Food & Drink Archives - Page 58 of 71

5 Best Pizza Joints in Austin

April 29, 2014 by Jessica Pino 19 Comments

Pizza by the slice at East Side Pies

You may say I know a thing or two about pizza. My parents bought a pizza shop when I was 8 months old. I started officially working when I was 11, until I went off to college.

In my college years, I often gave into eating bad pizza for a variety of reasons: far from home, nothing else around and, quite simply, too lazy to care. I’ve grown older and wiser, and it has become my personal mission to try every pizza joint in Austin. So here’s my list of what I believe to be the best pizza places in Austin…so far. [Read more…]

WhichCraft Is Austin’s First Craft-Only Beer Store

April 28, 2014 by Matthew Champion 2 Comments

WhichCraft opened on April 19, 2014 in Austin

Editor’s Note: WhichCraft is closing its original location on Sept. 22, 2018. The newer Mueller location will remain open.

Do you ever get tired of sifting through all the crappy domestic beers at the grocery store to get to what you want? Come on, guys. I drank that stuff in college, but I’m grown now. I look for quality over quantity and I like to actually taste my beers and distinguish them from one another.

If you’re not looking for what you’re forced to drink at a baseball game, head over to WhichCraft, where you’ll probably be interested in nearly everything on the shelves.

WhichCraft has impressively filled a niche that was still available for the taking in Austin, by becoming the city’s first craft-only beer store. No sifting through the shelves here. You won’t find any of the watered-down lighter lagers from the big beer companies, or wine or liquor for that matter. When WhichCraft says craft beer only, they mean it. [Read more…]

Award Winning Olive Oil Sprouts in Heart of Texas

April 24, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome Leave a Comment

Bella Vista olive oil made in Texas Hill Country

How much do you know about olive oil? Due to its growing prevalence in our restaurants and kitchens, there’s a good chance you’ve partaken in the extra virgin variety today!

Between salads, sautes and emulsions, it’s easily possible to consume olive oil every day of the week. Yet how often do we stop to consider the origins and characteristics of this transformative anointment? Recent press has highlighted the importance of vetting your olive oil supplier, and where better to start than close to home? You may not know this, but there is olive oil production within 50 miles of Austin! [Read more…]

Battle of the Brunches Round 1: South Congress Cafe

April 23, 2014 by Samantha Champion 3 Comments

South Congress Cafe is located at 1600 S Congress Avenue. (Photo credit: South Congress Cafe)

Today marks the beginning of a six-part series entitled Battle of the Brunches, where a handful of the hundreds of brunch-serving spots in town will be evaluated based on the rigid criteria of deliciousness, enjoyableness, and overall awesomeness.

All six spots have been previously determined to be well above average, so think of my series as more of a brunch bucket list than a head-to-head bloodbath, if you will. I just really liked the image of quiche and frittata going at it in some underground fight club.

To kick us off, I’m honing in on what seems to be one of the most beloved brunch spots in Austin: South Congress Cafe. Nestled neatly among other ’04 favorites such as Vespaio, Uncommon Objects and Home Slice, South Congress Cafe has been serving some of the best food south of the river since 2003. Owned by the same folks as Trudy’s, South Congress is like the Tex-Mex joint’s hipper, more sophisticated sister. [Read more…]

Walton’s Fancy and Staple Refreshes with Food and Flowers on West 6th

April 14, 2014 by Matthew Champion 1 Comment

Many don’t know it, but Walton’s Fancy and Staple has been around the Austin area in some form or fashion for 45 years now. It began in 1969 with a focus purely on flowers and plants, as Walton’s Florist and Nursery in the neighboring city of West Lake Hills.

Walton's Fancy and Staple on West Sixth Street

Walton’s Fancy and Staple at 609 West Sixth Street

In 2009, the owners of Bess Bistro (hi, Sandy!) moved the business across the street from them on West Sixth Street, and renamed it Walton’s Fancy and Staple. They kept the floral aspect of the company intact, while adding an expert team of bakers and a top-notch delicatessen. [Read more…]

Always Oktoberfest at Sixth Street’s Easy Tiger

April 10, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome Leave a Comment

Easy Tiger on 6th Street in Austin

There is a sweeter smell wafting down the alleyways of Dirty Sixth. The aroma is sweet enough to tempt the most finicky of eaters, and may even make established Austinites question their preconceived notions about our city’s most notorious street.

