Restaurant Poll - 2005 - Readers - The Austin Chronicle

2005 Readers Poll

Favorites

1. Vespaio

2. Uchi

3. Castle Hill Cafe

4. Asti

5. Ararat

6. Bellagio Italian Bistro

7. Fonda San Miguel

8. Bistrot Mirabelle

9. Austin Java

10. wink

11. Doña Emilia's South American Bar & Grill

12. The Driskill Grill

13. Eastside Cafe

14. Tuscany Market & Vineyard

15. Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

16. Z'Tejas

17. Chez Nous

18. Shady Grove

19. Eddie V's Prime Seafood

20. Pluckers Wing Bar

21. Cafe Josie

22. Saba Blue Water Cafe

23. Finn & Porter

24. Hudson's on the Bend

25. Chez Zee

26. Jeffrey's

27. 219 West

28. Zoot

29. Chuy's

30.

31. Trudy's

32. Roaring Fork

33. Rocco's Grill

34. The Salt Lick

35. Mars Restaurant and Bar

Best Appetizer

Z'Tejas

Runners-up
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Saba Blue Water Cafe

Honorable Mention

Málaga, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, 219 West

Best Barbecue

TIE: The Salt Lick, Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q

Runners-up
County Line, Stubb's, Ruby's BBQ

Honorable Mention

Sam's BBQ, Artz Rib House, Iron Works BBQ

Best Hamburger

Hut's Hamburgers

Runners-up
Casino el Camino, Dan's Hamburgers

Honorable Mention

Dirty Martin's Place, Burger Tex II, Rocco's Grill

Best Steak

TIE: Ruth's Chris Steak House, Sullivan's Steakhouse

Runner-up
Austin Land & Cattle

Honorable Mention

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine, Cool River Cafe, Outback Steakhouse, Eddie V's Prime Seafood

Best Comfort Food

TIE: Threadgill's Old No. 1, Hoover's Cooking

Runner-up
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Honorable Mention

Chez Zee, Shady Grove, Galaxy Cafe, Kerbey Lane Cafe, Magnolia Cafe

Best Chicken-Fried Steak

Threadgill's Old No. 1

Runners-up

Honorable Mention

Hill's Cafe, Shady Grove

Best Chile-Pepper Dish

Chuy's

Runners-up
Castle Hill Cafe, Z'Tejas

Honorable Mention

Trudy's, Curra's Grill, Fonda San Miguel

Best French Fries

Hyde Park Bar & Grill

Runners-up
McDonald's, Hut's Hamburgers, Pluckers Wing Bar

Honorable Mention

Shady Grove, Bartlett's

Best Chips and Hot Sauce

Trudy's

Runner-up
Chuy's

Honorable Mention

Hula Hut, Polvos

Best Taco

TIE: Taco Shack, Maria's Taco Xpress

Runners-up
Tacodeli, Chuy's

Honorable Mention

Changos Taqueria, Trudy's

Best Soup

TIE: Central Market North, Chez Zee

Runner-up
Bistrot Mirabelle

Honorable Mention

The Soup Peddler, Eastside Cafe

Best Salad/Dressing

Eastside Cafe

Runners-up
Bartlett's, Castle Hill Cafe

Honorable Mention

Mother's Cafe & Garden

Best Seafood Dish

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

Runners-up
Truluck's, Bistrot Mirabelle

Honorable Mention

Roy's, 7, Gumbo's

Best Pub Grub

Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant

Runners-up
The Dog & Duck Pub, Casino el Camino

Honorable Mention

Mother Egan's Irish Pub, Opal Divine's

Best Bagels

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Runners-up
Central Market North, Hot Jumbo Bagel

Honorable Mention

Cherrywood Coffeehouse

Best Sushi

Uchi

Runners-up
Kenichi, Sushi Sake

Honorable Mention

Mikado Ryotei, Kyoto

Best Tofu Dish

Veggie Heaven

Runner-up
Mother's Cafe & Garden

Honorable Mention

Casa de Luz, West Lynn Cafe

Best Dim Sum

Tien Hong

Runner-up
Marco Polo Restaurant

Honorable Mention

T&S Chinese Restaurant, Hao Hao

Best Bowl of Pho

Kim Phung Chinese & Vietnamese Restaurant

Runner-up
Triumph Cafe

Honorable Mention

Tan Tan, Pho Công Lý, Hai Ky

Best American Breakfast

Kerbey Lane Cafe

Runner-up
Magnolia Cafe

Honorable Mention

Galaxy Cafe, IHOP, Austin Java

Best Mexican Breakfast

Trudy's

Runners-up
Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, Juan in a Million

