Food & Drink Archives - Page 59 Of 80

OPA! Experience a Greek Cafe That Defies Labels

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Erin May

South Lamar spotted through the archway of OPA! on a rainy day in Austin

My title may say this café defies labels, but perhaps it’s more accurate to say that OPA! on South Lamar invites many descriptions – wine bar, café, restaurant, student study haven, happy hour spot and casual hangout.

Stone walls outline an extensive front porch perfect for basking in the Saturday sun with a discounted cocktail. Deep in the café, however, are rich wooden tables, couches and red paneled walls where both heavy studiers and intimate chatters can find a haven.

Meanwhile, solo visitors perch at the coffee bar under strings of hanging pots and cups, watching the barkeep sling drinks and take orders with practiced skill. [Read more…]

Delysia Chocolatier: You Had Me at Habanero

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Judy Rae Merhar

Delysia Chocolatier Wine Collection

Delysia Chocolatier owner Nicole Patel

Even the best department stores lack the ability to bottle and sell a quality most only dream of obtaining: grace. Nicole Patel, proprietor of Delysia Chocolatier, wears it with ease. Her posture is perpetually poised, leaving me to wonder if she were a dancer in her childhood. Her smile is enhanced by warm expressive doe eyes framed by fluid dark shoulder length hair. Both these physical features mimic her passion: chocolate.

Walking into this petite store front and culinary center, the sweet scent of chocolate greets you with a warm welcome. Crisp shades of grey, white and black on the walls offer a nice contrast to the entry’s focal point: a crimson red wall that pops with vibrancy spelling out the establishment’s name, Delysia Chocolatier. Gazing upward, you’ll find [Read more…]

Austin Feeds Biscuit Envy With These 3 Delicious Choices

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Cris Mueller

Red’s Porch savory Cheese Biscuits (Credit: Red’s Porch)

Call it a comeback, a fashionable re-entry, a timely coming of age. No matter what you call it, biscuits are blazing in Austin’s culinary spotlight.

With a multitude of flakey and layered, baked delights to choose from, my current favorites will only make a small dent in the plethora of biscuits the world is offering for the tasting. Nonetheless, here are three delicious choices in town. [Read more…]

The Ultimate Guide to North Austin Bars

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Edwin Ochoa

You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that some of the best watering holes in town are in North Austin. Tucked away in strip malls and surrounded by business parks, these gems north of 183 are easy to overlook.

I’ve compiled my list of favorites for those who call North Austin home, and those who are unfamiliar with the area. So take a look at this guide to North Austin bars to see why up north is the place to be. [Read more…]

5 Austin Businesses Boldly Reinventing the General Store

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

There’s a new trend in Austin, with businesses playing convenience store, restaurant, bar and neighborhood hangout all in one (Credit: gina pina via Flickr CC)

Where can you go to buy locally sourced groceries, hang out with friends, have a fresh cup of espresso, grab a beer, hear good music and eat breakfast, lunch or dinner all under the same roof?

As you try to imagine what sort of establishment might be able to pull all that off, you’re probably thinking it has to be a large location or national chain. Well in Austin, that’s just not the case. Turns out, we have quite a few places that bring all these things together in a one-stop-shop for the surrounding community. You’ve probably heard of a couple of them, like Whip In and Quickie Pickie.

These types of stores/restaurants seem to be becoming a trend in Austin. They’re the result of a conglomeration of concepts from around the world like the American general store, the Indian dhaba, the Spanish bodeguita and others, but with a distinctive Austin vibe. [Read more…]

Hops and Grain: Austin’s Sustainable Brewery

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Bill Tucker

A glass of fantastic beer welcomes you at Hops and Grain (Credit: Hops and Grain)

Walking into the Hops and Grain taproom is like stumbling upon a hip family barbeque. Long picnic benches line the modest space. Board games are stacked up, ready to be played. A psychobilly band plays circus rock from the brewery loading dock.

Not only is this East Austin original one of the best breweries in town, but it’s also one of the most well rounded. With a fun vibe, great brews and an eye towards ecological sustainability, Hops and Grain has quickly become one of the crown jewels in the Austin beer scene. [Read more…]

Monkey Nest Coffee: Not Your Average Monkey Business

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Judy Rae Merhar

Monkey Nest Coffee at 5353 Burnet Road (Credit: Jim Nix/Nomadic Pursuits via Flickr CC)

I’m a sucker for monkeys. Their expressive eyes, curious nature and playful demeanor have captured my heart since childhood. And so it was no surprise the day my car veered into a parking lot off Burnet when I saw an animated circular face with tiny ears, resembling the classic 80’s stuffed sock monkey.

The little primate’s paws and curled tail grip a circular sign with bold letters identifying the establishment, Monkey Nest Organic Coffee and Bakery. [Read more…]

6 Half Price Happy Hours in Austin

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Edwin Ochoa

It’s official. On February 2nd, Armadillo Bob predicted that spring is right around the corner! This means we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy happy hours out on the patio before the scorching summer arrives.

But you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy drinks and appetizers after work. Here is a list of 6 half price happy hours in Austin.

Jack Allen’s Kitchen: This One’s for You, South Austin

Jack Allen's Kitchen Half Price Happy Hour

Half-priced Spinach Gorgonzola Ravioli (left) and Mango Habanero Rita (right) (Credit: Jack Allen’s Kitchen)

Does Spinach Gorgonzola Ravioli sound good to you? How about smoked beef rib quesadillas or BLT sliders? What if I told you these are all half price during happy hour at both Jack Allen’s Kitchen locations? You’ll also enjoy daily drink specials. [Read more…]

Best Cocktails in Austin: Austinot Blogger Edition

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Brittany Highland

Vieux Carre at Peche

When it’s time for happy hour or date night, how do you choose between the overabundance of adult drink choices around town? All in the name of “the job,” Austinot.com’s team of bloggers have scoured our fair city and come up with this collection of the best cocktails in Austin.

Peche: Vieux Carre

Bill Tucker

In the immortal words of my bartender, this cocktail is as if a Manhattan and a Sazerac had a delicious love child. Very appropriate. Built on the back of a rye and cognac base, the Vieux arrives with a sweet yet subtle orange aroma. The whiskey backbone is balanced out by a healthy dose of sweet vermouth and bitters, giving the cocktail a perfect balance.

Add to the mix an upscale vibe in the heart of downtown, and you have a winner. Accessible, delicious and full of rich [Read more…]

Go Inside the Private Cellar of Austin’s Top Beer Bars

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Edgar Barguiarena

Deep inside your your favorite bars in Austin, tucked away in cool, dark corners, are some of the rarest beers in the city. These brews are made in extremely limited quantities and are typically the priciest beers in a brewery’s lineup. They will be stored, or “cellared,” for years to allow time to enhance the unique qualities of each brew.

This is the subculture of aging beer—and it is big business in Austin and throughout the rest of the country. The practice of saving limited-release beer has taken off over the last few years, as Austin’s best breweries and overall distribution networks have matured.

To be clear, these aren’t your pale ales and lagers that are being aged for years at a time. If you’ve ever opened a Firemans 4 that has been hiding in your refrigerator’s veggie tray for too long, you’ll know why some beers have an expiration date. Instead, Austin’s bars store your stouts, porters and dark ales. The boozier, the better.

Don’t stop reading now. You’re about to get a behind the scenes look into the cellar programs for storing rare beers at some of the top bars in Austin. [Read more…]

Jack Allen’s Kitchen: This One’s for You, South Austin

Peche: Vieux Carre

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