Cover Story
Return of the xx
First of two nights at the Moody has ’em dancing in the aisles
AFS Cinema Announces Opening Dates
New two-screen arthouse specialists release first schedule
First Look: Tumble 22
Austin, put down your jalapeños and give hot chicken a try
Rolling With Austin’s Food Trucks
Why moveable feasts define the city
West Austin Studio Tour Recommendations
Where to go, what to see, who’s your caddy
Hot Luck Festival Announces Snack/Music Pairings
More music, more food
Laura Poitras Takes a Risk
Oscar-winning documentarian on Julian Assange and WikiLeaks
APD Officer Fired for Tampering With Rape Case
Carlos Mayfield sent report to alleged attacker’s mother
In Pre-emptive Attack, Texas Files Suit Against Austin Over “Sanctuary Cities”
Paxton asks federal court to find anti-immigrant law constitutional
Growing Up in the Restaurant Business
When comfort food is a place instead of a dish
Pure Luck’s Payoff
Butthole Surfers, Moistboyz, and Ween members debut “Silver or Lead”
Return of the Panama Hat
Council spends for roads, buys a robot, & has a brief Zimm flashback
Abbott Signs “Sanctuary Cities” Bill Into Law
Anti-immigrant bill to take effect on Sept. 1
One Dead in Officer Involved Shooting on Sixth Street
Police shot 24-year-old on Trinity Street at 2:42am
DVDanger: Another Evil
Carson D. Mell on crying exorcists, plus home release update
Six Hyde Park Assaults Reported in Last Month
APD says women joggers and walkers are being targeted
Ten Good Bites of Prose
Food and its preparation spans literary genres like a rich thick gravy
Day Trips & Beyond: May Events Roundup
Baby sea turtles, Elvis Fest, and more!
The Circle
An absurd cautionary tale on technology
Sleight
A street magician must save his kidnapped sister
How to Be a Latin Lover
A middle-age lothario learns some life lessons
Truman
Spanish film deals with serious issues in subtle ways
A Quiet Passion
A biographical sketch of poet Emily Dickinson
Risk
Doc follows WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange
The Dinner
Family ties come undone in this dark drama
Missing APD Officer Found, Arrested
Coleman Martin tried to fake his own drowning in Val Verde County
Public Notice: Affordability & Economic Segregation
(Plus some fun stuff at the end)
My Name Is Joe Coffee Co.
Chef Philip Speer’s trailer serves up good food, good coffee, and a good cause – employing addicts in recovery and donating a portion of its proceeds to the Serenity Star Recovery Center. The masterful savory oats and almond butter toast will put your sad morning cereal to shame.
Chez Nous
Comfort, warmth, and a dash of romance makes this little bistro live up to its name. Started by three Parisian friends in 1982, it’s a classic take on traditional French fare, and an excellent spot for relishing in conversation over escargots de Bourgogne and bubbles while hidden away from the Downtown melee.
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile
Some folks start their Sunday organizing the week ahead or strapped to some infernal workout machine. We’re sorry, but those people just ain’t that bright. The smart set is at Jacoby’s, pouring syrup from a hobnail milk glass bottle onto a heaping plate full of chicken-fried steak & waffles and washing it all down with…
Titaya’s Thai Cuisine
Titaya’s underwent major interior renovations in 2014, but their dishes have remained (blessedly) unchanged. Whatever the surroundings, patrons have always rhapsodized over their basil talay, tom-kha, tom yum fried rice, and crispy sweet corn taro fritters with just the right hint of sweet chili plum sauce.
Winebelly
Glassy eyes, full belly: This Oltorf neighborhood favorite boasts an impressive patio and an even better wine list. Plus, they’ve got shishito peppers blistered to perfection and some of our favorite tapas (halibut Veracruz! Veal-ricotta meatballs!) in town.
