Restaurant Poll - 2008 - Readers - The Austin Chronicle

2008 Readers Poll

Favorites

1. Uchi

2. Cibo

3. wink

4. Vespaio

5. Fonda San Miguel

6. Mars Restaurant and Bar

7. Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

8. Eastside Cafe

9. Lamberts

10. Fino Restaurant Patio & Bar

11.

12. The Belmont

13. Botticelli's

14. Sazón

15. Trudy's

16. Chinatown

17. Imperia

18. Chuy's

19. The Salt Lick

20. Castle Hill Cafe

21. Clay Pit

22. Maudie's Tex-Mex

23. Chez Zee

24. Home Slice Pizza

25. Enoteca Vespaio

26. Parkside

27. Eddie V's Prime Seafood

28. Z'Tejas

29. Asti

30. Ranch 616

31. Bistrot Mirabelle

32. Hula Hut

33. Manuel's

34. 219 West

35. Chez Nous

Best Appetizer

Fino Restaurant Patio & Bar

Runners-up
Saba Blue Water Cafe, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Honorable Mention

219 West, Uchi, Mars Restaurant and Bar, Z'Tejas

Best Barbecue

The Salt Lick

Runners-up
Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q, County Line

Honorable Mention

Lamberts, Ruby's BBQ, Artz Rib House

Best Hamburger

Hut's Hamburgers

Runners-up
Casino el Camino, P. Terry's Burger Stand

Honorable Mention

Top Notch Hamburgers, Sandy's Hamburgers, Dan's Hamburgers, Phil's Icehouse

Best Steak

Sullivan's Steakhouse

Runner-up
III Forks

Honorable Mention

Lamberts, Austin Land & Cattle, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Ruth's Chris Steak House

Best Comfort Food

Hoover's Cooking

Runner-up
Threadgill's Old No. 1

Honorable Mention

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Pluckers Wing Bar, Dot's Place, Shady Grove

Best Chicken-Fried Steak

Threadgill's Old No. 1

Honorable Mention

Hill's Cafe, Broken Spoke, Shady Grove

Best Chile-Pepper Dish

Chuy's

Runner-up
El Chile Cafe y Cantina

Honorable Mention

Fonda San Miguel, Sazón, Polvos

Best French Fries

Hyde Park Bar & Grill

Runners-up
Phil's Icehouse, P. Terry's Burger Stand

Honorable Mention

Opal Divine's, Enoteca Vespaio

Best Hot Dog

Dog Almighty

Runner-up
The Best Wurst

Honorable Mention

Lucky Dog, Shady Grove, Sonic, Doggie Styles, Doggie Style Hotdogs

Best Chips and Hot Sauce

Chuy's

Runner-up
El Chile Cafe y Cantina

Honorable Mention

Hula Hut, Trudy's, Polvos

Best Taco

TIE: Taco Shack, Tacodeli

Runner-up
Torchy's Tacos

Honorable Mention

El Chilito Tacos y Cafe, Maria's Taco Xpress, Changos Taqueria

Best Soup

The Soup Peddler

Runners-up
Central Market North, Whole Foods Market

Honorable Mention

Eastside Cafe, Cafe Mundi

Best Salad/Dressing

Baby Greens

Runner-up
Leaf

Honorable Mention

Eastside Cafe, Mother's Cafe & Garden, Bartlett's

Best Seafood Dish

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

Runners-up
Uchi, Truluck's

Honorable Mention

Quality Seafood Market, Imperia, Gumbo's of Round Rock

Best Pub Grub

The Dog & Duck Pub

Runners-up
Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant, Pluckers Wing Bar

Honorable Mention

The Tavern, Opal Divine's, Crown & Anchor Pub

Best Bagels

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Runner-up
Panera Bread

Honorable Mention

Whole Foods Market, Hot Jumbo Bagel

Best Sushi

Uchi

Runner-up
Imperia

Honorable Mention

Kenichi, Kyoto, Maiko, Maru Japanese Restaurant

Best Tofu Dish

Veggie Heaven

Runner-up
Mr. Natural

Honorable Mention

Mother's Cafe & Garden, The Steeping Room

Best Dim Sum

TIE: Tien Hong, Chinatown

Runner-up
Imperia

Honorable Mention

T&S Chinese Restaurant, Marco Polo Restaurant, Jade Leaves TeaHouse

Best Bowl of Pho

Kim Phung Chinese & Vietnamese Restaurant

Runners-up
Pho Saigon, Pho Thaison

Honorable Mention

Pho Hoang, Mekong River CLOSED, Triumph Cafe

Best American Breakfast

Kerbey Lane Cafe

Runner-up
Magnolia Cafe

Honorable Mention

Austin Diner, IHOP, Chez Zee, Counter Cafe

Best Mexican Breakfast

Las Manitas Avenue Cafe

Runner-up
Juan in a Million

Honorable Mention

Taco Shack, Trudy's

Best Sandwich

ThunderCloud Subs

Runners-up
Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Whole Foods Market

