El Burro is now open for lunch and brunch (Credit: Jessica Pino)
Editor’s Note: El Burro closed suddenly in July 2017.
I love checking out new restaurants because I like to experience a restaurant in its infancy stage, when it’s still learning to “walk.” It can be rewarding to watch a local restaurant come into its own. I find that younger restaurants are also more likely to take risks and experiment, as they figure out their style and role in the community they serve.
El Burro, located in the Lamar Union, is one of Austin’s infant restaurants I recently checked out. From the owners of VOX Table, El Burro opened its doors in December 2016. When they started serving brunch and lunch, I couldn’t stay away.
El Burro Has Daily Brunch and Lunch
Breakfast gordita (Credit: Ashlyn Allison)
El Burro understands Austinites’ love for brunch, which is why they started offering it every day! For those eager to extend their weekend into their week, the menu is still relatively small. But I have hopes they’ll expand the brunch options in the future. Instead of offering the Austin standard–breakfast tacos–El Burro serves up a more filling breakfast gordita. They also tip the hat to the Tex-Mex classic, huevos rancheros.
If eggs aren’t your thing, lunch is still an option. You can build your own quesadilla or share fajitas with your friends. I opted for the cucumber salad with shrimp, which oddly enough had no cucumbers. But it was delicious and refreshing, the perfect match for a warmer than usual winter day.
Open for Happy Hour
Queso fundido and fresh flour tortillas (Credit: Jessica Pino)
Another Austin favorite is happy hour. I love this time of day because it allows me to mingle with friends while still making it home before bedtime. While El Burro serves Austin’s golden king, queso, I opted to try the queso fundido since you can’t find it as often. Served with homemade flour tortillas, this gooey, salty appetizer hit the spot.
There are several cocktails to choose from. You can’t go wrong with a margarita, but I also recommend you try a paloma with Altos Plata, lime, grapefruit and Topo Chico.
I will note that my biggest critique is the pricing. I was surprised by how expensive my lunch was, especially with a Mexican mother-in-law who can cook up many of the same dishes at home. But we’re only three months in. I see potential in what El Burro is trying to do and I’ll definitely check back in a few months to see what has changed as this local restaurant grows into the adolescent phase.
1100 S. Lamar Blvd. #1125 – Website
@jpino9 wants to know:
What’s your favorite brunch cocktail?
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