Food, Food
2719 Exposition, 474-8515
Mon-Fri, 10:30am-8pm; Sat, 10:30am-5pm
Tucked into the corner of a strip center in Tarrytown, this friendly spot keeps folks coming back with 20 different sandwich options (check out the Jean Carpenter special with herb mayo), individual luncheon pizzas, and daily lunch specials in the very affordable range of $4.50-$5.50 that come with a garden salad. Great hospitality and consistently wonderful food.
The Kitchen Door
3742 Far West, 794-1100
2504 Lake Austin Blvd., 236-9200
Mon-Fri, 8am-7pm; Sat, 8am-6pm
This 25-year-old Austin institution offers a convenient outlet in Northwest Hills and another just off the MoPac that’s easy for folks in Rollingwood and West Lake as well as the longtime Tarrytown clientele. While their casseroles and desserts are highly regarded, it’s well known that the Kitchen Door’s hefty hot or cold sandwiches made on homemade bread are first-rate. The stellar meat loaf sandwich at the Lake Austin location is so famous it’s been mentioned in Esquire, and the staff at the original Far West outlet boasts their signature chicken salad sandwich is the very best in town. It’s not braggin’ if it’s true!
NeWorlDeli
4101 Guadalupe, 451-7170
Mon-Fri, 11am-7pm; Sat, 11am-5pm
The eclectic sandwich menu draws us back here time after time. There are cold sandwiches on honey wheat, white, Jewish rye, or a French roll, soups, and salads to mix and match, plus Thai and veggie wraps. Heartier appetites can go for hot meatball, sausage, meat loaf, or eggplant parmigiana sandwiches stuffed in a toasted French roll, or corned beef, pastrami, or a traditional Reuben hot off the grill on tangy Jewish rye. The house specialty, however, are the “deliciously messy” triple-decker Sloppy Joes made with your choice of turkey, ham, or roast beef with Swiss cheese, dynamite cole slaw, and Russian dressing.
The Little Deli
7101-A Woodrow, 467-7402
Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm
The Crestview Shopping center is the beating heart of a healthy north central neighborhood, and the Little Deli is certainly one of the reasons why. With cheerful counter service and the very best roast beef sandwich in the city, this friendly little eatery is a magnet for true sandwich lovers. In addition to daily blue plate specials, they offer soul-satisfying renditions of such Mom-style standards as egg salad, BLTs, and perfect deviled eggs, plus an overstuffed vegetable sandwich that will please even the most discerning vegan palate.
Avenue B Grocery
4403 Avenue B, 453-3921
Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm
The historic Hyde Park neighborhood is home to Austin’s oldest surviving grocery. Ross Mason’s turn-of-the-century store harkens back to the days when there was a little Mom & Pop shop in every neighborhood and kids bought bubble gum and baseball cards with the change left over from a quart of milk or loaf of bread. In addition to groceries, these days the store offers a menu of delicious sandwiches, daily homemade soups, and fresh salads.
Brenna’s Deli
3509 Hyridge, 502-1351
Fax order, 502-1349
Mon-Fri, 10:30am-2:45pm
Busy northwest office workers depend on Brenna’s for lunch whether they have time to dine in, dash by to grab a quick bite, or need a midday meal delivered to the conference room. Hot and cold sandwiches, subs, soups, and salads are the regular fare, and they’ll also let you build your own baked potato feast with such additions as grilled chicken, BBQ, meatballs, or steamed broccoli. Save room for a pineapple-mango-peach smoothie!
Garden Spot Deli & Catering
9415 Burnet Road, 835-1985
Fax order, 835-1907
Mon-Fri, 8am-2:30pm (deli)
Catering daily
The lunch menu at this very busy far north eatery features an inviting selection of hearty specialty sandwiches, hot subs, wraps, jumbo spuds, and salads alone or in a variety of combinations. Ask about daily lunch specials and don’t overlook the dessert offerings. These hardworking folks are also available for catering seven days a week.
Jo’s Hot Coffee Good Food
1300 S. Congress, 444-3800
Daily, 7am-9pm
This unique little joint is the coffee shop for the renovated Hotel San José. It’s already the best outdoor dining and people-watching spot in the whole 78704 zip code, hands down. Chef/owner Lou Lambert keeps the delicious food coming from the Liberty Pie commissary kitchen a few blocks up the street. We love the sweet-tangy pulled pork sandwiches with a bag of Zapp’s Cajun crawtaters, and the selection of baked goods make perfect midday or early evening nibbles. Cappucino, espresso, lattes, and sodas.
This article appears in May 18 • 2001.