Reader Favorite: Uchi

Savory Snapshots – 2009

Once again, the readers have spoken, and the critics have conferred to render savory snapshots of Austin's diverse and dynamic restaurant scene over the past year. Special issues Editor Kate X Messer and her crack tabulator, Meghan Ruth Speakerman, compiled the Readers Poll results, and Food writers Mick Vann, MM Pack, Claudia Alarcón, Wes Marshall, Kate Thornberry, and Rachel Feit contributed annotated entries in our Critics Picks to showcase great dishes around the city. In the Readers Poll, Uchi continues to reign supreme in several categories, just as it's announced plans to open a second location in 2010. Most of the overall Top 10 are winners in multiple categories, as well. On the trailer cuisine trend watch, the local popularity of street foods is reflected in the diversity of items that garnered votes: everything from cupcakes to bratwurst and from cake balls to pizza to crepes. For the first time in several years, a taco business that started out (and continues in some locations) in a trailer, Torchy's Tacos, was recognized as Best Taqueria with the Best Tacos. Perhaps the biggest change came in the Burger category, where perennial winner Hut's Hamburgers shares the top spot with P. Terry's Burger Stand for the first time, with newcomer Mighty Fine close behind. In fact, both homegrown youngsters P. Terry's and Mighty Fine showed well in several categories and are currently in expansion mode around the area. In the voting for Best New Restaurant, it was somewhat surprising to see La Condesa take the top spot, because the nuevo-Mexicano bistro had only been open a matter of weeks when the ballots first appeared. Least surprising was that an old favorite Mexican restaurant garnered the most votes for Restaurant We Wish Were Still Open Ð the beloved Las Manitas Avenue Cafe took that one going away. What remains true about Austin restaurants is that regardless of your tastes or your price range, there's plenty of good food out there to enjoy in this and every year. Well-deserved congratulations to all the winners! – Virginia B. Wood