Juliet Italian Kitchen
Chef Jacob Weaver does a bang-up job with Italian classics like house-made pasta and pizza, but his creativity and craft truly shine on the rotating features menu. A knowledgeable and warm bar staff helps navigate the 10-plus-page wine list, and they’ll effortlessly whip out a perfect egg-white sour. Classy but comfortable, Juliet has panache without…
Arkane Studios’ Prey Hides in Plain Sight
New sci-fi video game wants to keep players on their toes
Oak Springs Arson
The Austin Fire Department estimates $20,000 in damages to the school’s playground
Quote of the Week
UT President Gregory Fenves after Monday’s stabbings
Red Ash Italia
Upscale cuisine doesn’t always have to equate to tweezer plating or trendy ingredients. Sometimes all it takes for you to feel like royalty is a good bowl of pasta and a stack of garlic bread. The recent Italian explosion in Austin brought us many permutations of the world’s comfort food – some fussier than others.…
Eastside Cafe
There once was a little house on Manor Road that served the best artichoke manicotti in all the land, but carrot pasta and sun-dried tomato cream sauce were only the beginning of the story. It’s a tale with plenty of romance (those sparkling limosas) and some very deep drama (the chocolate almond torte), perfect for…
Justine’s Brasserie
The atmosphere at this French brasserie is sexy enough that it can almost convince you that you are having dinner on the Rive Gauche instead of the Eastside. The actual food is almost beside the point, but you’ll be glad that the steak frites are as tasty as the cocktails. Justine’s continues to impress and…
Uchiko
Uchi’s baby is all grown up. The second-born in Tyson Cole’s empire shines bright with a unique balance of classic Japanese and up-to-the-minute farm-fresh fusion that showcases food as an art form. Who said middle children aren’t ambitious?
Alcomar
Chefs Alma Alcocer-Thomas and Jeff Martinez have long been Austin rock stars by helming the kitchens at El Chile Group restaurants. Alcomar is their supergroup, combining both their names and their love for simple coastal Mexican cooking. Need one more reason to applaud? Their seven-days-a-week happy hour features discounts on everything from oysters to margaritas.
Luke’s Inside Out
The stretch of South Lamar where chef Luke Bibby has set up camp has changed a lot in the past few years, but his trailer still feels like old Austin. Serving sandwiches and daily specials brimming with international ingredients, Luke’s is a testament to what our town has always been about: friendliness, creativity, and fierce…
Austin Bergstrom’s Continuing Expansion
New terminal restores some 1950s glamour to the airport
Austin Opera’s Madame Butterfly
The company delivers a lovely staging of this Puccini opera that builds to a heartbreaking finale
Crown & Anchor Pub
You may not hear the opening piano melody from Cheers as you enter this nautically themed neighborhood pub, but the genial delinquents at the Crown & Anchor will make you feel right at home, whether it’s your first visit or your 500th. It’s a port in the storm of pretentious brewpubs (you know who you…
Second Bar + Kitchen
With its sprawling leather banquettes and a menu of slightly wonky twists on classic American flavors (think pepperoni soup with garlic croutons or buffalo fried pickles with Gorgonzola and hot sauce), this Downtown favorite continues to please. It certainly doesn’t hurt that their patio is the best place for people-watching in the city.
Home Slice Pizza
Despite the many new pizza places that have popped up around town since it first made a splash, Home Slice still packs the house with both out-of-towners and locals. The reason? Hot, fresh, New York-style pies that haven’t lost their luster in more than a decade.
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya
When it seemed like Ramen Tatsu-ya couldn’t possibly impress Japanese food lovers more, they launched a buzzing drinks & small-plates concept to enthusiastic reception. In this eclectic crossover between a Texas roadhouse and an izakaya, they serve up smoke-kissed dishes designed to pair with sakés, cocktails, and cold beer. There’s something for all adventure levels,…
Asia Cafe
Way up yonder, but worth a trek, this cafe’s unassuming exterior houses an enormous menu stuffed to the brim with your usual Chinese fare, plus a few little extra sumpin’ sumpin’s for the more adventurous eaters. Close your eyes and pick an item. You’re bound to love it.
