Arkie’s Grill
4827 E. Cesar Chavez, 385-2986Monday-Friday, 5:30am-3pm
This homestyle cafe, founded in 1948 by the late Arkie Sawyer, serves breakfast and lunch each weekday with come-back-soon hospitality. Lunch specials include meatloaf, pork ribs, and chicken and dumplings. Thursday’s turkey and dressing special is highly recommended.
Austin Java Co.
1206 Parkway, 476-1829Monday-Friday, 7am-11pm; Saturday-Sunday, 8am-11pm
Barton Creek Square mall, 2901 Capital of TX Hwy. S. Ste. C-12A, 327-8944
Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm; Saturday, 9am-10pm; Sunday, 9am-7pm
The relaxed, sit-a-spell atmosphere of this coffeeshop/restaurant incorporates some of the best elements of both pre- and post-dot-com Austin. Breakfast fare includes creative takes on omelets, breakfast tacos, french toast, and eggs Benedict (one version features tomatillo sauce). Pastas and sandwiches make up the lunch and dinner menu; the sun-dried tomato pasta with grilled chicken is a treat. And don’t leave without sampling Austin Java Co.’s desserts.
Bennigan’s
7604 N. I-35, 451-7953Daily, 10am-2am
301 Barton Springs Rd., 472-7902
Daily, 11am-2am (kitchen closes at 1am, Monday-Thursday)
You know a food trend has become ubiquitous when it shows up at Bennigan’s, an Irish-themed grill and tavern headquartered in Plano. Their Tolstoy-length menu includes something for just about everyone, including Oh Baby Back Ribs, New World Fajitas, and the Turkey O’Toole sandwich. The health-conscious can stick to Bennigan’s Health Club Stir-Fry and the Pacific Rim Pasta Salad. Wash it all down with an Irish coffee drink for dessert.
Cain & Abel’s
2313 Rio Grande, 476-3201Monday, 5pm-2am; Tuesday-Thursday, 4pm-2am; Friday, 3pm-2am; Saturday, 12pm-2am; Sunday, 11am-6pm
This longtime UT Greek hangout in West Campus is best known as a watering hole, but they’ll keep you from going hungry with American-style pub grub like fried appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and chicken-fried steak. Green Bay Packers fans (or “Cheeseheads,” as they’re affectionately known) have also been known to gather at Cain & Abel’s on NFL game days.
District Bar & Grill
301 W. Sixth, 476-2399Daily, 11am-2am (food served until 9pm)
The District Bar & Grill is extremely popular with sports fans, but then how could they miss with a 100-inch screen TV? Reasonably priced brick oven pizzas, pastas, burgers, and sandwiches keep the minions happy as they cheer on the home team. The District also has a “Diner” menu featuring pot roast, meat loaf, and catfish. This is a fine starting location for Warehouse District sojourns.
The Frisco Shop
5819 Burnet Rd., 459-6279Daily, 7am-10pm
As the last outpost of Harry Akin’s Night Hawk Restaurant chain, the Frisco is an old-school Austin landmark. Built in 1952, when Koenig and Burnet Rd. was far North Austin, the Frisco’s namesake item is a thin-pattied hamburger made with barbecue sauce and relish. If that sounds a bit too sweet and tangy, try their tasty coleslaw made with cabbage, bell peppers, and Italian-style dressing. The Frisco also serves steaks (both grilled and chicken-fried varieties), chicken, fish, and enchiladas.
Hickory Street Bar & Grille
800 Congress, 477-8968Monday-Friday, 6:30am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-10pm
With hungry student prices and a central business district location, Hickory Street Bar & Grille is jam-packed come lunchtime. The quantity-minded will want to partake of the Food Bar Combo, which includes unlimited trips to the soup, salad, baked potato, and ice cream bars. Hickory Street also serves above-average hamburgers and a New Orleans-style breakfast menu. If you’ve spent a mint scoring front row seats at the Paramount, a pre-show dinner here will put you on the road back to solvency.
Hyde Park Bar & Grill
4206 Duval, 458-3168Daily, 11am-midnight
Every neighborhood should be lucky enough to have a restaurant like this to claim as its own. Hyde Park’s trademark batter-dipped french fries are the superlative, must-have menu item, but they also serve a noteworthy red lentil soup. Entrée-wise, Hyde Park does just as well with pasta dishes and fish as they do with Southern comforts like chicken-fried chicken and two-fisted burgers.
This article appears in December 14 • 2001.