Honorable Mention

Maudie's Tex-Mex, El Sol y la Luna, Taco Shack

Best Sandwich

ThunderCloud Subs

Runners-up
Delaware Sub Shop, The Kitchen Door

Honorable Mention

FoodHeads, Texadelphia, Jason's Deli

Best Desserts

Chez Zee

Runners-up
Bistrot Mirabelle, The Cheesecake Factory

Honorable Mention

wink, Austin Java

Best Bread

TIE: Texas French Bread, Central Market North

Runners-up
County Line, Sweetish Hill Bakery & Cafe

Honorable Mention

Upper Crust Bakery

Best Ice Cream

Amy's Ice Creams

Runner-up
Marble Slab Creamery

Honorable Mention

Baskin-Robbins, Ben & Jerry's, Maggie Moo's

Best Gelato

Dolce Vita

Runner-up
Caffe Teo

Honorable Mention

Indie Pop Cool Treats

Best Coffee

Starbucks Coffee

Runners-up
Austin Java, Little City

Honorable Mention

Pacha, Jo's Coffee

Best Pizza

Rounders Pizzeria

Runners-up
Brick Oven Restaurant, Original David's Brick Oven on West 35th, Austin's Pizza, Frank & Angie's Pizzeria

Honorable Mention

Reale's Pizza & Cafe, Saccone's Pizza & Subs, Tuscany Market & Vineyard, Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza

Best Enchiladas

Curra's Grill

Runners-up
Trudy's, Chuy's

Honorable Mention

Enchiladas y Mas, Matt's El Rancho, Maudie's Tex-Mex

Best Vegetables

TIE: Threadgill's Old No. 1, Eastside Cafe

Runner-up
West Lynn Cafe

Honorable Mention

Mother's Cafe & Garden, Hoover's Cooking

Best Chicken Dish

Pluckers Wing Bar

Runners-up
Clay Pit, Chez Zee

Honorable Mention

Z'Tejas, Trudy's

Best Wild-Game Dish

Hudson's on the Bend

Runners-up
Bistrot Mirabelle, Roaring Fork

Honorable Mention

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Vespaio

Best Bargain Dish

Thai Noodle House

Runners-up
Taqueria Arandas, Pluckers Wing Bar

Honorable Mention

Zen Japanese Food Fast, Taco Cabana

Best Veggie Burger

Hut's Hamburgers

Runner-up
Mother's Cafe & Garden

Honorable Mention

Galaxy Cafe, Shady Grove

Best Veggie Dish

Veggie Heaven

Runners-up
Ararat, Mother's Cafe & Garden

Honorable Mention

West Lynn Cafe, Eastside Cafe, Casa de Luz

Best Mexican (Not Tex-Mex)

Fonda San Miguel

Runners-up
Manuel's, Curra's Grill, Polvos

Honorable Mention

El Chile Cafe y Cantina, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, El Sol y la Luna

Best Tex-Mex

Chuy's

Runner-up
Trudy's

Honorable Mention

Maudie's Tex-Mex, Matt's El Rancho, Nuevo León

Best Taqueria

Taco Shack

Runner-up
Taqueria Arandas

Honorable Mention

Maria's Taco Xpress, Tacodeli, Tamale House

Best Italian

Vespaio

Runners-up
Romeo's, Asti, Rocco's Grill

Honorable Mention

Bellagio Italian Bistro, La Traviata Italian Bistro

Best Cajun/Creole

Gumbo's

Runners-up
Cypress Grill, Jazz

Honorable Mention

The Boiling Pot, Baker Street Pub & Grill

Best Middle Eastern

Ararat

Runner-up
Alborz Persian Cuisine

Honorable Mention

Marakesh Cafe & Grill, The Pyramids

Best Indian

Clay Pit

Runner-up
Star of India

Honorable Mention

Sarovar Indian Cuisine, Taj Palace, Madras Pavilion

Best Chinese

P.F. Chang's China Bistro

Runners-up
Suzi's China Kitchen, Chinatown

Honorable Mention

Snow Pea, Din Ho Chinese BBQ

Best Japanese

Uchi

Runners-up
Zen Japanese Food Fast, Kenichi

Honorable Mention

Kyoto, Mikado Ryotei

Best Korean

Korea House

Runner-up
Koreana Grill & Sushi Bar

Honorable Mention

Korea Garden, Hao Hao

Best Thai

Thai Kitchen

Runner-up
Thai Passion CLOSED

Honorable Mention

Satay, Thai Tara, Madam Mam's

Best Vietnamese

Kim Phung Chinese & Vietnamese Restaurant

Runners-up
Triumph Cafe, 888 Pan Asian Restaurant

Honorable Mention

Sunflower Restaurant, Sea Dragon, Hai Ky

Best Other Asian

Bistro 88

Runners-up
Java Noodles, Snow Pea

Honorable Mention

Mars Restaurant and Bar, Noodle-ism

Best American

Chez Zee

Runners-up
Galaxy Cafe, Threadgill's Old No. 1

Honorable Mention

Shady Grove, Hoover's Cooking

Best Vegetarian Natural

West Lynn Cafe

Runners-up
Veggie Heaven, Mother's Cafe & Garden

Honorable Mention

Mr. Natural, Casa de Luz

Best French

Chez Nous

Runner-up
Aquarelle

Honorable Mention

La Madeleine, Bistrot Mirabelle

Best Other Ethnic

Doña Emilia's (South American), Habana Calle 6 (Cuban)

Runner-up
Ararat (Middle Eastern)