Bouldin Creek Cafe
Beloved by families, hipsters, and OG South Austin hippies alike, Bouldin Creek Cafe is the beating heart of Austin. Their generously portioned vegetarian fare will sate even the most carnivorous diner, while never treating vegans and the gluten-free crowd like they’re an afterthought. From the tasty chickpea “chikn salad” sandwich to the hearty soul food…
Odd Duck
Odd Duck’s penchant for unique and adventurous flavor pairings has earned them a perpetual rep as one of Austin’s most visited and celebrated restaurants. Grab a spot at the bar lined with fermenting vegetables for a perfect view of the open kitchen, or bring a date and show off how adventurous you are as you…
Knife in the Water Resurfaces
Nineties slowcore pioneers quietly re-emerge after a decade-plus layoff
Gay Place
The Contemporary Austin kicks off a QTPOC film series for the month of May
“Jason Eatherly and Dave Lowell: Depth & Decay”
A fluid, graphic quality keeps the dissimilar work of these artists cohesive and makes visual candy that is pretty delicious
Hopfields
The relaxed gastropub atmosphere is a welcome respite from the chaotic energy of nearby UT. And its French-bistro inspired menu and fabulous beer and wine list is a far cry from the fast food and bro bars that litter the Drag. With moules frites and a superlative salade niçoise, consider this the grad school version…
Wu Chow
The upscale Chinese restaurant has one of the best Instas in the biz, splitting the posts between photos of lovingly plated food and the occasional visiting celebrity. It’s no wonder it’s a frequent stop for the jet set. Wu Chow’s soup dumplings are mouthwatering and bursting with everything that is good in the world.
Quality Seafood Market
Did you know that this Austin institution supplies many of your favorite restaurants with fresh Gulf seafood? Even better, their own menu will satisfy just about any seafood craving you’ve got: peel-n-eat shrimp, grilled Texas black drum, and buttery lobster. Plus, they’ve got that family reunion-style mac & cheese you not-so-secretly love.
la Barbecue
You might have to stand in line at la Barbecue. This is a good thing, because once you get to the front, place your first order (say, the Chi-Town Pinta, an unholy amalgam of a Chicago-style street dog and a late-night L.A. bacon-wrapped gutbuster), consume it, and then rapidly decide you want to try something…
Deckhand Oyster Bar
Tarzan, Tippy, and Ah serve up some of the best seafood in Austin in this no-frills family restaurant. The menu betrays a variety of cultural influences, serving lemongrass fragrant tom yum and pleasingly funky green papaya salad alongside stuffed catfish and crawfish étouffée, all of it made with Gulf seafood so fresh that you almost…
Café No Sé
Austin’s latest draw for Outdoor Voices-clad brunchers is known for being a bit of a splurge, but reliable in taste and health nut-approved dishes like grain bowls, avocado toast, and poke. The interior is California chic and offers a perfect backdrop to highly ’grammable dishes that are also delicious enough to look past the girl…
Ramen Tatsu-ya
Rich broth, melt-in-your-mouth chashu, and toppings for days, Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya “Tako” Matsumoto’s bowls of deliciousness will get you through the toughest Tinder dates. But we like it even better on the good ones where we can slurp the noodles – Lady and the Tramp style – all the way to a first kiss.
Jennifer Sherburn’s 11:11
This project of 11 different dance programs in 11 months goes through one stage after another
The Luv Doc: Churchy Parents
People who give a lot of thought to having a baby are both adorable and hopelessly optimistic
Mixed Messaging on Day of UT Attack
Students, APD parse rumors, mixed messaging on tragic day
Brandon Watson’s Top 10
1) Kemuri Tatsu-ya 2) Apis Restaurant and Apiary 3) Emmer & Rye 4) Olamaie 5) Barley Swine 6) Dee Dee 7) Odd Duck 8) L’oca d’oro 9) Otoko 10) Dai Due
Julie’s Handmade Noodles
We were glad to hear the news last year that Julie’s had expanded to a new North Austin brick-and-mortar, but we still like remembering our college days at the food truck. Affordable, quick, and filling, Julie’s is a pro-tip that’s passed down with each new class – perfect for students or just those of us…
Abo Youssef Mediterranean Food
Operating out of a brightly decorated Airstream, Abo Youssef is as cheerful as the food it serves is delicious. Look for enormous platters of shawarma, gyros, and falafel, plus cucumber salad, legendary lemon mint tea, homemade hummus, and some of the best tzatziki in town.
