SXSW is just around the corner - that special time of year when Austin is turned upside down by the onslaught of techies, film stars and musicians. As I prepare for the Interactive conference, I was contemplating how I could eat locally while dashing between sessions and events. So, like I do with most things in my world, I made a list.
I've compiled the restaurants who source from local farms by area of town near SXSW venues and I've included some basic details to help you narrow down your choices. Of course, I have some favorites in the list:
- I love grabbing a cup of coffee and a breakfast taco at Coffee Divine when I'm downtown. Jennifer, the book store manager has transformed the coffee shop into a local food haven.
- There may not be a better bargain in town than the Happy Hour menu at Trio. All of their incredible appetizers are 1/2 off from 5-8 pm so you get to eat some of the best food in town for the price of a hamburger.
- Manuel's also has a great Happy Hour deal and I have been a fan of their regional Mexican food since I ate their the first time back in college (I am not telling you how long ago that was.)
- If you are near Lamar and 6th, the Counter Cafe is a great stop for breakfast or lunch. Their Eggs Benedict are delicious and their burger is lip-smacking good.
- In South Austin, I can not get enough of Odd Duck Farm-to-Trailer. Bryce Gilmore is serving up some of the best food in town - from a trailer.
- Thai Fresh offers some of my favorite comfort food. I always ask what they recommend that day and it is always delicious.
- I love sharing tartines and a cheese plate with friends at the Blue Dahlia Bistro in East Austin.
- Eastside Pies is my favorite pizza in town. One of the owners is a baker and their crust is outstanding.
- Fino and Asti are part of the same restaurant family and I adore them both. At Fino, I like sharing small plates or sitting on the patio for one of Austin's best brunches. Asti offers up some of my favorite Italian food in town with great care in every dish.
- Vino Vino is a wine bar, but they also have great food. You can share small plates or enjoy one of their locally-sourced entrees. On Sunday nights, they serve up two kinds of flavorful paella - a great way to end any week.
6th Street/Convention Center
Chez Nous, 510 Neches, French Bistro, lunch and dinner, 3 course prix fixe menu $25.50, average dinner entree $25
Coffee Divine, 301 E. 8th St. in St. David's Episcopal Church, coffee shop with locally roasted coffee, Torchy's breakfast tacos, Rock Star Bagels, Green Cart sandwiches and Love Puppies brownies.
Manuel's, 310 Congress Ave., Mexican, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, average dinner entree $20
Parkside, 301 E. 6th, New American, dinner, average dinner entree $23
Trio, at the Four Seasons, 98 San Jacinto, New American, breakfast, lunch, dinner, average dinner entree $25
Warehouse District/West Downtown
Aquarelle, 606 Rio Grande, French, dinner, 3 course prix fixe menu $45, average dinner entree $33
La Condesa, 400 W. 2nd St., Mexican, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $26
Leaf Salad, 419 W. 2nd St., Salads, lunch, average entree $10
Peche, 208 W. 4th St., New American, dinner, average entree $22
Central West Austin
24 Diner, 600 N. Lamar, American diner fare, 24 hours, average entree $10
Borboleta Gourmet, 1221 W. 6th St., American focused on healthy choices and special diets (vegan, vegetarian, raw, wheat-free, etc.), lunch and dinner, average entree $10
Cippolina, 1213 West Lynn, Bistro menu, specializing in pizza, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $15
Counter Cafe, 626 N. Lamar, American, breakfast and lunch, average entree $10
Fabi & Rosi, 509 Hearn St., New American, dinner, average entree $20Fete Accompli, 917 W. 12th St., American, cafe and take-out counter, lunch and dinner, average entree $8
Jeffrey's, West Lynn at West 12th, New American, dinner, average entree $30
Magnolia Cafe, 2304 Lake Austin Blvd. (also 1920 S. Congress Ave.), American, 24 hour, average entree $8
Wink, 1014 N. Lamar, New American, dinner, average entree $25 (the wine bar has a separate less expensive menu)
South Austin
Enoteca Vespaio, 1610 S. Congress, Italian, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $15
Hyatt, 208 Barton Springs Rd., Southwestern, breakfast, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $18
La Boite Cafe, 1700 S. Lamar Blvd., baked goods & sandwiches, sandwich du jour $6
Magnolia Cafe, 1920 S. Congress Ave. (also 2304 Lake Austin Blvd.), American, 24 hour, average entree $8
Odd Duck Farm-to-Trailer, 1219 S. Lamar, New American, dinner, average dish $6
Olivia, 2043 S. Lamar, New American, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $30
Perla's, 1400 S. Congress, Seafood, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $25
Somnio's Cafe, 1807 S. 1st St., Eccletic (some of everything) - vegetarian friendly, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $12
Thai Fresh, 909 W. Mary, Thai, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $10
Vespaio, 1610 S. Congress Ave., Italian, dinner, average entree $25
Whip-In Parlour Cafe & Market, 1950 S. IH-35, Indian, breakfast, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $11
East Austin
Blue Dahlia Bistro, 1115 E. 11th St., French Bistro, breakfast, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $11
East Side Show Room, 1100 E. 6th St., Bistro, dinner, average dinner entree $20
Eastside Cafe, 2113 Manor Rd., American, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, average dinner entree $18
Eastside Pies, 1401B Rosewood Ave., Pizza, lunch and dinner, large pizza averages $20
Campus/Central
Asti Trattoria, 408-C E. 43rd St., Italian, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $20
Chango's Taqueria, 3023 Guadalupe, Mexican, lunch and dinner, average cost for 2 tacos $6
Fino, 2905 San Gabriel, Mediterranean/Spanish, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, average dinner entree $22
Get Sum Dim Sum, 4400 N. Lamar, Asian, lunch and dinner, average cost of 3 items $10
Judge's Hill Restaurant & Bar, 1900 Rio Grande, New American, breakfast and dinner, average dinner entree $25
Kerbey Lane Cafe, 2606 Guadalupe and 3704 Kerbey Lane, American, 24 hours, average entree $10
Texas French Bread, 2900 Rio Grande, American, breakfast, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $20
Vino Vino, 4119 Guadalupe, New American, dinner, average dinner entree $18
Examiner.com
8 comments:
Great list, Kristi! One of my new favorites, Jack Allen's Kitchen, also sources locally. We're so lucky to have so many great places to eat with a local/sustainable focus here in Austin.
I love Jack Allen's too, just a little far from most of the SXSW venues. I skipped the NW restaurants too.
Wonderful list! I'm sharing with my colleague who has pledged to eat at locally-owned spots while she is in town for SX.
Great collection for SXSW, as well as a much-needed reminder of some of my favorite spots I need to revisit ANY time of year! Last time I met friends for drinks at Vino Vino, we were starved and ended up spontaneously ordering dinner. The outstanding food was such a pleasant surprise!
This is a great list, one that I will surely use during SXSW. I have been wanting to try Blue Dahlia for a while now, I will definitely make a trip while I am on the East Side at a show!
In South Austin I'd add Buenos Aires Cafe, just south of Oltorf on South 1st. I believe they've opened a new location on East 6th street but I haven't tried that one yet.
Great list of restaurants. These are must go to places around Austin.
Thanks to everyone for the great comments.
MSS, thanks for the tip on Buenos Aires Cafe. The last time I was there nothing on the menu was local, so I will go give it another try.
Post a Comment