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The Scarlet Rabbit’s Cuisine Drops You Down the Rabbit Hole

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Cris Mueller

The Scarlet Rabbit in Round Rock, TX features Alice in Wonderland decor

Editor’s Note: Scarlet Rabbit closed May 14, 2017.

Chef Rob Snow breezes out from behind a curtain just as you might imagine the Cheshire Cat to appear, billowy in the night sky. And with that, I began my journey down the rabbit hole at The Scarlet Rabbit.

This fresh faced restaurant concept features cowboy cuisine using the flavors of Texas and the Gulf Coast, complimented by a Cajun flair.

Sound like a mouthful? Wait, there’s more. Rob and his business partner, Rich Taylor, methodically pair southern style comfort food with an Alice in Wonderland themed bistro. The result is sophisticated plates with whimsical finesse and imagination. [Read more…]

Icenhauer’s Summer Sippers Take the Catwalk on Rainey St

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Cris Mueller

The ladies of Icenhauer’s summer cocktail menu

Icenhauer’s, the majestically modest bar located at 83 Rainey Street, is widely known for their creative house made infusions and their lady-centric, ever-changing cocktail menus.

I spent a couple hours with one of the craft geniuses behind the delightful cocktail recipes, Stuart Thompson. Thompson guided me through the newly released summer lineup, featuring 7 attractive libations, and shared the story behind the namesake of each.

I see no need for a fanciful introduction, so let us cut to the chase. Without further ado, here are the ladies of Icenhauer’s summer menu… [Read more…]

aRoma Italian Kitchen Opens on South Lamar

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Cris Mueller

aRoma Owner Dave Whitney, Executive Chef Jason Garcia and Restaurant Manager Carlos Cueva

Editor’s Note: aRoma is closed as of November 2017. Another Italian restaurant named ManinPasta is expected to take its place.

As the outline of South Lamar continues to change and quickly rise upward, Austin welcomes a new kid to town, aRoma Italian Kitchen & Bar.

Located at 3403 S. Lamar, aRoma has cozied up as a neighbor to our beloved Broken Spoke, bringing with it a new chapter of local Italian cuisine that reaches the south end of Austin. The contemporary kitchen boasts rustic recipes complemented by sleek presentation and fresh, local flavors, plus from-scratch pasta, dough, mozzarella and more. [Read more…]

Midway Food Park Offers Good Food and Family Fun

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Matthew Champion

Busy day at Midway Food Park (Photo credit: Midway Food Park)

Editor’s Note: Midway Food Park shuttered in 2018.

Texas weather can be crazy, but living in Austin does provide you with a hefty share of beautiful days throughout the year. A good place to take advantage of those pretty days is the Midway Food Park, which offers a variety of fresh cooking and has plenty of room to stretch your legs and let the kids run all their energy out before they get home.

Midway Food Park is right off 360, about a mile shy of Westlake just past Barton Creek Mall (1905 S. Capitol of Texas Hwy). It’s also a stone’s throw from the Greenbelt, if you’re looking for more outside activities afterward. It has ten food trucks, a nice playground, an air-conditioned restroom trailer, plenty of parking and ample space to grab a table or spread out a blanket and eat picnic-style. [Read more…]

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Porter Ale House and Gastropub

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena

Your friendly neighborhood bar, set to the background of South 1st traffic

Editor’s Note: Porter Ale House closed on July 27, 2017.

The craft beer scene in Austin is blowing up. For every new brewery that opens, there are at least three bars that pop up, eager to serve you the best local beers that Austin has to offer.

Continuing the tradition Eric started with his Best Burger Joint in Austin series, I’m profiling and reviewing the best craft beer joints in Austin, with the occasional stop or two at bars that have room for improvement. I’ll take into consideration everything from beer selection to ambiance to overall value, and everything in between.

Please join me as I try to catalog your favorite watering holes in Austin, and let me know what you think in a comment below.

First Impressions: Porter Ale House and Gastropub

The 78704 zip is home to plenty of good bars and some of the best restaurants in town, but it was never quite considered a craft beer destination. The opening of ABGB last year started to change that reputation and the recent debut of Austin’s first dedicated craft beer bottle shop, Whichcraft, further solidified this status. Further south, just within the boundaries of the 78704 zip code on South 1st near 71, Porter Ale House and Gastropub is another welcome addition to the now thriving craft beer scene in South Austin. [Read more…]

Winflo Osteria: Modern Italian Gem in Old West Austin

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Samantha Champion

Editor’s Note: Winflo Osteria closed at the end of March 2018.