Uchi
South Lamar’s Uchi has been setting the gold standard for Austin cuisine for years, and shows no signs of slowing down. James Beard Award winner chef Tyson Cole continues to serve intricate and exquisite renderings of Japanese cuisine that will be the most worthwhile, treat-yourself splurge you make all month … maybe even all year.
Launderette
Chefs Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki have created the near-impossible – a restaurant that is simultaneously effortless and special. The menu feels upscale, but the space is comfy and convivial, and there’s something for everyone, from kids on a family outing to courting lovers on a first date. Be sure to save room for Sawicki’s…
Garbo’s Fresh Maine Lobster
Garbo’s offers a delightfully unserious Texan take on Maine classics. They’re famous for their lobster rolls (with either butter or mayo, satisfying both camps), but the lobster grilled cheese might be the best thing on the menu, the sweet lobster balanced out by rich cheddar and smoked Gouda, smokier bacon, and the echoing sweetness of…
Central Standard Kitchen & Bar
When we want surf and turf, we head to South Congress regardless of the time of day. Yellowfin ceviche and Wagyu tartare at brunch? Sure! A few East Coast oysters before an award-winning cheeseburger for lunch? Why not? A Gulf shrimp cocktail appetizer and the Berkshire pork chop for dinner … YAS! The combinations are…
VOX Table
Chef Joe Anguiano likes to play with his food (appetizers stacked on pipettes, a menu section titled “Hooves”), and the bar program is also in on the joke (the scotch cocktail named Sweat Pants With Uggs, mint juleps on tap). But humor aside, the food and drinks at VOX exhibit a sophistication that’s immediately recognized…
Blaze Foley’s Lost Muscle Shoals Recordings
Cult songman keeps thwarting his own success – even posthumously
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Ernest Borgnine’s marriage to Ethel Merman lasted 32 days. The U.S. Air Force definition of an astronaut is anyone who has flown more than 50 miles above mean sea level – about the line between the mesosphere and the thermosphere. In 1858, two years before publishing his landmark third edition of Leaves of Grass, the…
Tenants’ Rights in Question at Cross Creek
Tenants’ rights in question at North Austin apartments
The First Plates Guide to Eating in Bed
No sleep ’til breakfast
Olamaie
They’re so much more than their biscuits. Fans know that the heart-achingly tender, buttery pastry is just a foreshadowing of the goodness to come. Grounded in history, chef Michael Fojtasek and his team plate up inventive Southern fare that pays homage to seasonality and locality. They steal hearts with a fine-tuned balance between comfort and…
Blue Dahlia Bistro
Blue Dahlia’s array of inexpensive tartines, lush salads, and decadent desserts make it a perennial favorite for Mother’s Day brunch. But it also happens to be the ideal place to throw back a bottle of Pinot during happy hour. It’s good that you two can finally agree on something.
wink
In an Austin that often mistakes fine surfaces for fine dining, chefs Stewart Scruggs and Mark Paul’s strip mall eatery is the real deal. Maybe there’s no miles of carrara marble and the fixtures may not require weekly wipe downs with Brasso, but wink has it where it counts – beautiful food made with the…
Paperboy
Paperboy keeps it simple and casual with only four seasonal dishes served out of their 11th Street trailer until 2pm every day. But simple doesn’t mean boring. They still offer up one of the best breakfast/brunch options in all of Austin with a sweet potato hash that is scientifically proven to cure hangovers and a…
General Tso’Boy
New York hospitality industry veterans Jessica and Gary Wu put a spin (or a bun) on Chinese-American cuisine by sandwiching classics such as General Tso’s chicken and black pepper beef between two slices of Easy Tiger’s fresh baked bread in traditional Southern po’boy style. In a way, you could say they’re fusioning fusion. Meta, dude.
