“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.
Artz Rib House
2330 S. Lamar, 442-8283Monday-Saturday, 11am-10pm;
Sunday, noon-9pm
Artz has been a feature of South Lamar longer than a coon’s age, and serves up mongo-sized portions of tantalizing grub for very reasonable prices. Wood floors, checkered tablecloths, a lush patio, and the sumptuous smell of barbecue surround you. The burgers are incredible, the country-style pork ribs massive and divine — great barbecue of all types, available as combos, plates, or sandwiches.
Curra’s Grill
614 E. Oltorf, 444-0012Sunday-Thursday, 7am-10pm;
Friday-Saturday, 7am-11pm
6801 Burnet Rd., 451-2560
Monday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday, 11am-11pm;
Saturday-Sunday, 9am-10pm
The brothers Garcia have been turning out some of the better interior Mexican food in Austin, based on their grandmother’s original recipes, for years. Watch the wizards whip up your handmade corn tortillas while you sip the excellent margaritas. Don’t miss the Chile Rellenos with pecan cream sauce, or, for breakfast, the Huevos con Machacado (with dried, spiced beef) or Huevos Curra’s (with carne guisada). The menu is heavy on seafood and has many vegan choices. Always a crowd — well-deserved popularity.
Evita’s Botanitas
6400 S. First, 441-2424Monday-Saturday, 9am-9:30pm; Sunday, 9am-9pm
Rueben Rodriguez is Austin’s grand master of the chile salsa — of all types. Botanitas is the home of the famous chip tower, surrounded by veggie escabeche and five different salsas. Many seafood items, excellent breakfast, great mole and homemade tamales, and some of the best enchiladas in town. The perfect plate? Smoked chicken enchiladas with chipotle sauce, lime-cilantro rice, borracho beans, and salad with jicama — yummm.
Iguana Grill
2900 RR 620 N., 266-8439Sunday-Thursday, 11am-9pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-10pm
Iguana is the home of “Lake Mex” cuisine and the site of perhaps the best sunset view overlooking Lake Travis. A great deck with umbrella-covered tables to block the sun on those toasty days, and chilly air conditioning inside. Medium-priced menu featuring most of the standards, but the flautas and the sauces really stand out. Fabulous margaritas and beer selection to go with the killer view.
Ruby’s BBQ
512 W. 29th, 477-1651Daily, 11am-midnight
Ruby’s, a fixture since 1988, is the only barbecue joint in town that serves hormone-free beef. Friendly, happy folks work there, dishing out most-excellent barbecue, salads and sides, gumbo and jambalaya, and killer sandwiches. The ribs (pork and beef) rule, and the smoked chicken salad represents all that is good and pure. Where else can you get collard greens, Frito pie with real chili, and barbecued mutton?
Tres Amigos
various locationsTres Amigos has been a fave of Austin’s Tex-Mex fans for more than 20 years, and there wouldn’t be four of them scattered around town if they didn’t earn a lot of kudos. TA’s followers go absolutely nuts over the puffy tacos and the fajitas. Find all conceivable combos of menu items composing the dinners, and specials such as chile rellenos, chimichangas, fish Veracruz, and steak Tampiqueno. The menu is medium-priced, and the bar is complete.
Trudy’s
409 W. 30th, 477-2935Monday-Thursday, 7am-midnight; Friday, 7am-2am; Saturday, 8am-2am; Sunday, 8am-midnight
8825 Burnet Rd. #600, 454-1474
Monday-Thursday, 11am-midnight; Friday, 11am-2am; Saturday, 10am-2am; Sunday, 10am-11pm
4141 Capital of TX Hwy. S., 326-9899
Monday-Thursday, 11am-midnight; Friday, 11am-2am; Saturday, 9am-2am; Sunday, 9am-midnight
Trudy’s offers a wide range of Tex-Mex with a slightly contemporary twist, and fans are crazy about the chipotle salsa and chips that precede the meals. The half-pound burgers are tasty and massive, and they also offer medium and huge chicken-fried steaks. There are many selections for the vegan crowd, and a wide assortment of side veggies is available. A well-stocked bar rounds out the mix and keeps the UT students happy.
This article appears in August 22 • 2003.