battle of the brunches Archives

Battle of the Brunches Round 6: Bouldin Creek Cafe

October 27, 2014 by Samantha Champion 1 Comment

Bouldin Creek Cafe Jodi Hart via Flickr CC

What’s brunch without crispy bacon, spicy sausage, or maybe some brisket hash?

If you’re at Bouldin Creek, you’ll find that brunch is exactly the way it should be.

Bouldin Creek Cafe has been providing Austin with uniquely delicious vegetarian options for 14 years now, most of which can also be made into vegan dishes. During its lifetime, the artistically inclined cafe has developed quite a brunch following made up of vegetarians and carnivores alike. [Read more…]

Battle of the Brunches Round 5: Josephine House

August 7, 2014 by Samantha Champion 2 Comments

Old-fashioned perfection

There’s a little blue house on the corner of West Lynn and Waterston where I want to live. It’s a perfect balance of old and new, with distressed hardwood floors, a white marble bar, and a cozy patio with upholstered benches and punchy green pillows.

This is Josephine House, a delightful Clarksville gem with one of the best brunches in all of Austin (or anywhere, for that matter).

As the little sister of Jeffrey’s, Josephine House has quite a reputation to uphold. My first thought as I walked through the door was that if the food lived up to the aesthetic, then I was in love. [Read more…]

Battle of the Brunches Round 4: Magnolia Cafe

July 17, 2014 by Samantha Champion 1 Comment

Magnolia Cafe has two locations: one off South Congress and the original on Lake Austin Blvd.

I knew when I started the Battle of the Brunches series that there was one place I had to include just for me, no matter how many shiny new brunch spots sprouted up in Austin or how many recommendations I received.

Long-Term Love

Magnolia Cafe has been a longtime favorite of yours truly (along with most Austinites) for as long as I can remember. There’s just something about the tacky tables, flying dinosaur, Mag Mud and hibiscus mint tea that I just cannot get enough of.

As a teenager, queso at 3 AM seemed rebellious, and in college I constantly dragged my boyfriend and our friends to the vegetarian-friendly joint for the meatless Reuben.

Even now, as a sleeping, meat-eating adult, Magnolia is still on the top of the list of my favorite places to go. [Read more…]

Battle of the Brunches Round 3: Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill

June 19, 2014 by Samantha Champion 2 Comments

Moonshine is located on Waller Creek at the corner of 3rd and Red River

If there’s one thing all real Texans love, it’s comfort food. Give us fried chicken, grits, and basically anything with melted cheese, and we’re a happy bunch.

Combine our appreciation for comfort food with our pride in Texas history, southern hospitality, and a good Bloody Mary, and we are in love.

For these very reasons, Battle of the Brunches Round 3 goes to Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill.

Rich History

Most Austinites have either visited or passed by the old Hofheinz-Reissig Store, a National Register property located at 3rd and Red River across from the Convention Center.

This 160 year old dry goods store, originally built as part of the Waterloo Compound, now operates as Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill, one of the most unforgettable brunch spots in the city. [Read more…]

Battle of the Brunches Round 2: Jack Allen’s Kitchen

May 22, 2014 by Samantha Champion 2 Comments

Jack Allen’s Kitchen original Oak Hill location

In Round 2 of Battle of the Brunches, Jack Allen’s Kitchen proves to be a major heavyweight when it comes to serving up some of the best, most locally-sourced options for brunching Austinites.

When asked who deserved to make the cut for the BOTB series, Austinot readers pointed to Jack Allen’s as their favorite brunch spot more often than any other restaurant.

[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…]

Long-Term Love

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