Elizabeth Street Cafe
You can tell this is a McGuire Moorman joint from the moment you see the servers’ custom printed wrap dresses and red chambray shirts. But that doesn’t mean that Elizabeth Street is all style and no substance. Their contemporary takes on Vietnamese cuisine balance ngũ vi in innovative ways. Check out the bánh mì, filled…
Apis Restaurant & Apiary
There’s an intensity about Apis that sets them apart from other destination restaurants. For one, they are working to have complete control over their ingredients, from the vegetables they harvest to the proteins they raise. But don’t think for all that exactitude they can’t have a good time. Witness the liquid nitrogen shots that often…
Council: Day of the Robots
All automation everything
Day Trips: 7A Ranch Resort, Wimberley
The 7A Ranch Resort in Wimberley nearly disappeared. The 70-year-old family summer camp was suffering, and then came the 2015 Memorial Day flood that destroyed some of its most popular cabins. Three generations of Raymond and Madge Czichos’ family had worked at the vacation camp on the Blanco River. In 2016, the property was sold…
Why Dim Sum Is the Ultimate Chinese Comfort Food
Ordering from the heart
Texas French Bread
Texas French Bread is one of the oldest names in the Austin hospitality business, but it still feels like a well-kept secret. With a relaxed bistro feel, it continues to delight with a creative wine and beer selection, beautifully prepared local food, and some of the friendliest staff in Austin.
Contigo
We’re not saying you want all the drama of George Cukor’s 1939 classic The Women, but we bet you wouldn’t turn down an invitation to its dude ranch. At Contigo, you don’t need to be a socialite in town for a quickie divorce. But if you wrap yourself in a Mexican blanket, order an El…
Boteco ATX
Step out of your burger and breakfast taco comfort zone and embrace the easygoing Brazilian vibes of this food truck. If you’ve had Brazilian food before, you probably already know about Boteco, and if you haven’t, let Boteco’s coxinhas (Brazilian croquettes), fresh mango juice, and Sunday feijoada convince you that ramen isn’t the only international…
Salt & Time Butcher Shop & Salumeria
If there was ever a reason to risk gout, the cured meat selection at Salt & Time is a good one. Focused on both traditional and artisanal butcher cuts and charcuterie, the menus also feature local veggie and bread purveyors, and a rockin’ beer and wine selection to wash it all down.
Rebel Pizza Bar
Pizza and graffiti go together like tomatoes and cheese. Thin, crispy crust and oodles of topping and sauce options, plus a refreshing variety of sides and salads mean this isn’t your average parlor menu. Oh, and their beer and wine selection will give you major heart-eye emoji face.
Four Brothers
Although Texas’ obsession with south-of-the-border eats usually only extends as far as Mexico’s southern border, Four Brothers’ Venezuelan food truck is here to prove they can hang with the cool kids. Their patacones, arepas, and empanadas are so good, they might even convince Austinites to cheat on their beloved tacos. Maybe.
Buenos Aires Cafe
Buenos Aires Cafe is run by two generations of women, chef Reina Morris and Paola MG Smith. Together, they are our favorite mother-daughter pair since Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, serving tender, flaky empanadas, beautiful meats de la parrilla, and delectable pisco sours.
Lege Lines: Resistance in the “Sanctuary”
Assessing the fallout after SB 4’s passage
Does Food Really Help Us Through Trying Times?
Soothing negative emotions with fat, carbohydrates, and sugar
Via 313
It’s been six years since brothers Brandon and Zane Hunt opened their upstart food truck, serving crispy-cornered Detroit-style square pizza and Faygo pop to late-night bar hoppers on the Eastside. In that time, they’ve established themselves as leaders in Austin’s pizza space, with a flagship location in the North Campus area.
Dai Due Butcher Shop & Supper Club
A lot of Austin restaurateurs talk the locavore talk, but few walk it as religiously as Dai Due’s Jessie Griffiths. Everything at his eatery and butcher shop comes from around these parts – from the wine and beer to the proteins to the tea. That in itself is enough of a reason to go and…
Bufalina
Steven Dilley’s obsessive devotion to quality is the hallmark of this beloved Neapolitan pizza joint. The dough is expertly aged, perfectly chewy and nutty; the seasonally rotating toppings are fresh and frequently local; the wine list is unique and scrupulously compiled; and the house-made mozzarella is to die for. Go early and stay late.
