2008 Critics Picks
Critics Made-From-Scratch Flashback Food to Celebrate
TIE: Arkie's Grill; the Frisco Shop
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Best Sweet-Potato Fries
Silver K Cafe
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Best Tuesday Special
Turkey and dressing at the Stallion Grill
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Best Tex-Mex Chips & Queso
Chuy's
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Best Upscale BLT
Finn & Porter
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Best Breakfast Bacon
Hoover's Cooking
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Best Florentines
Expressions Fine Artisan Chocolates & Confections at Whole Foods Market
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Best Shrimp & Grits
Jasper's Gourmet Backyard Cuisine
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Best Lamb Sandwich
FoodHeads
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Best Tartines
Blue Dahlia Bistro
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Best Carnivore Appetizer
Roasted marrow bones
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Made-From-Scratch Flashback Food to Celebrate
TIE: Arkie's Grill; the Frisco Shop
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Caribbean-Dominican Food to Die For
Lechon roast pork and Cubano sandwich at Cafe Mangù
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Most Soulful Cajun
Nubian Queen Lola
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Best Country Pie
TIE: Jalapeño Dutch Apple Pie
at R.O.’s Outpost in Spicewood; Almond Joy Pie at Texas Pie Co. in Kyle
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Best City Pie
Banana cream pie at Lamberts
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Tasting Menu Excellent Enough for a Roman Emperor
Hudson's on the Bend
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Best Customer-Conscious Trend
Gluten-free choices on more restaurant menus
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Best Natural Frozen Yogurt
Piccomolo (made with local White Mountain Bulgarian Yogurt)
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Ed Ward Memorial Sandwich Award
Chicken shawarma at Phoenicia Bakery
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The Consummate Salvadoran Plate
El Zunzal Restaurant
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Best Fried Green Tomatoes
Threadgill's
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Best 'Cabrito' Flautas
El Azteca
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Best Bowl of Mexican Soup
Caldo de Birria
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Best Local Truffle
Dark Chocolate Blue Cheese Truffle
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Best Michelada
TIE: El Chile Cafe y Cantina; La Mojarra Feliz
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Best Duck Dish
Teow-Chew Duck at TC Noodle House
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Best Indoor Cupcakes
The Steeping Room
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Best Barbecue Sauce
TIE: The Salt Lick; R.O.’s Outpost
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Viet Blast From the Past
Sea Dragon
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The Freshest Oasis in Wimberley
The Leaning Pear Cafe & Eatery
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Way East Ethnic Food Well Worth the Gas to Get
TIE: Oaxacan Tamaleo on Highway 71 East; Konstantinos in Bastrop
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Paradise for Single-Malt Lovers
Opal Divine's
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Best Irish Food for Folks Who've Just Come Back From Dublin
B.D. Riley's Irish Pub
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Best French Food for Folks Who've Just Come Back From France
Aquarelle
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Best Little Wine List
TIE: Eastside Cafe; Fino Restaurant, Patio & Bar
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Best Outdoor Dining (With a View of the Bats)
TRIO at the Four Seasons
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Best Austin Wine Trend
Wine bars with really good food
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Best Seasonal Menus
Cafe 909
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Best Casual Seafood Bar
Quality Seafood Market
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Best Retro-Ranch Decor With a Pizza Happy Hour
The Red House
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Best Cajun Food/Music Venue
Evangeline Cafe
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Best New Food Market Venue in West Austin
Tarrytown Farmers' Market in the back yard of Talulah Bleu Tarrytown Florist
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Best Additions to East Sixth Street Entertainment District
TIE: Alamo at the Ritz with cocktails;
the late-night chef hangout scene at Parkside
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Best Restaurant Makeover
TIE: TRIO at the Four Seasons (fine dining); Threadgill’s Old No. 1 (comfort food)
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Best Pastry Chef
Philip Speer at Uchi
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Best Place to Take a Break From Shopping
A22 Wine Bar at Central Market Westgate
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Best Sichuan With an Authentic Difference
Asia Cafe
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Dim Sum Done Right
Chinatown
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Fish Sandwich Heaven
Fuegos Authentic Mexican & California Cuisine
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Two Blocks of Superior Burgers With a Side of Great Jukebox
TIE:
Casino el Camino, The Jackalope
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Local Focus of a Food Trend Sweeping Both Coasts
Korean fried chicken at Red Cap Chick
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We Can't Believe These Places Are Gone
TIE:
Cibo, Brentwood Tavern, Garibaldi's Mexican Restaurant
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Best Reclamation of a Cursed Location
Gypsy Italian Bistro (Honorable Mention: Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que, Baby Greens, Botticelli’s)
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Incredibly Creative Martinis
Imperia
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Best Place to Write Your Novel or Finish Your Dissertation
Fair Bean Coffee
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Absolutely Top-Drawer Afternoon Tea
The Steeping Room
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Most Soulful Seafood
Bayseas #7 at the Victory Grill
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Best 'Ostioneria'
La Mojarra Feliz
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Best Creative Cocktails
Starlite
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Street Food Chic
TIE: Vietnamese báhn mì thit at Lulu B’s; gourmet grilled cheese at Go Bites
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