Appetizers
Antipasto case at Vespaio
Barbecue
The country-style pork ribs at Artz Rib House
Hamburger
Casino El Camino; BurgerTex on the Drag
Steak
Austin Land & Cattle Co.
Chicken-Fried Steak
Hoover’s Cooking, R.O.’s Outpost
French Fries
Waterloo Ice House on Sixth
Soup
New England Clam Chowder at Whole Foods; Lobster Bisque at Emilia’s; Tom Kah Kai at Madam Mam’s; Gumbo at Quality Seafood
Salads
Spinach salad at Vespaio; Thai Beef Salad at Madam Mam’s; Salade Lyonnaise at Chez Nous; Field Greens with Eggplant Croutons at Asti
Original Recipes
Emilia’s, Vespaio
Pub Grub
B.D. Riley’s, Mother Egan’s Irish Pub
Bagels
Hot Jumbo Bagel
Sushi
Umi Sushi, Origami
Bowl of Pho
Tâm Deli & Cafe
Alternative to a Bowl of Pho
Rice Flour Crepes at Sunflower
Breakfast
Juan in a Million
Migas
Polvo’s, Las Manitas
Sandwiches
Oyster Po’Boys at Quality Seafood; Sloppy Joe at NeWorlDeli; Chicken with Parsley Vinaigrette at Jo’s; Azul
Honorary Ed Ward Chicken Sandwich Award
Phoenicia Bakery & Deli
Dessert
Lemon Meringue Cup at Wink; pies at R.O.’s Outpost; Chocolate Hazlenut Ganache at Lambert’s
Ice Cream
Dolce Vita (best scoop shop); Binasco (best retail pints)
Coffee Shop
Jo’s Hot Coffee, Cafe Mundi
Pizza
Reale’s Pizza & Cafe, Saccone’s Pizza
Enchiladas
Evita’s Botanitas, Maudie’s Cafe
Vegetable Dish
Hoover’s Jalapeño Creamed Spinach
Chicken Dish
Roast Chicken at Lambert’s; Chicken-Fried Chicken at Hoover’s; Fried Chicken at Top Notch
Wild Game Dish
Sika Deer at Kenichi; Wild Boar at Siena
Bargain Dish
Sandwiches at Ba Le; Salvadoran Sampler at Chumikal’s
Veggie Burger
Hyde Park Bar & Grill
Tofu Dish
888 Cafe
Italian
Vespaio, Siena Ristorante Toscana
Chinese
T & S Seafood, Din Ho Chinese BBQ
Thai
Madam Mam’s
Other Asian
Bistro 88, Java Grill
American Bistro
North by Northwest Restaurant & Brewery
Everyday Vegetarian
Madras Pavillion
Upscale Vegetarian
Degustation menu at Aquarelle
Vietnamese
Sunflower Restaurant
French Bistro
Chez Nous
Cajun/Creole
Ms. B’s, Robbie’s Cajun Kitchen
Haute French
Aquarelle
New Restaurant
Wink
New BBQ Joint
John Mueller’s Barbecue
Best Italian Breads
Sweetish Hill Bakery
Best Patio for Kids
Treehouse Italian Grill
Best Patio for the View
Y Bar & Grill
Best Patio With Latin Jazz
Manuel’s
Service
Jeffrey’s
Décor
Siena Ristorante Toscana, Y Bar & Grill
Romantic
Basil’s, The Starlite
Fast Food
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Zen Japanese Food Fast
Takeout
Roast Chicken (and everything else) in the drive-through lane at Central Market South
Best Chef/Owners
Lou Lambert at Lambert’s; Marion Gillchrist at La Traviata
Unsung Heroes
Kristie Moore at Asti; Brenton Childs at Vespaio; Eric Polzer at Wink
Beer Poured
B.D. Riley’s
Beer Made
North by Northwest Restaurant & Brewery
Smoker’s Restaurant
Girasole
Buffet
Madras Pavilion at lunch
Upscale
Emilia’s
Happy Hour Deal
Saba Blue Water Cafe, Manuel’s
Comfort Food
Hoover’s Cooking, Dot’s Place, Marimont Cafeteria, Eaves Bros. Quality Seafood
Waitstaff
Asti Trattoria
Place to Take Kids
Treehouse Italian Grill patio; Central Market patio
Place to Take Parents
Paggi House, Basil’s
Restaurant Within 60 Miles
R.O.’s Outpost in Spicewood; Huisache Grill in New Braunfels
Places We Wish Were Still Open
Tocai, 22, Les Amis
Worth Noting
Cafe Mundi, Pango
Up & Coming
Lambert’s
Where Critics Will Spend Their Own Money
Vespaio
Where Chefs & Critics Eat When Not Working
T & S Seafood
Best Place for a Critics Meeting Over Coffee & Beignets
Crescent City Beignets
Chile Pepper Dishes
Salt & Pepper Shrimp, Scallops or Soft-Shell Crabs at T & S Seafood; Fish Tacos With Rajas at Polvo’s
Chips & Hot Sauce
Evita’s Botanitas
This article appears in May 24 • 2002.