south austin Archives - Page 6 of 8

Alcomar Takes You to Mexican Seaside with South 1st Eatery

May 29, 2015 by Erin May 1 Comment

Editor’s Note: To the community’s surprise and disappointment, Alcomar closed at the end of May 2018 due to a rental dispute.

A teal octopus swims across the facade of Alcomar on South 1st Street

Back to my old haunt: South 1st Street. When I wrote my neighborhood guide to this rich area, two painters had a ladder propped against what used to be El Chile. With a sinking feeling, I watched as they painted a giant white octopus on the newly-blue building.

Fortunately, however, El Chile has not disappeared—not exactly, anyway. The South 1st location now houses their newest concept: Alcomar. The menu is full of tapas, featuring primarily seafood, and each dish is delicately crafted with interesting and varied ingredients. [Read more…]

Austin Neighborhood Guide: South 1st Street

April 10, 2015 by Erin May 5 Comments

Sights and colors along South First Street in Austin (Credit: atmtx via Flickr CC)

South Congress may be infamous for its popular cluster of high-end boutiques, trendy restaurants, and food trailers—but just one street over is a slightly more humble neighborhood with a quirky assortment of shops, food trailers, and murals of its own that just beg to be explored.

For those who haven’t dug too far into this south-central territory, I’d like to share some highlights of what South 1^st has to offer.

First: Grab Some Coffee

There are several places on South 1st to get a decent cup of joe. But I want to highlight Once Over Coffee Bar in particular, as it’s spring and their porch is the perfect hideout. [Read more…]

Independence Fine Foods Is Far South Austin’s Latest American Diner

April 8, 2015 by Mathis Kennington 2 Comments

Independence Fine Foods at 1807 W Slaughter facing Manchaca Rd

Editor’s Note: Independence Fine Foods shut its doors in January 2019.

A unique blend of old world Austin and new world organic welcomes patrons of Independence Fine Foods. The recently burgeoning entertainment district in far south Austin has urban sprawlers from all over the city trekking south of the river to discover the next great bar or cup of coffee. Located across from Moontower Saloon in an unassuming storefront off Manchaca Road, Independence Fine Foods is nestled in the heart of an emerging destination for local libations and chow.

The first time I saw Independence, I thought it was an international food store. It wasn’t until I ran past the restaurant that I sniffed hints of coffee and…is that roast beef?

Naturally, I needed to investigate. What greeted me inside the heavy hardwood entrance was an American diner that bridged the patience of slowly brewed coffee with ready-made organic meals. [Read more…]

Texas Card House Opens First Legal Poker Room in Austin

March 11, 2015 by Edgar Barguiarena

Texas Card House on Manchaca in South Austin (Credit Taylor Wier)

It almost sounds too good to be true. Legal gambling in Austin? Short of a four hour drive to Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, it simply didn’t exist before now. Texas Card House has changed all that, offering the first legal poker room in Austin–and in the whole state of Texas outside reservations.

The trick is in the language. Texas Card House offers membership to a “card and social club” and provides a facility where members can gamble. [Read more…]

7 Secret Ingredients for Coffee Heaven at Summermoon Coffee

January 7, 2015 by Jessica Pino 1 Comment

Summermoon Coffee on S 1st Street

Coffee. Some drink it black. Some with cream. And others get fancy frou-frou drinks with extra foam, double shots or even chocolate.

However you take your coffee, I guarantee you have yet to reach coffee heaven. Summermoon Coffee will get you there [Read more…]

Way South Austin Welcomes Indian Roller Boutique Roadhouse

December 18, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena 2 Comments

Indian Roller takes great pride in growing many of the ingredients for their seasonal cocktails on site

You can never quite pinpoint the day a new bar district emerges in Austin. You typically have one bar open up in a new area doing, things a little differently, then a second one opens up nearby with a similar feel and you begin to reach a tipping point. Indian Roller Boutique Roadhouse has become Way South Austin’s tipping point. [Read more…]

You Wanna Be Crafty? Better Do What You Can and Bead It!

November 11, 2014 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Welcome to Bead It on S Lamar

Show how funky strong your style is at Bead It. Baskets and bowls of beads cover table after table, while strings of jewelry hang on the wall like sparkling tapestries. Everything is arranged by color or grouped with like items to inspire and create a beautiful house of delicate trinkets.

Visit this South Austin shop to discover a vast array of beads to take home, or stay for a jewelry design class. Classes range from beginner to advanced, but every participant leaves with a creation of their own making. [Read more…]

Elizabeth Street Cafe Brings French-Vietnamese to South First

August 25, 2014 by Erin May 1 Comment

Elizabeth Street Cafe on South First Street in Austin

Influenced by the colonial history between France and what is now Vietnam, Elizabeth Street Cafe offers the quaint atmosphere and charm of a French bistro while serving complex and flavorful Vietnamese style food.

The appearance of the restaurant itself is picturesque, with sea green shutters, striped canopies and a pink door. Bright blue iron chairs topped with sea green cushions dot the patio. A large striped canopy and outstretched umbrella shade the waitresses, themselves a crucial part of the atmosphere, clothed as they are in Vietnamese inspired dresses with [Read more…]

Cypress Grill Brings the Bayou to South Austin

August 18, 2014 by Samantha Champion Leave a Comment

Fresh Gulf shrimp in our landlocked city at Cypress Grill

New Orleans will always hold a special place in my heart. The Mighty Mississippi, soulful music, and vibrant energy make up some of my favorite travel memories.

These memories immediately rush back the moment I step into Cypress Grill, a straight-from-New-Orleans cafe tucked back into a strip mall off of William Cannon Drive.

Despite its unassuming location, Cypress Grill creates an atmosphere that is true to both Austin and New Orleans, with a funky bar, walls covered in local art and a garage door that [Read more…]

Winebelly: Tapas Wine Bar with Surprising Influences

July 28, 2014 by Erin May 1 Comment

Welcoming interior at Winebelly

Winebelly is true to its name. It invites the purple-tongued, the cheek-flushed, the loud-laughers, and you are unlikely to leave without a satisfied stomach.

A comfortable wine bar on Oltorf and South 1st St, Winebelly’s dark paneled bartop wood and golden booths invite guests to relax. At the same time, the venue maintains the class and food quality demanded of any successful wine joint.

The tapas bar was opened in 2013 by the same family who owns the Hai Ky Vietnamese restaurants in Austin. The Winebelly tapas and vino bar is vastly different from the Vietnamese go-to, but its local Austin roots are unmistakable.

Local ingredients are used in many of their plates and local beer, including the potent Devil’s Backbone, is served on tap and in bottles or cans at decent prices. [Read more…]

First: Grab Some Coffee

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