Barley Swine
You can get almost anything at Barley Swine, from pigskin noodles to steak bavette, all of it compellingly strange and locally sourced. But what you want is the tasting menu, 10 courses of chef Bryce Gilmore’s best ideas. The menu varies seasonally, but there will be fresh herbs and pickled things and unusual animal bits,…
Saffron
The lunch buffet at Saffron might actually qualify as a wonder of the world. For just $10, you can fill up your plate with specialties from all over one of the most gastronomically diverse countries; southern, northern, Indo-Chinese, even some Nepalese momo thrown in for good measure.
Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon
Fresa’s on South First adds a touch of refinement to a menu that expands upon the original drive-through’s taco and roasted chicken offerings. In the outdoor dining area, it’s low-key chill with kids clambering on a playscape nearby. Indoors is a sleek, modern space accented with pops of serape color. Sit and stay awhile, or…
Clark’s Oyster Bar
Everything from the luxurious crudo plate to the legendary cheeseburger sets this landlocked seafood wonder apart. The oysters are, of course, truly excellent, like PEI Malpeques and Umamis from Rhode Island. They also have $5 happy hour martinis, for when you want to pretend to be Dorothy Parker on the cheap.
Soccer Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid keep up their torrid pace; his hat trick and Real’s 3-0 win over crosstown rival Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their European Champions League semifinal, virtually assure their passage into the June 3 final. Juventus took a stranglehold on the other finals spot, with a 2-0 road win…
Comfort Food by the Numbers
Facts and figures about your favorite eats
Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden
Rainey is chaotic no matter the day of the week, but all that hubbub seems miles away when you are sitting on the patio at Banger’s. Known for their homemade sausage, Southern sides, “the largest tap wall in Austin,” and their giant “manmosas,” the easygoing eatery can turn all your Sunday morning coming-downs to Sunday…
Franklin Barbecue
If you don’t know about Franklin by now, we’ll gladly send this in a letter to that rock you’ve been living under. That brisket is witchcraft – good enough to convince us to wait for hours and (gasp) start up conversations with complete strangers. You’ll want to get all your chattiness out in the line…
Chicon
We were sad to see Gardner close without enough time in the sun, but the truth is that replacement Chicon isn’t really much of a change. Chef Andrew Wiseheart’s cooking here still does innovative things with vegetables. It still feels suitably grown up. Only the trappings have changed from Scandinavia to Santa Fe.
Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery
It’s hard to imagine a scrappier gathering place in Austin than Black Star Co-op. It’s got all the things Austinites love: inventive house-brewed beer, pub fare made with locally sourced ingredients (the chips are life-giving), and a progressive, worker-friendly cooperative model that gives back to the community. A recent financial struggle has only made them…
Salt Traders Coastal Cooking
The mere mention of the name Jack Gilmore conjures images of hearty portions of Texas fresh fare, and this addition to the empire is no different. Focused on the Gulf Coast’s seafood bounty, Salt Traders has got an excellent raw bar and a slew of entrées and sides so tasty they’ll have you en route…
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Hopdoddy keeps customers coming back long after they checked the casual eatery off their bucket list. And it’s for good reason. Their juicy burgers feature patties made of everything from bison to black bean, the green chile queso fries are to die for, and their shakes are the perfect ending to a delicious meal (that’s…
Fabi + Rosi
Laverne and Shirley, Mulder and Scully, Wolfgang and Cassie, Fabi and Rosi: Well-paired duos (even if only fictional nomenclature) do great things. This West Austin Eurocentric fine-dining hot spot celebrates scratch cooking, sourced from the best parts of Texas. From bone marrow dumplings to Black Forest mushroom ravioli, every bite is delectable.