While 6th Street’s strongest associations may be cheap liquor and cover bands, hidden restaurant gems have been here for years. A more recent addition to the list is Easy Tiger, a somewhat unexpected mix between bakery and bar that has quickly become a local favorite.

I’ll take the yummy one!

[Read more…]

Lunch Break? 7 Local Options Around 7 Dollars

March 26, 2014 by Samantha Champion 2 Comments

Looking for cheap lunch spots in Austin? You’ve come to the right place (Photo credit: The Jalopy on Facebook)

Every afternoon around 1 PM, I tell myself “today is the LAST day” I’m going to buy my lunch this week…that from now on, I’m strictly a brown-bag girl. I daydream about planning my meals over the weekend and grocery shopping in advance.

The next morning around 7 AM, I decide that ten more minutes of sleep is so insanely critical that I will most definitely die a slow and painful death if I get up any second earlier than is absolutely necessary in order to make it to work on time-ish. I bargain with myself. I even second-guess showering. I’m not exactly a morning person.

This scenario repeats itself at least four times a week, leaving me with no other choice than to head out in search of yet another cheap lunch option that doesn’t involve any sort of pink slime. Enter my list of some of my favorite affordable Austin lunch spots where you can find a relatively quick midday meal for around $7 (because $5 is just ridiculous, but $9 lunches seem so Manhattan). [Read more…]

Best Breakfast Off the Beaten Path in Austin

March 17, 2014 by Matthew Champion 5 Comments

There are a lot of choices in our great city, even when it comes to breakfast. At times, the plethora of options may seem overwhelming, but don’t just settle on the corporate chain closest to your home. There are plenty of local, homegrown businesses serving up the most important meal of the day in a serious way.

You’ve probably grown familiar with the mainstays that are usually popular for good reason. But sometimes you need to step off the sidewalk and roam in the street for awhile, if you get my drift. Below are a few of my recommendations for a solid breakfast in Austin, at places you may not have been before.

Red River Cafe

I’ve been eating at this place for nearly ten years now. I was a little hesitant to include it for selfish reasons. There’s never a wait; it’s quiet and there’s usually a booth available. Two giant eggs – sunny side up – hang on each side of the faded and dated building as you approach. When you walk in, there’s a bench on your left with a hefty pile of newspapers to choose from. I usually linger for a good twenty to thirty minutes after I finish my meal here to catch up on current events.

Red River Cafe exterior (Photo credit: walkyourdogaustin.com)

[Read more…]

Top SXSW Food Picks: Practice Your Stance While Waiting in Line

March 7, 2014 by Cris Mueller Leave a Comment

Photo credit: TastyTouring via Flickr CC

With our beloved SXSW upon us, I thought it apropos to shoot you straight with three must-haves for the festival: comfortable shoes for your daily trek, a foldable tote to hold your new collection of swag and t-shirts and, most importantly, arrive sporting a comfortable waistline to allow flex while you feast.

In Austin, one thing we do well is practice patience for gastro fare. Below is my officially unofficial list of lines Austinites most love to wait in! [Read more…]

Stonebridge Coffee Represents One Man’s Willingness to Beat the Odds

March 5, 2014 by Brittany Highland 7 Comments

Stonebridge Coffee at 6400 McNeil in North Austin

When Justin Forgey had a grand mal seizure and was diagnosed with late-onset adult epilepsy in 2008, his life changed instantly. For the next four years, he bounced around from job to job, having seizures along the way. “It made the typical 9-5 very difficult,” Justin reflected. “I was not the most reliable employee.”

But Justin chose not to be defined by his disability. He was eager to find a way to support his family. One day, he mentioned to his wife Jenny that he was considering self-employment, owning a brick and mortar coffee shop. She replied that they should talk more about it. The next day, Justin quit his job. [Read more…]

Red River Cafe

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