south austin - The Austinot

Sam’s Town Point Honky Tonk Bar Makes Friends out of Strangers

June 5, 2018 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Sam's Town Point Honky Tonk Bar in Austin

Neighborhood dive bar Sam’s Town Point keeps south Austin tradition alive (Credit: Ramsay Midwood)

Dive bars used to be a dime a dozen in Austin, but these friendly hangouts are an endangered species due to the city’s ever-changing landscape. Sam’s Town Point, far south Austin‘s dive bar paragon, is quietly hanging in there, delivering up the coldest beer in town and tasty live music for those in the know.

Walk into Sam’s Town Point, a portal to Austin’s past, when everybody knew their neighbors, when half of the town hung out day-drinking and two-stepping at their local honky tonk. Live music has been a staple at Sam’s since the beginning. Today, a solid roster of local bands still play their hearts out on the tumbledown stage, under dim lighting and faded signs. [Read more…]

Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole Collaborate on Loro, Asian Smokehouse and Bar

May 14, 2018 by Jackson Prince Leave a Comment

Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole Launch Loro

Preeminent pitmaster Aaron Franklin and Chef Tyson Cole (Credit: Logan Crable)

In a crowded local arena of barbecuing legends, make way for Loro: Asian smokehouse and bar. The tour de force fusion is led by a supergroup of food masters, including two James Beard Foundation awardees for Best Chef: Southwest–Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue and Tyson Cole of Uchi Austin (now part of Hai Hospitality).

Loro is the first venture Franklin has undertaken since establishing Franklin Barbecue a decade ago, an eatery which has earned international acclaim. Is it the best barbecue in the world? Ask Jimmy Kimmel, Anthony Bourdain, and President Obama. They’ll vouch for the droves of meat-lovers who wait hours every day for a bite of brisket.

And don’t forget about Chef Tyson Cole, the man behind the “perfect bite” and founder of Hai Hospitality. Hai is the umbrella under which all beloved Uchi restaurants (Austin, Houston, Dallas, Denver), Uchiko, Uchibā in Dallas, and now Loro operate.

Understandably, the anticipation for Loro was massive. Less than a week after opening, the new Austin restaurant was already generating plates for 1,000 people per day, which is 400 more than what the partners hoped to reach within a month-long period. And the numbers have only increased. As of this writing, Loro is servicing over 1,400 empty-bellied guests on any given Saturday. [Read more…]

The Flying Carpet Food Truck Magically Transports Austinites to Morocco

May 7, 2018 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

The Flying Carpet Moroccan Food in Austin

Maria and Abdu welcome diners to The Flying Carpet

“Love Wins.” The sign on the side of The Flying Carpet, a family-run Moroccan food truck, says it all. The Flying Carpet brings the rich cuisine of Morocco to south Austin with nothing but love.

Owners Abderrahim “Abdu” and Maria Souktori personally welcome diners as though they were guests entering their own home. The delicious food is sourced and prepped daily, and cooked to order on the spot. [Read more…]

Lunar Pizza Trailer on South First Street Is Thin on Crust, Not on Flavor

April 20, 2018 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Margherita pizza at Lunar Pizza in South Austin

Austin residents aren’t pizza-deprived. We’ve got New York-style at the iconic Home Slice Pizza, Chicago-style at Conans Pizza, and even Detroit-style at the mouth-watering Via 313.

With Lunar Pizza opened on South 1st Street, we can add New Jersey thin crust pizza to the list. Or more specifically, as I learned from founder Zach Adams, “Jersey Shore boardwalk pizza.”

[Read more…]

DK Maria’s Legendary Tex-Mex Dishes Out Burrito Challenge in South Austin

March 21, 2018 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

$DK Marias Tex Mex Austin$

Fill up the table with Tex-Mex goodness at DK Maria’s in Austin

Imagine sitting around a campfire after a hard day of riding horses and herding cattle, tendrils of smoke wafting up from carne guisada in a cast iron kettle, and your stomach growling with hunger. You can recreate that satisfying sensation at DK Maria’s Legendary Tex-Mex in South Austin.

[Read more…]

The 14 Most Inviting South Austin Coffee Shops

February 28, 2018 by Joleen Jernigan 7 Comments

South Austin tends to feel like the epicenter of independent coffee shops. We have so many, in fact, that narrowing this list down to 14 places was a challenge! What they all have in common is what makes them so south Austin: a combination of organic, locally-roasted beans, free Wi-Fi, food to nosh on, and dog-friendly areas. Despite their similarities, each of these South Austin coffee shops holds a unique allure and has a legion of devotees. [Read more…]

Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden Unites Drinks, Music, and Permaculture

January 24, 2018 by Vi Chetan Leave a Comment

Patrick Dean and Paul Oveisi Founders Cosmic Coffee

Patrick Dean and Paul Oveisi, founders of Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden (Credit: Julia Keim)

Coffee and beer have to be the top two beverages Austin survives on. It’s easy to find either–and often both–at cafes and breweries all over the city. The newest member of the coffee-beer-hybrid is Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden off South Congress near Ben White.

Cosmic isn’t an ordinary coffee shop or beer garden, but the culmination of co-founder Paul Oveisi’s passions: live entertainment, sustainability, beer, coffee, and food. I had a chance to sit down with the entrepreneur for a chat about the interesting history behind Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden. This fascinating story is full of surprises. [Read more…]

Where Are the Best Bloody Marys in Austin?

January 19, 2018 by Samantha Saenz Leave a Comment

Ghost of Mary at Cannon + Belle in Austin

Get haunted by the Ghost of Mary at Cannon + Belle (Credit: @dollarsaenz)

Whether you want to sip a socially acceptable cocktail with breakfast or nurse a brooding hangover, the Bloody Mary has become the standard go-to. The drink that has been around since approximately 1921 has incredible diversity, and it seems as though just about every restaurant has their own version–with our city being no exception. So whether you’re looking for the classic version, a peacock of garnishes, or something more exotic, here’s our guide to the best Bloody Marys in Austin. [Read more…]

Puli-Ra Merges Indian Flavors With Texas Produce at The Yard

December 27, 2017 by Irvianne Torremoro Leave a Comment

Deepa Shirdhar and the Puli-Ra team can be found in the courtyard at Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Editor’s Note: As of January 2018, Puli-Ra has relocated to Texas Keeper Cider (12521 Twin Creeks Road, Manchaca, TX).

You may have heard of Puli-Ra’s earlier iterations, Anjore Supper Club and farmers’ market darling ChaiWalla. Both have taken the backseat since Puli-Ra moved into Still Austin Whiskey Co.’s courtyard, as the distillery’s official food truck.

The team members behind Puli-Ra are a hardworking bunch, dedicated to merging South Indian flavors with local Texas produce that will astound your taste buds right off the bat. [Read more…]

Drink Hyperlocal at City’s First Urban Distillery, Still Austin Whiskey Co.

November 20, 2017 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Barrels of locally-made spirits at Still Austin Whiskey Co. (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Most people don’t spend Sunday afternoon relaxing in an industrial park, but that’s where I found myself. Outside, a jazz band was warming up, as a freshly-poured old fashioned chilled in my hand. On the bar, a beaker filled with strawberries and whiskey bubbled like a prop from Frankenstein’s workshop. If it weren’t for the area, I would’ve thought I was hanging out at a swank cantina, not a working distillery. [Read more…]