Lege Lines: Elsewhere Under the Dome
Business at the Capitol continues to roll
Boiler Nine
We came to the smokestacks for the beer bread (that smoked. beef. fat. butter.) and stayed for a subterranean nightcap. Chef Jason Stude’s wood-fire-focused menu roasts, sears, and chars vegetables and proteins to perfection, and beverage director Jason Stevens’ cocktail cave below serves standout spirits from a Seventies-themed “playlist.” A third level, the Observatory Bar,…
Hillside Farmacy
The Thonet chairs, penny tiles, and art nouveau wallpaper in the dining room of Hillside Farmacy might convince you that you’ve traveled back in time. And, truth be told, the facial hair of the clientele certainly won’t tell you different. But with a sprightly farm-to-table menu and a view of the hippest stretch of East…
Curcuma
We try to eat healthy, but to be honest a lot of health food tastes like sawdust and dirt. Curcuma chef/owner Rachel Musquiz has found a better way. Everything is plant-based, and friendly to those eating paleo or gluten-free. And just because there is a list of ingredients that they don’t use doesn’t mean you’ll…
Bonhomie
This buzzy newcomer has the aesthetics of a minimalist production of Barbarella, and a menu that could fool you into thinking you’ve snagged a seat at the hippest cafe on the French Riviera, with dishes like crispy octopus Lyonnaise, an already legendary burger, and an extensive menu of pommes rosti, crispy potato nests filled with…
Thai-Kun
Say a silent prayer for your taste buds before you sit down to one of the tastiest and spiciest meals you can get in Austin. We first fell in love with chef Thai Changthong’s fiery cooking from the food truck, but the Rock Rose brick-and-mortar offers an extended menu for even more hurts-so-good options. Just…
June’s All Day
The ace-in-the-hole of this charming SoCo corner? June Rodil, the affable wine guru with whom the restaurant shares a name. Of course that means an adventurous wine list ranging from affordable to exquisite and diverse enough to accommodate a world of bold flavor in the cuisine. The real surprise is that an eatery filled with…
Josephine House
Think of Josephine as the Madewell to Jeffrey’s preppier J. Crew. Everything feels breezy and casual, from the cottage setting to the Monday steak frites nights. It all adds up to an effortless neighborhood experience, as easy as an espadrille dangling off a toe.
Playback – Austin Record Convention: The Greatest Record Store on Earth
ARC of the covenant, good Reputations, and Blind Sight
Lege Lines: Bills on the Move
Sine die looms. Do these bills have a shot?
Counter 3. Five. VII
Austin’s Downtown concept may seem like advanced algebra at first, but in reality it’s a very simple equation: Choose a three-, five-, or seven-course tasting menu, with optional wine pairings, and Eric Earthman and his team will take care of everything else. They’ve really only got one question: How hungry are you?
Kyoten Sushiko
Some Austin sushi places are all flash and no substance. At Kyoten Sushiko, you get the opposite of all that. The dining room is austere, and chef Otto Phan does not spend much time glad-handing, but none of that really matters. The toro with fresh wasabi or the Miyazaki A5 Wagyu will demand all your…
Dee Dee
The Dee Dee Northern Thai trailer is a family affair. Lakana Trubiana kicks out the jams in the back while husband Justin helps customers navigate the entrées at the order window. Their om gai – a spicy, brothy, dill-laden chicken dish – is perfect for sweating out a hangover, and the damn good tofu stir-fry…
Bullfight
You won’t find crumpled napkins and remnants of food littering the floor at Bullfight, but their jamón croquettes and impressive list of dry sherries will transport you straight to the noisy tascas of Madrid. Here there’s an occasional fútbol game blaring, too, but unlike the crowded dive bars of Granada, we like Bullfight’s open-air dining…
The Little Darlin’
This South Austin bar is everything Austin’s laid-back culture should be: an unassuming dive bar with gruff locals, black T-shirts and tattoos galore, pool tables and horseshoes on the spacious dog-friendly patio with cheap drinks, and unpretentious bar food that doesn’t sacrifice on flavor. It’s the latter that earns it a spot on this list.…
Lenoir
We just love it when our favorite restaurants truly support our area farmers. Lenoir’s locally sourced “hot weather food” is inspired by what we – and cultures in similar latitudes – eat. The intimate dining room’s prix fixe menu is constantly changing based on the season, so every visit impresses anew. The wine list and…
Nightcap
Although the little purple house on West Sixth bills itself as a dessert bar, the dinner menu is equally boastworthy, with dishes like seared sea scallops with sunchoke pudding and charred broccoli with burnt lemon. The cocktail menu is a stunner too, with adventurous drinks using lime foam and pipe smoke. We couldn’t think of…
Page Two: “Trouble Comin’ Every Day”
And too many couldn’t be happier about it
Bill of the Week: Baby, You’re a Firework
More Roman Candles, more often
Easy Tiger
Susan Sarandon may soon be rolling into town, but we will still play our table tennis at Easy Tiger. The huge whiskey selection, delicious beer cheese, and house sausages make ELM Group’s flagship concept an essential stop before we get dirty on Dirty. In the morning hours, we lick our wounds with a pastry and…
L’Oca d’Oro
You’re not going to find meatballs drowning in red gravy and endless breadsticks at this casually upscale Italian restaurant. But you outgrew all that somewhere around your 18th birthday. Celebrate the pleasures of adulthood with chef Fiore Tedesco’s locally sourced, seasonal dishes (the wood-roasted mushroom lasagna is already legendary) and botanical cocktails – all served…
East Side King at the Liberty
The Peelander Yellow graffiti on the outside of the food truck is sure to capture anyone’s attention, but we’re more intrigued with what’s inside. The neighborhood may look very different from when ESK first opened, but some things don’t ever change. The beet fries, pork buns, and brussels sprouts are still kicking it.
