Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
So many soups, so little time (Credit: Favordelivery.com)
Austin lucks out this time of year in terms of weather. Our porches and patio spaces remain vibrant meeting places, even through the winter months. As I wrap my scarf around my neck, I relish the excuse to indulge in my favorite decadent, warming soups. Whether it’s a spicy posole or nutritious chicken broth ramen, these seven Austin soups make the chilly evenings feel that much cozier and delicious.
This is the face of a dog who needs a visit to Yard Bar
Mr. Ming was looking to get outdoors. After a long holiday season spent watching his humans shop, wrap presents and go out, it was his turn. His time to sniff, bark and be merry.
Enter Yard Bar, Austin’s newest venue for furry friends to run, jump and be social. By combining food, drink and a variety of fun activities, this hidden gem on Burnet Road is quickly becoming the city’s premier doggy destination.
Like most things awesome, the inspiration for Yard Bar came from need. While frequenting the dog runs at Auditorium Shores, owner Kristen Heaney realized the sad reality of dog parks: there’s not much there for people to do. What if there was a place where pet owners could grab a drink and a bite while their dog frolicked in the park?
After testing a number of business models, Heaney leased the lot on Burnet Road where the old Putt-Putt Golf and Games used to live, and began building the dog park of her dreams. When it opened in August 2015, word quickly spread among Austin’s pet friendly community. Yard Bar was the place to be. [Read more…]
Texas French Bread has been a supplier of artisan bread in Austin since the early 1980s (Credit: Whitney Arotegui)
In a city of fusion joints and a wack-a-mole-style skyline, where condos and businesses pop up and down by the season, Texas French Bread has been a staple since the early 1980s. The much-loved eatery and bakery has seen it all, while holding strong to values that have kept it afloat for decades.
It’s easy to be intrigued by the blue brick building on 29th Street with bread names cascading down the exterior. The afternoon I stopped by, loaves of bread with floured bottoms and scored tops were lined up on shelves, like trophies waiting to be claimed.
The tables were filled with a lunch crowd in no hurry to Instagram photos of their food as soon as it arrived. They sat comfortably, backs against exposed brick walls, chatting with lunch dates or clipping away at computers. The ease of these patrons told me they were regulars, and a restaurant of regulars means the food and service are worth coming back for. [Read more…]
I’m always on the hunt for a truly unique Austin restaurant experience. With the robust variety our city offers, something amazing can be just right around the corner.
At the same time, it takes a lot to impress when there are so many places that already stand out. Sala and Betty, a farm-sourced restaurant located on Airport Boulevard, is about to celebrate a full year since they opened their doors last February. The dining venue, which takes its name from owner and chef Teresa Wilson’s childhood nickname, effectively delivers a unique twist on high quality and delicious food.
Wanting to create something that combined quality with efficiency, Wilson developed a restaurant accessible to all kinds of schedules, but one ingredient stays consistent: quality. [Read more…]
Old world elegance meets Austin chic at Geraldine’s (Credit: Aubrie Pick)
Tucked away one street over and four stories up from Rainey Street is an oasis amidst the chaos. Geraldine’s is the newest restaurant and cocktail bar to open in this popular Austin neighborhood. After a banner year for restaurant openings in Austin, Geraldine’s closes out 2015 with a bang and gives us plenty to look forward to in 2016.
Named after the infamous guinea fowl adopted as an unofficial mascot by the Rainey Street neighborhood, Geraldine’s is acutely aware of its place. The restaurant simply couldn’t exist anywhere else. Following the theme of its host, Hotel Van Zandt, Geraldine’s effortlessly blends into the musically-inclined and rustic Rainey Street area.
Walking through Hotel Van Zandt and into Geraldine’s, you get the distinct impression that you’re exactly where you’re intended to be. The hip atmosphere joined with Texas old-world elegance just feels like Austin. Combine this with a sublime patio/pool overlooking Lady Bird Lake and live music every day of the week, and you have yourself a winner. [Read more…]
Farm To Fork in Leander, TX
It’s past time to share this culinary treasure, unassumingly nestled between a gun store and mattress outlet. As you enter Farm To Fork, you’ll quickly forget you’re in the confines of a strip mall.
A colorful tattoo of flames travels up the left arm of Farm to Fork’s owner and chef, Shelley Pogue. The fire stretches toward her left elbow, where colors dissipate and rays of the sun take shape. Short auburn hair frames intense blue eyes. Her posture exudes confidence and strength, softened only by a southern accent, a reflection of her past.
Those blue eyes turn into pools of water as Pogue recollects her biggest culinary influence, the grandmother she affectionately called Mawmaw. In 2004, Mawmaw passed away and bequeathed her home to her granddaughter. The following year, in pursuit of her dream, Pogue made the difficult decision to sell [Read more…]
Fried Chicken and Belgian Waffle at Chez Zee American Bistro (Credit: Madison Pilkington)
Many in search of sparkle peer over jewelry and makeup counters. But there is an enchanting place in Austin offering more fulfillment than shiny objects sold in department stores. Like the crimson baby grand piano tucked in the corner, it’s one-of-a-kind. Welcome to Chez Zee American Bistro. [Read more…]
Jenny Grayson welcomes you to Casa de Glaze (Credit: Casa de Glaze)
Whenever you’re rambling around downtown Austin, you’re guaranteed to see something new. Be it a local artist selling paintings, a brand new food truck or a spellbinding street performer, there’s no shortage of cool things to discover. It’s how we roll.
So, when I discovered a bakery selling cupcakes from the back of a bike last week, I shouldn’t have been surprised. But Casa de Glaze is more than a quirky experiment. Built on rock solid recipes and fueled by the energy of its charismatic owner, this mobile eatery is quickly making a name for itself in the Austin baked goods scene. [Read more…]
Juniper in East Austin (Credit: Robert Lerma)
Juniper is East Austin’s newest upscale restaurant. This dining destination on Cesar Chavez combines old-world kitchen style with Texas Hill Country ingredients, so it’s no wonder that it’s next to impossible to get a weekend reservation.
I’m not doing you any favors by writing this article. By the time you’re done, you’ll be reaching for your phone, hoping to get a table in Juniper’s intimate dining area. Good luck. I was barely able to snag a spot at the chef’s counter.
Here are my top five reasons why reservations go so fast. [Read more…]
A visit to Café No Sé is a sweet treat for any patron. (Credit: Nick Simonite)
Although no se means “I don’t know” in Spanish, Café No Sé knows how to hold its own along one of Austin’s most well-known streets.
From my perspective, South Congress Hotel serves as a peek into Austin’s future. The minds behind this hotel that hosts Cafe No Sé are greater in number than Austin’s typical local business, but this doesn’t mean they’re any less invested in the spirit of our city than the mom and pop shop down the street. These Austin entrepreneurs have gone to great lengths to grow their hotel with Austin, as the city changes from a once-hidden gem of a town to a top destination. They acknowledge and embrace the cranes permanently caressing the skyline, but strive to preserve the infamous weirdness that put this city on the map. [Read more…]