If you’re over the age of 22, you’ve probably already realized there is a Sixth Street beyond Congress Avenue. In fact, it extends west of Guadalupe, even beyond Lamar. This is Old West Austin, where historic charm and fresh modernity seamlessly blend together to create a different kind of Sixth Street.

Between Mopac and Lamar, the cracked sidewalks of West Sixth are lined with restaurants brimming with laid-back coolness. Among them are seasoned (pun intended) favorites like Z’Tejas (1110 W 6th), Cafe Josie (1200B W 6th), and Sweetish Hill Bakery (1120 W 6th). Newer additions to Old West Austin include Clark’s Oyster Bar (1200 W 6th), Blake’s On Sixth (1221 W 6th), and my favorite, Winflo Osteria (1315 W 6th). [Read more…]

New Cafe Causing Coffee Ruckus in Downtown Austin

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome

Cafe Ruckus is located at 409 W 2nd St.

Editor’s Note: Cafe Ruckus closed in July 2017.

Every day, the population of Austin is growing. I have heard many different numbers thrown out, but they all point to the same thing. A booming population. While opinions vary on the growing influx to our fair city, one thing is certain…we are going to need more coffee.

If seating is scarce at your favorite wi-fi-enabled caffeine dealer, there is a new spot for you at Cafe Ruckus. Located in Austin’s new “Coffee District” (aka the 2nd Street District), this fresh locale is eager to win over new regulars. [Read more…]

Flipnotics Features Live Music Every Night of the Week

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Guest Blogger

Flipnotics is located at 1601 Barton Springs Rd. (Photo credit: KateBartonART via Flickr CC)

Editor’s Note: Flipnotics closed in March 2014 due to a rent dispute. So passes another well-loved local business.

This guest blog article is by Michal Ann Morrison.

Austin is the city of live music, with bluegrass being a popular intersection between a nod to the past and the youthful exuberance that celebrates it. Flipnotics, a coffee bar on Barton Springs that boasts live music every night of the week, showcases bluegrass on Monday nights that rivals any other venue in the city.

Gathering with friends at Flipnotics, with its spacious, covered patio area and cozy indoor seating, makes it easy to wile away the evening hours over a beer or espresso. Eaters of all kinds are welcome, with a menu offering pastries, breakfast tacos, vegetarian empanadas and vegan snacks. Hoboken Pie pairs deliciously with a local brew from behind the bar.

On any given night, you will see an eclectic array of patrons enjoying the laid-back environment, from devoted, Patagonia-clad college students to talented musicians with gray in their beards. But musically oriented or no, it would be hard to find anyone who wouldn’t enjoy the music coming from the indoor stage. [Read more…]

Chavez: Shawn Cirkiel’s Newest Restaurant Gets It Just Right

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena

Uttering the name Cesar Chavez in Austin can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some, it evokes memories of the Mexican-American civil rights activist, Cesar Estrada Chavez, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association. Many others are reminded of East 1st St. in downtown Austin, renamed Cesar Chavez Boulevard in 1993. And now, with the opening of Shawn Cirkiel’s newest restaurant, the Chavez name lives on as one of downtown Austin’s hottest new eateries. If the name Shawn Cirkiel sounds familiar, you might have been to one of his other downtown venues, Parkside or Backspace.

Chavez, housed inside the Radisson Hotel off Congress and Cesar Chavez, focuses on the various flavors that make up the history and culture of Austin, Texas. The menu combines the flavors that define Texas, the Southwest U.S., and traditional Mexican dishes and wraps them up with unique Austin flair. “It is all the flavors and food that we like to eat and cook with that we grew up with,” said Cirkiel. “For us, being from Texas, it’s a mixture of chiles, beans, rice, grilled meats, grilled fish, homemade tortillas, and [Read more…]

Savor the Past and Present at Freedmen’s Bar

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Matthew Champion

Freedmen’s Bar exterior at 2402 San Gabriel St. (Credit: Freedmen’s)

Editor’s Note: Freedmen’s is closing Aug. 31, 2018, at its West Campus location.

These winter months provide an ideal opportunity to savor mouth-watering BBQ and enjoy a warming cocktail or two. Freedmen’s Bar over in West Campus allows you to do just that in a cozy atmosphere that has aged like a fine wine or a hard cheese – well. The bar sits in a historic landmark that was built by former slave George Franklin nearly 150 years ago. Over the years, the building has housed everything from a church to a grocery store.

When Cuatro’s owner Cuatro Kowalski saw the space, he envisioned a place where you could drink fine whiskey and eat smoked meat with both your friends and your ancestors. He renovated the building with some modern touches and imported an antique bar from Brownsville, all while maintaining the classic elegance and charm that a century and a half naturally provides. [Read more…]

First Impressions: Porter Ale House and Gastropub

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