Honorable Mention

World Beat Cafe (African), Sampaio's (Brazilian)

Best New Restaurant

TIE: Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Rocco's Grill

Runner-up
Galaxy Cafe

Honorable Mention

Selene's, Vivo, Tuscany Market & Vineyard

Best Chef

Tyson Cole at Uchi

Runners-up
Davis Apthorpe at Mirabelle; Martin Abundas at Chez Zee

Honorable Mention

David Bull at Driskill Grill; Elmar Prambs at Four Seasons; David Garrido at Jeffrey's

Best Service/Waitstaff

Chez Zee

Runner-up
Bistrot Mirabelle

Honorable Mention

Castle Hill Cafe, wink, Vespaio

Best Full-Service Bakery

Upper Crust Bakery

Runner-up
Sweetish Hill Bakery & Cafe

Honorable Mention

Central Market North, Texas French Bread

Best Pastry Shop

Sweetish Hill Bakery & Cafe

Runners-up
Upper Crust Bakery, Cherrywood Coffeehouse

Honorable Mention

La Mexicana Bakery

Best Grocery

Central Market North

Runner-up
Wheatsville Food Co-op

Honorable Mention

H-E-B, Fresh Plus

Best Ethnic Market

Phoenicia Bakery & Deli

Runner-up
Fiesta

Honorable Mention

Hong Kong Supermarket, My Thanh Oriental Market

Best Patio/Beer Garden

Shady Grove

Runner-up
The Oasis

Honorable Mention

Opal Divine's, Hula Hut

Best Decor

Fonda San Miguel

Runner-up
Chuy's

Honorable Mention

Mars Restaurant and Bar, Ararat

Best Romantic

Vespaio

Runners-up
Cafe Caprice, Romeo's

Honorable Mention

Mars Restaurant and Bar, Bistrot Mirabelle, Rocco's Grill

Best Sunday Brunch

Fonda San Miguel

Runners-up
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Four Seasons Hotel

Honorable Mention

Z'Tejas, Austin Java

Best Fast Food

TIE: Taco Cabana, Zen Japanese Food Fast

Runners-up
Pluckers Wing Bar, Sonic

Honorable Mention

Freebirds World Burrito, Baby Greens, Zen Japanese Food Fast, Pei Wei Asian Diner

Best Takeout

TIE: Central Market North, Zen Japanese Food Fast

Runner-up
Portabla on Sixth

Honorable Mention

Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza, P.F. Chang's China Bistro

Best Fast Food

TIE: Taco Cabana, Zen Japanese Food Fast

Runners-up
Pluckers Wing Bar, Sonic

Honorable Mention

Freebirds World Burrito, Baby Greens, Zen Japanese Food Fast, Pei Wei Asian Diner

Best Delivery

Pluckers Wing Bar

Runner-up
Austin's Pizza

Honorable Mention

Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza, Gatti's Pizza

Best Wine List

Bistrot Mirabelle

Runners-up
Rocco's Grill, Castle Hill Cafe

Honorable Mention

219 West, Tuscany Market & Vineyard

Best Smokers Restaurant

Casino el Camino

Runner-up
Trudy's

Honorable Mention

219 West

Best Beer Selection

The Ginger Man

Runner-up
Opal Divine's

Honorable Mention

North by Northwest Restaurant & Brewery, Bitter End Bistro & Brewery

Best Buffet

TIE: Buffet Palace, China Palace

Runner-up
China Buffet

Honorable Mention

Golden Corral, Star of India

Best Happy Hour/Free or Cheap Deal

Eddie V's Half-Priced Appetizers

Runner-up
Snow Pea $1 Sushi

Honorable Mention

Saba's Menu, Manuel's Half-Priced Appetizers

Best Late Night/All Night

Magnolia Cafe

Runner-up
Kerbey Lane Cafe

Honorable Mention

Katz's Deli & Bar, Star Seeds Cafe

Best Restaurant Bathroom

Mars Restaurant and Bar

Runners-up
Ringers Sports Lounge, wink, Kenichi

Honorable Mention

Vivo, Four Seasons Hotel

Best Place to Take Kids

Central Market North

Runner-up
Shady Grove

Honorable Mention

Elsi's Restaurant, EZ's, Nutty Brown Cafe

Best Place to Take Parents

The Oasis

Runner-up
The Salt Lick

Honorable Mention

Castle Hill Cafe, Luby's

Best Restaurant Within 60 Miles

The Salt Lick

Runner-up
Hudson's on the Bend

Honorable Mention

Selene's, Alice's Restaurant

Best Place We Wish Were Still Open

Les Amis

Runner-up
Basil's

Honorable Mention

Granite Cafe, Demi Epicurious

Best Other Restaurant Worth Noting

Noodle-ism

Runners-up
Jeffrey's, Alamo Drafthouse

Honorable Mention

Mrs. Johnson's Bakery, 1886 Cafe & Bakery, South Congress Cafe

Best Food Event

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival

Runners-up
Austin Fine Art Festival, Spamarama

Honorable Mention

AMOA's La Dolce Vita

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