“Second Helpings” offers tasty, bite-sized restaurant listings compiled from new and previous reviews, guides, and poll results. This week’s entries were updated by Erin Mosow. For quick, reliable info about Austin eateries, check here.
Bennigan’s
7604 N. I-35, 451-7953 Daily, 11am-2am 301 Barton Springs Rd., 472-7902 Daily, 11am-2am 2500 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock, 512/671-1500 Monday-Saturday, 11am-12mid; Sunday, 11am-11pmYou know a food trend has become ubiquitous when it shows up at Bennigan’s, an Irish-themed grill and tavern headquartered in Plano. Their Joyce-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, 476-3201 Monday, 3pm-2am; Tuesday-Saturday, 3pm-5am; Sunday, noon-2amThis 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.
TGI Friday’s
10000 Research (at the Arboretum), 345-6410 Daily, 11am-2am (kitchen open until 1am)111 E. Cesar Chavez at the Radisson, 478-2991
Daily, 6:30am-2am
TGI Friday’s is a good place to take a large group of clients from out of town if your expense account can’t handle steak and ale. Their extensive menu reads like War and Peace, so everyone should find something to their liking. Half-pound burgers, chicken, pasta, steaks, fajitas, wraps, and seafood are just a few of the items that could arrive at your table, adequately prepared with no surprises whatsoever.
Hickory Street Bar & Grille
800 Congress, 477-8968 Monday-Friday, 6:30am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-10pmWith hungry-student prices and a central business-district location, Hickory Street Bar & Grille is jam-packed come lunch time. 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 preshow dinner here will put you on the road back to solvency.
Hill’s Cafe
4700 S. Congress, 851-9300 Friday-Saturday, 11am-10:30pm; Sunday, 11am-8:30pmHill’s Cafe has been around off and on since 1947, and the current incarnation is operated by local radio personality “BBQ Bob Cole.” Well known for their chicken-fried steak, you won’t leave hungry after partaking in the fried appetizers, sirloins, and barbecue.
This article appears in September 19 • 2003.