Bitter End Bistro & Brewery
311 Colorado, 478-2337
Sun, 5pm-midnight; Mon-Sat, 11:30am-midnight
From wood-oven pizzas to meal-sized salads to complete, prix fixe dinners, the Bitter End aims to please everyone with its distinctive menu. The sauceless pancetta pizza on chewy sourdough crust and the wilted spinach salad with lime-harissa vinaigrette are two standouts. The salad niçoise with grilled tuna filet is a particularly good value for fresh fish lovers.
North by Northwest Restaurant and Brewery
1010 Capital of Texas Hwy., 467-6969
Sun-Thu, 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-11pm
This new hotspot brings the downtown brewpub/bistro concept to the heretofore-deprived Silicon Hills region. NXNW’s Mediterranean- and Asian-inspired menu includes many delectable appetizers, including pan-seared crab and shrimp cakes and skillet-fried cornbread with goat cheese and mushroom sauce. For bigger appetites, try the half-pound angus beef burger with Huntsman cheese, or the rotisserie chicken half in balsamic-roasted garlic sauce.
Copper Tank Brewing Company
504 Trinity, 478-8444
Mon-Sat, 3pm-2am
The Copper Tank supplements its wide array of brews with a menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and personal pizzas. The roasted veggie calzone is another favorite. Specials include 10-cent wings on Tuesday and a $3 all-you-can-eat pasta bar on Thursday and Friday from 5-7pm. The Copper Tank is located right in the heart of the Sixth Street entertainment district, so expect the requisite collegiate revelry on weekends.
Fado Irish Pub
214 W. Fourth, 457-0172
Daily, 11:15am-2am
Fado is a staid-but-cozy pub that serves up a hearty plate of batter-fried fish and chips which contrasts perfectly with a pint of Guinness. They also serve Irish specialties like potato pancakes, ploughman’s sandwiches, and a traditional Irish breakfast with the requisite black pudding. You won’t get much closer to Ireland without leaving the Warehouse District.
Waterloo Brewing Co.
401 Guadalupe, 477-1836
Sun, noon-midnight; Mon-Sat, noon-2am
Texas’ first brewpub has good pre-Alamo movie beer, good pre-Sixth Street beer, and they used to have good pre-Liberty Lunch beer. For grub, try one of Waterloo Brewing Co.’s superlative hamburgers or sandwiches along with a side of superb onion rings or cheese fries. Waterloo’s rooftop deck is a great place to watch the Warehouse District action pass you by.
Dog & Duck Pub
406 W. 17th, 479-0598
Sun, noon-2am; Mon-Sat, 11am-2am
In addition to having one of Austin’s funniest commercial jingles and 30 beers on tap, the Dog & Duck has a respectable menu of pub grub, including British favorites like bangers and mash and a Hot Ploughman’s Lunch complete with bubble and squeak patties. The less stout-hearted can supplement their brews with tasty burgers, fish and chips, and good ol’ chicken-fried steak.
Crown and Anchor Pub
2911 San Jacinto, 322-9168
Sun, noon-2am; Mon-Sat, 11am-2am
The Crown and Anchor is a longtime favorite of both University and Hyde Park residents. Their perfectly greasy $4 burger and fries combo is great for the budget-minded who need to save their ducat for another pitcher of Shiner Bock. Thrifty herbivores can chow down on veggie tacos and veggie burgers that convincingly approximate the hearty taste of ground round.
Casino El Camino
517 E. Sixth, 469-9330
Daily, 4pm-2am
This hip haunt has bigger-than-life burgers, excellent hot dogs, great cheese fries, and a delicious veggie sandwich. The Buffalo wings pack more of a wallop than many of the adult beverages. Casino El Camino also has a good bar, Austin’s best jukeboxes (as voted by Chronicle readers), pool tables, weird exploitation movies on TV, and a South Park pinball machine to boot.
Hooters
2525 W. Anderson (Northcross Mall), 458-6112
425 W. Riverside, 478-9464
Sun, 11am-10pm; Mon-Sat, 11am-midnight
Although their nudge-wink use of sex to sell chicken wings at a “family restaurant” is a lot more twisted than anything you’ll see in a real strip club, Hooter’s is a convenient compromise for those who can’t decide between T.G.I. Friday’s and the Yellow Rose. In addition to their trademark Buffalo wings, Hooters serves burgers and other sandwiches. For those not watching the hot-pantsed waitstaff, Hooters has big screen TVs (usually) tuned to sporting events.
This article appears in March 3 • 2000.