Critics Picks

Appetizers

Saba Blue Water Cafe, Castle Hill

Best Barbecue

Sam's

Best Hamburger (and Hot Dogs)

Casino el Camino

Best Steak

Austin Land & Cattle Company

Best Chicken-Fried Steak

Hoover's Cooking

Best Chile Pepper Dish

Mixiote Lamb in Ancho Chile Sauce at Curra's; Ancho Chile Relleno w/ Chicken, Apples & Almonds at Fonda San Miguel

Best Chips & Hot Sauce

Botanitas, Taquería el Borrego de Oro

Best Breakfast Taco

Juan in a Million

Best Soup

Vegan Carrot-Jalapeño at Bistro 88; Caldo de Pollo at El Sol y la Luna

Best Salad & Dressing

Salad Lyonnaise w/ House Vinaigrette at Chez Nous

Best Seafood Dish

Saffron Seafood Risotto at Vespaio; Salt & Pepper Shrimp at T&S Seafood

Best Original Recipes

Vespaio; Fonda San Miguel

Best Pub Grub

Charcuterie Platter at Bitter End Bistro & Brewery

Best Dim-Sum

Twin Dragon

Best Pho

888 Cafe

Best Breakfast

Dan's Hamburgers (Manchaca & Ben White)

Best Sandwiches

Cobb Salad Sandwich at Rather Sweet; Pulled Pork at Jo's; anything at NeWorlDeli or Ba Le Vietnamese Deli

Best Wine List

Tocai

Best Pies

R.O.'s Outpost, all pies; Hoover's Coconut Cream (tie)

Best Finger Food to Share With a Group

Saba Blue Water Cafe

Best Coffee

Little City

Best East Coast-Style Pizza

Reale's

Best Eclectic Pizza

Liberty Pie

Best Enchiladas

Enchiladas Zacatecanas at El Sol y la Luna

Best Chicken Dishes

Rotisserie Chickens at Central Market; Chicken-Fried Chicken at Cafe 290

Best Wild Game Dish

Pappardelle w/ Wild Boar Sauce at Siena

Best Bargains

$3.75 plate lunch at the Saigon Deli counter

Best Tofu Dishes

Chef Liu's Domino Tofu at Bistro 88; MaPoDoFu at Hunan South

Best Tex-Mex

El Azteca

Best Taquería

Taco Xpress (Tex-Mex); Taquería el Borrego de Oro (Interior)

Best Chinese

Din Ho Chinese BBQ

Best Thai

Classic Thai

Best Other Asian

Java Noodles

Best Vegetarian

Little Bombay

Best French

Jean Luc's French Bistro

Best Vietnamese

Sea Dragon; 888 Cafe; Tam Deli & Cafe

Best New Restaurant

Bistro 88

Best Casual Dining Game Dishes

Duck Gumbo at Shoal Creek Saloon;

Duck-Stuffed Red Bell Pepper at Empanada Parlour

Best Lazy Day Outdoor Dining Scene

Jo's coffee shop at the San Jose Hotel

Best Chef

Hoover Alexander at Hoover's Cooking

Best Woman Chef

Alma Alcocer-Thomas at Jeffrey's

Best Service

Jeffrey's

Best Decor

Saba Blue Water Cafe

Best Takeout

Liberty Pie (south); Cipollina (central)

Best Delivery

EatOutIn

Best Sushi

Korea Garden

Best Wine List

Tocai

Best Place to Take Your Kids

Güero's Taco Bar (according to Roz Faires, actual kid)

Best Wine Sales Idea

By-the-glass suggestions for every menu item and half-glasses of dessert wines at reduced prices at Brio Vista

Best Beer Selection

Shaggy's

Best Brewmaster

Tim Schwartz at the Bitter End Bistro & Brewery

Best Buffet

Marco Polo

Best Upscale Menu

Zoot; Brio Vista

Best Happy Hour Free or Cheap Deal

Half-priced appetizers at Manuel's and Clay Pit

Best Comfort Food

Dot's Place

Best Place to Take Your Parents

Jean-Pierre's Upstairs

Best Place to Take Your Parents After the Football Game

Ray's Steakhouse

Best Place We Wish Were Still Open

The Avenue Cafe; Midnight Tacos; Bagel Manufactory; Southern Dinette

Best Restaurants Within 100 Miles of Austin

Royer's Round Top Cafe in Round Top; Poodie's Hilltop Cafe near Mason; The Nest and Oak House in Fredericksburg

Best Worth Noting

Crescent City Beignets

Best Beer Garden/Patio

The rooftop patio at Waterloo Brewing Company; the Michael Peschka-designed patio at Taco Xpress

Best Desserts

Dolce Vita

Best Fast Food

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Best 24-Hour

Austin Java Company at 12th & Lamar