Honorable Mention

Little Deli & Pizzeria, FoodHeads, The Kitchen Door

Best Bread

Whole Foods Market

Runner-up
Texas French Bread

Honorable Mention

Upper Crust Bakery, Panera Bread, Central Market North

Best Desserts

Caffe Teo

Runner-up
Chez Zee

Honorable Mention

The Cheesecake Factory, Whole Foods Market, Amy's Ice Creams

Best Ice Cream

Amy's Ice Creams

Runners-up
Marble Slab Creamery, Ben & Jerry's

Honorable Mention

Baskin-Robbins, Caffe Teo, Cold Stone Creamery

Best Gelato

Caffe Teo

Runners-up
Whole Foods Market, Central Market North

Honorable Mention

Dolce Vita, Mandola's Italian Kitchen

Best Local Chocolate

Miles of Chocolate

Runners-up
Tempt Chocolate, Whole Foods Market

Honorable Mention

Viva Chocolato!, Lammes Candies

Best Coffee

Runners-up
Starbucks Coffee, Jo's Coffee, Little City

Honorable Mention

Pacha, Medici Roasting, Kick Butt Coffee

Best Pizza

TIE: Home Slice Pizza, Austin's Pizza

Runners-up
Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza, East Side Pies

Honorable Mention

Rounders Pizzeria, Brick Oven Restaurant, Conans Pizza

Best Enchiladas

Chuy's

Runners-up
El Chile Cafe y Cantina, Maudie's Tex-Mex

Honorable Mention

Enchiladas y Mas, Trudy's, Sazón

Best Vegetables

Eastside Cafe

Runners-up
Threadgill's, Mother's Cafe & Garden

Honorable Mention

Hoover's Cooking, Casa de Luz, Mr. Natural

Best Chicken Dish

Pluckers Wing Bar

Runners-up
Parkside, Sazón, Trudy's

Honorable Mention

Z'Tejas, Botticelli's, Hoover's Cooking

Best Wild-Game Dish

Hudson's on the Bend

Runner-up
Ranch 616

Honorable Mention

Mesa Ranch, Bistrot Mirabelle

Best Bargain Dish

Migas at Tamale House

Runners-up
Bahn Mi at Tâm Deli & Cafe, Tacos at Chuco's Tacos

Honorable Mention

Oysters on the Half Shell at Quality Seafood Market, Pizza at Austin's Pizza

Best Veggie Burger

P. Terry's Burger Stand

Runners-up
Hut's Hamburgers, Mother's Cafe & Garden

Honorable Mention

Crown & Anchor Pub, Shady Grove, Waterloo Ice House

Best Vegetarian Dish

Mother's Cafe & Garden

Runners-up
Veggie Heaven, Mr. Natural

Honorable Mention

Casa de Luz, Clay Pit, Sunflower Restaurant

Best Mexican (Not Tex-Mex)

Fonda San Miguel

Runners-up
Sazón, Polvos

Honorable Mention

Curra's Grill, El Chile Cafe y Cantina, Manuel's

Best Tex-Mex

Chuy's

Runners-up
Maudie's Tex-Mex, Trudy's

Honorable Mention

Matt's El Rancho, Vivo

Best Taqueria

Torchy's Tacos

Runner-up
Taqueria Arandas

Honorable Mention

Taco Shack, Maria's Taco Xpress, El Chilito Tacos y Cafe

Best Italian

Vespaio

Runner-up
Mandola's Italian Kitchen

Honorable Mention

Cibo, La Traviata Italian Bistro, Romeo's, Asti

Best Cajun/Creole

Gumbo's

Runner-up
Evangeline Cafe

Honorable Mention

The Boiling Pot, Cypress Grill, Shoal Creek Saloon

Best Middle Eastern

Phoenicia Bakery & Deli

Runner-up
Marakesh Cafe & Grill

Honorable Mention

Ararat, Alborz Persian Cuisine

Best Indian

Clay Pit

Runner-up
Star of India

Honorable Mention

Sarovar Indian Cuisine, Swad, Taj Palace

Best Chinese

Chinatown

Runners-up
Imperia, Suzi's China Kitchen

Honorable Mention

Din Ho Chinese BBQ, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Tien Hong

Best Japanese

Uchi

Runners-up
Musashino Sushi Dokoro, Zen Japanese Food Fast

Honorable Mention

Kenichi, Kyoto, Imperia, Maru Japanese Restaurant, Mikado Ryotei

Best Korean

Korea House

Runners-up
Koreana Grill & Sushi Bar, Koriente Restaurant & Tea House

Honorable Mention

Korea Garden, DK Sushi, Imperia

Best Thai

Madam Mam's

Runner-up
Thai Kitchen

Honorable Mention

Thai Passion CLOSED, Satay, Thai Tara

Best Vietnamese

Sunflower Restaurant

Runner-up
Kim Phung Chinese & Vietnamese Restaurant

Honorable Mention

Mekong River CLOSED, Hai Ky, Bamboo Asian Grille

Best Other Asian

Imperia

Runners-up
Bamboo Asian Grille, Java Noodles, Uchi

Honorable Mention

Jade Leaves TeaHouse, Pei Wei Asian Diner

Best American

Runners-up
Threadgill's, wink

Honorable Mention

Hyde Park Bar & Grill, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Best Vegetarian Natural

