Reader's Poll: Food & Drink

All You Can Eat

Buffet Palace The Asian banquet takes it. Dripping Springs' Salt Lick scarfs second and previous winner Mr. Gatti's grabs third.1012 W. Anderson, 458-2999; 5400 Brodie, #1240, 892-2550

Bakery

Upper Crust The cream has risen to the Crust, which takes first place in this category. Hats off to Sweetish Hill and Texas French Bread for a competitive showing.4508 Burnet, 467-0102

Bar Snacks

TIE: BW3, Dog & Duck BW3 sports spicy hot buffalo wings at $.25 apiece to complement your trivia or home game. Dog & Duck claims the Thames, but their tasty bar snacks — chips, quesadillas, nachos — run closer to the Rio Grande. BW3, 218 E. Sixth, 472-7227; Dog & Duck, 406 W. 17th, 479-0598

Barbecue

Salt Lick Also known as "the plate lick," still holding the brass ring that they took away from long-time winner aka County Line.FM 1826 18300, 458-4959

Bartenders

TIE: Oil Can Harry's, Club DeVille The first winners in this new category pour 'em cool and stiff, according to our readers. Mmmmmmm... just like we likes 'em.Oil Can Harry's, 211 W. Fourth, 320-8823; Club DeVille, 900 Red River, 457-0900

Beer Selection

Gingerman With 82 international beers on tap, this bar — named for J.P Donlevy's book — may require a taxi ride all the way home.304 W. Fourth, 473-8801

Breakfast

Kerbey Lane Cafe Power breakfasts for those on the run with recently added screwdrivers and mimosas for the lingering set.3704 Kerbey, 451-1436; 2700 S. Lamar, 445-4451; 12602 Research, 258-7757

Diner

Star Seeds Quintessential Austin indifference plus dirt-cheap food (and fabulously sinful breakfast tacos) make this all-night greasy spoon a city favorite.3107 N. I-35, 478-7107

Diner Star Seeds photograph by Minh

Brew Pub

Waterloo Brewery With homemade brews a buck from 5-6pm daily and $2 pints Sun-Tues, you won't even notice this casual bar serves no cocktails — even on Fourth Street.401 Guadalupe, 477-1836

Caterer

Word of Mouth Word of Mouth is the city's upscale caterer and has been so for several years. They've recently moved into the old Run-Tex building at 12th & Lamar, and by the beginning of next year should have a gourmet take-out business opening in the old Amandine's location.919 W. 12th, 451-6986

Coffeehouse

Little City Espresso Bar After four years at their downtown location, this spare, soothing coffeehouse finally hit the big time, with a second locale near campus and a first-place coup d'etat.916 Congress, 476-2489; 3403 Guadalupe, 467-2326

Dessert

Chez Zee Chez Zee pastry chef Corey Harris came to Austin two years ago inheriting the stellar dessert tradition of Chez Fred but has consistently upped the quality of that tradition to a higher level; check out her Truffle Cheesecake or Key Lime Pie, among many others, to find out why.5406 Balcones Dr., 454-2666

Cake Decorators

Lucy's Cakes Year after year, Lucy's affordable prices and impeccable service take the cake.2803 San Jacinto, 472-661+

Happy Hour Drinks

Trudy's The simple fact that their perfectly mixed margaritas are only $2.50 is enough to make five to seven very, very happy hours.409 W. 30th, 477-2935; 8820 Burnet, 454-1474; 4141 Capital of Texas Hwy., 326-9899

Happy Hour Food

Top of the Marc This Top is your tops for pub grub with a noshy twist.618 W. Sixth, 479-6457

Lunch Under $5

TIE: Thundercloud Subs, Kim Phung Compare T-Cloud's seemingly simple recipe to Kim Phung's mysterious and mystifying kitchen. Both are fantastic and fantastically low-priced.Thundercloud, various locations; 452-5010; Kim Phung, 7601 N. Lamar Blvd., 451-2464

Margaritas

Baby Acapulco's It's forever clear what gives these colorful quaffs their tangy zip.5610 N. I-35, 302-1366; 1628 Barton Springs Rd., 474-8774

Martinis

Cedar Street Inventive martini menu, but nothing beats it dirty and ice cold, with juicy olives skewered in that chilled glass.208 W. Fourth, 708-8811

Milkshakes/Smoothies

TIE: Wrapido, EZ's Wrapido's fruit and energy smoothies are a paean to Nineties chic health consciousness while EZ's is a throwback to Fifties indulgence, with decadent milkshakes thick enough to suck out your tonsils.Wrapido, 3023 Guadalupe, 476-9727;EZ's, 3918 N. Lamar, 302-1800

Sandwich Shop

Thundercloud Subs Their jingle gets more play than the Wallflowers, but it's those killer subs that keep 'em drifting back.3200-B Guadalupe and various others, 452-5010

Waitstaff

Threadgill's WHQ They're young, good looking, and downright kind. It's no wonder they won, but perhaps their retro red shirts swayed the vote for some readers.301 W. Riverside, 472-9304

Wine Selection (Retail)

Central Market Affordable wines from France and Italy, plus exotic locales like Chile, Argentina, and Oregon.4001 N. Lamar, 206-1000

Liquor Store

Wiggy's From the wooden Indian standing sentinel to that little Elvis decanter in the window, everything — including a whole wall of Scotch — is a little wiggy here.1130 W. Sixth, 474-9463

Grocery Store

Central Market An eclectic mix of the organic, exotic, and basic, mixed with just plain friendliness, redefined the grocery shopping experience.4001 N. Lamar, 206-1000

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