the breakfast tacos, and some think the homefries are the best in town.

The lunch and dinner menus also feature tasty American diner fare that’s made with fresh ingredients and to order; nothing is frozen. The diner recently moved to a new location, so it’s a whole lot bigger. The décor is really cool and comfortable, with lots of chrome, blue walls, and oval windows. Can’t stay? There’s also take-out. And the Austin can cater your next party or event.

Austin Diner
5222 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 467-9552
http://austindineronline.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/austin-diner-austin

Try the Salted Caramel Gelato at Teo

Whether you come for a coffee in the morning or a gelato later, you’ll get a treat at Teo. Located directly across from the hospital on West 38th Street, Teo brings a little bit of Italy to the streets of Austin. Make Teo a morning stop for a terrific coffee drink. You know that it will be good, because every barista who works here is trained in Italy! The café, decorated in bright, inviting colors, is a nice spot to enjoy your cup. There are even daily newspapers on the wall for your reading pleasure. The outdoor patio is also nice, with a fireplace when the weather gets cold. The fresh made gelato is the star here There is always a nice selection of flavors, but regulars like the Peanut Butter Nutela and Salted Caramel. With the free Wi-Fi, it’s a nice way to end your day.

Teo
1206 W. 38th Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 451-9555
http://www.caffeteo.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/teo-austin

RIO Rooftop Bar & Lounge: Downtown Austin Fun

Whether you’re looking for a hip spot for date night or a venue for a planned event, RIO Rooftop Bar & Lounge is a primo place to party in downtown Austin. The venue features a rooftop lounge with a swimming pool, a sports bar, and restaurant with chic, modern décor and premium service. They have a flavorful menu of small plates suitable for sharing.

Get your party started with a glass of wine, or one of their elegant artisan cocktails like the Spring Blossom with gin, St. Germaine liqueur, & lime juice, or the Paloma with tequila, pink grapefruit juice & lime. RIO's dining options include Filet Sliders with garlic herb butter, Truffled Mushroom Flatbread with thyme & arugula, Heirloom Tomato Salad with burrata mozzarella, and Queso with tortilla chips.

RIO Rooftop Bar & Lounge
601 Rio Grande Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 436-8464
http://www.riorooftop.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rio-rooftop-pool-lounge-and-restaurant-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

The Roaring Fork: Get Fired up to Feast in Austin

Everything is supposed to be bigger and bolder in Texas, and Austin locals know The Roaring Fork’s flame-grilled food and wood-fired flavors are no exception. For a spicy start, try the kettle of green chili pork served with warm, buttered tortillas. One favorite burger is a behemoth beef patty topped with cheddar, smoked pepper bacon, and poblano peppers. Other meaty selections include braised beef short ribs and a spit-roasted half chicken. The award-winning restaurant also offers market-fresh fish and creative cocktails like their huckleberry margarita.

With its prime location in the heart of the city and its classy yet casual atmosphere, The Roaring Fork fits the bill for business lunches or a night out on the town. This Austin restaurant serves dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. ‘til 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. ‘til 11 p.m., and Sunday from 5 p.m. 'til 9 p.m. They also offer a daily happy hour between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Lunch is served weekdays only starting at 11 a.m.

The Roaring Fork
701 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 583-0000
http://www.roaringfork.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/roaring-fork-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

There’s Lots of Sushi to Try at Maru Sushi

The tasty art of sushi is celebrated at Maru. Located right on the corner of Burnet Road and West 47th Street, Maru doesn’t look like much from the outside, but your opinion will change when you come in. Inside, you’ll find a bright modern-casual spot with a nice sushi bar and comfortable seating. Your level of comfort will rise when you meet the friendly wait staff, who will be more than happy to help you with your dining choices. Both the traditional and spicy sushi selections are always made with the freshest seafood and other ingredients (locals like the spicy J-Roll and fresh Tuna Roll). Your order might take a while, but it’s worth it! The kitchen prepared items are also good, especially the Spicy Teriyaki and Udon Bowls. The lunch and dinner specials are tasty deals, and everything is available for takeout.

Maru
4636 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 458-6200
http://www.austinmaru.net/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/maru-austin

Write Yourself a Prescription for Fun at Apothecary Cafe and Wine Bar

The Apothecary Café and Wine Bar is the best prescription for a relaxing evening. Located in a small shopping center on Burnet Road in Rosedale, this is a quaint spot to come by for a glass of wine with friends or to stay for a bite to eat. The long bar, nice tables and décor with a little Middle Eastern flair will make you feel comfortable. There’s also an equally comfortable patio, which is also dog-friendly. Come for happy hour, and you’ll always find deals on selected wines and apps to share. (Try the Gouda Chicken Nachos.) Because the dinner menu is seasonal, it changes all the time; however, the high quality remains consistent, and you can always find a good wine to pair with any entrée. Brunch on the weekends is also a tasty option.

Apothecary Café and Wine Bar
4800 Burnet Road, Suite 450
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 371-1600
http://www.apothecaryaustin.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/apothecary-cafe-and-wine-bar-austin-2

Authentic Mexican Cuisine at Austin’s Fonda San Miguel

Since 1975, Austin diners have indulged in Fonda San Miguel’s authentic regional Mexican cuisine. Diners are impressed with just about everything that comes out of the kitchen, its hard to make a wrong choice. The quesos asados are popular starters – try the queso with homemade chorizo verde. If you’re looking to indulge, the lobster mango ceviche is also highly recommended. Their signature entrees are the chicken mole, and the cochinita pibil, a Yucatan dish of pork baked in banana leaf. Save room for dessert, the tres leches cake is delicious. Fonda San Miguel also offers a Sunday brunch buffet with plenty of options, ranging from quail to fajitas, along with many sides. Customers rave it is worth the pricy $40.  The beautiful hacienda-style decor with hand painted stucco and dim lighting makes Fonda San Miguel a popular spot for celebrating special occasions. If you want the experience on a budget, stop by during happy hour for half price appetizers and drink specials.

Fonda San Miguel
2330 W. North Loop Boulevard
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 459-4121
www.fondasanmiguel.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fonda-san-miguel-austin

Arro: A Trendy Destination for Austin Foodies

Austin foodies with a love of French cuisine are flocking to Arro, the trendy sister restaurant to Easy Tiger Bake Shop. The seasonal menu features a mix of traditional French cuisine (Duck Confit) and more unusual items (Grilled Antelope). If you're new to French cuisine, the three-course menu for $25 is a great way to experience Arro. Diners can choose from several options, and favorites include the Lobster Bisque to start, Mussels and Fries as a main course, and the Lemon Goat Cheese Tart for dessert.

A full bar offers sophisticated cocktails and French wine. Renovations to the restaurant's warehouse setting have preserved the building's open, industrial feel, and large windows offer great urban views of 6th street. Arro's ambiance is ideal for a classy, yet casual, date.

Arro
601 W. 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 992-2776
http://www.arroaustin.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/arro-austin

Pin It on Pinterest