Mother's Cafe & Garden

Runner-up
Mr. Natural

Honorable Mention

Casa de Luz, Whole Foods Market, Veggie Heaven

Best French

Chez Nous

Runner-up
Aquarelle

Honorable Mention

La Madeleine, Flip Happy Crepes, Chez Zee

Best Other Ethnic

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant

Runners-up
Sampaio's Brazilian Cuisine, Tinos Greek Cafe

Honorable Mention

Drakula Romanian Restaurant, Buenos Aires Cafe

Best New Restaurant

Imperia

Runners-up
Parkside, Botticelli's

Honorable Mention

Primizie Osteria, The Steeping Room

Best Chef

TIE: Tyson Cole at Uchi, Shawn Cirkiel at Parkside

Runners-up
Joe Tellus at Imperia

Honorable Mention

Will Packwood at Cibo, Larry McGuire at Lamberts

Best Service/Waitstaff

Imperia

Runner-up
Uchi

Honorable Mention

wink, Bistrot Mirabelle, 219 West

Best Full-Service Bakery

Upper Crust Bakery

Runner-up
Sweetish Hill Bakery & Cafe

Honorable Mention

Quack's, Texas French Bread

Best Grocery

Central Market South

Runner-up
Whole Foods Market

Honorable Mention

Wheatsville Food Co-op, HEB

Best Ethnic Market

Phoenicia Bakery & Deli

Runner-up
Fiesta

Honorable Mention

Mandola's Italian Kitchen, MT Supermarket

Best Patio/Beer Garden

Shady Grove

Runner-up
Little Woodrow's

Honorable Mention

Draught House Pub & Brewery, The Ginger Man, Botticelli's

Best Street Food

Cupcake at Hey Cupcake!

Runner-up
Bratwurst at Best Wurst

Honorable Mention

Arawraps at Ararat, taco at Torchy's Tacos

Best Decor

TIE: Uchi, Fonda San Miguel

Runner-up
Vivo

Honorable Mention

Imperia, Chez Zee, Mars Restaurant and Bar

Best Romantic

wink

Runners-up
Romeo's, Uchi

Honorable Mention

Fino Restaurant Patio & Bar, Vespaio

Best Sunday Brunch

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Runners-up
Chez Zee, Fonda San Miguel

Honorable Mention

Z'Tejas, South Congress Cafe, Galaxy Cafe, Four Seasons Hotel

Best Fast Food

P. Terry's Burger Stand

Runners-up
Taco Cabana, Zen Japanese Food Fast

Honorable Mention

Baby Greens, Whataburger, ThunderCloud Subs

Best Takeout

Pei Wei Asian Diner

Runner-up
Austin's Pizza

Honorable Mention

Baby Greens, Thai Kitchen, Home Slice Pizza

Best Delivery

Runner-up
The Soup Peddler

Honorable Mention

Eat Out In, Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza, East Side Pies

Best Wine List

219 West

Runners-up
Vino Vino, Bistrot Mirabelle

Honorable Mention

Vin Bistro, wink

Best Mixologist

Bill Norris at Fino

Runners-up
Joyce Garrison at Hyde Park Bar & Grill

Honorable Mention

Tim Brown at Botticelli's, Duc Dinh at 219 West

Best Beer Selection

The Ginger Man

Runner-up
Flying Saucer

Honorable Mention

Draught House Pub & Brewery

Best Buffet

Star of India

Runners-up
Clay Pit, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Honorable Mention

Buffet Palace, Taj Palace

Best Happy Hour/Free or Cheap Deal

Happy Hour Appetizers at 219 West

Runners-up
Half-Price Appetizers at Manuels

Honorable Mention

Happy Hour at Imperia, Half-Price Appetizers at Eddie V's Edgewater Grille

Best Late Night/All Night

TIE: Kerbey Lane Cafe, Magnolia Cafe

Runner-up
Katz's Deli & Bar

Honorable Mention

Star Seeds Cafe, Parkside, Viva Chocolato!

Best Place to Take Kids

Phil's Icehouse

Runner-up
Central Market South

Honorable Mention

Waterloo Ice House, Freddie's Place

Best Place to Take Parents

TIE: The Oasis, Eastside Cafe

Runners-up
The Salt Lick, Shady Grove

Honorable Mention

Fonda San Miguel

Best Restaurant Within 60 Miles

The Salt Lick

Runner-up
Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar

Honorable Mention

Smitty's Market, Trattoria Lisina

Best Place We Wish Were Still Open

Ararat

Runner-up
Les Amis

Honorable Mention

Brentwood Tavern, West Lynn Cafe, Capitol Brasserie

Best Other Restaurant Worth Noting

Ararat at Hot Mama's Espresso Bar

Runners-up
The Steeping Room, Imperia

Honorable Mention

Sazón, Hog Island Italian Deli

Best Food Event

La Dolce Vita at Laguna Gloria

Runner-up
Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival

Honorable Mention

Taste of Austin, Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival

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