Flyrite Chicken
Serving up fast-casual chicken sandwiches for the socially conscious and buy-local set, Flyrite offers fresh ingredients, local coffees and beers, and innovative craft sandwiches (the Eastside is a cool, crunchy bet on a hot day). The breakfast tacos include a chicken tender wrapped in a waffle, a surefire way to brighten up a humdrum weekday…
Mattie’s
The former site of Austin institution Green Pastures is kicking it back to the old-school in their refurbished, sprawling South Austin home with gorgeous interiors and an ambience that pays homage to everything that made Green Pastures the beacon of Southern hospitality it once was. For the full experience, join Mattie’s for a leisurely brunch…
Otoko
It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the soothing dimness after stepping through the heavy door. But once they do, you’ve been transported to another world. Head chef Yoshi Okai orchestrates one of the most theatrical meals in town behind the intimate 12-seat counter. On that stage, he conducts a symphony of…
Pizzeria Sorellina
You’ll feel like Diane Lane looking out from your fantasy Tuscan villa when you dine al fresco at this Neapolitan pizza purveyor’s spot on the Pedernales. Robust sauce and interesting ingredients make this pizza worth the drive, and their wild boar salumi is a must.
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Emmer & Rye
Chef/owner Kevin Fink’s genius amalgamation of table and dim sum ordering may seem just as foreign as his repertoire of ingredients, but rest assured that although you may not know what you just ordered, it will be just what you wanted – proof that Fink knows his craft, inside and out. Thanks to Emmer &…
Old Thousand
At this stunner, old-school can mean a few things: the care they put into their modern takes on Chinese classics like mapo tofu, clay pot pork belly, and congee; the hip-hop vibe that informs everything from the decor to the soundtrack; even the cheeky names of the cocktails. Put together, they remind us that dining…
Eden East
Sonya Coté’s farm-to-table wonderland still specializes in fancy fresh. You can’t go wrong with the lovely prix fixe option (with complimentary Deep Eddy cocktails!), but their Saturday breakfast is a lovely choice, too – especially when paired with a stroll through Springdale Farm’s market.
Foreign & Domestic
In a food scene crawling with influencers, we still like to stick with the innovators. Chef Ned Elliott was one of the first trailblazers that started Austin’s current hospitality explosion, but he has never rested on his laurels. Now serving a French-inflected menu, F&D remains every bit as essential to Austin as when it was…
Soursop
This “shamelessly inauthentic Southeast Asian” trailer slings bites that are salty, spicy, sweet, and sour – in other words, perfect drinking food. Which works out well, considering Soursop is parked in the backyard of the burgeoning St. Elmo Brewing Company. The fatty pork, panang eggplant, and flaky roti with a dipping curry are crave-worthy –…
Perla’s
Our advice for Perla’s? Sit at a chair facing in toward the building, where you can ignore the hustle and bustle of SoCo and embrace the laid-back beachcomber vibe with a bowl of bouillabaisse. You can watch the parade of cargo shorts anytime, but it’s not every day that you can find yourself suddenly in…
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Fixe
Fixe is the place to take your East Coast friends who boast the superiority of their New York pizza and bagels. Southern food has just as much to offer when it comes to craft and flavor, and Louisiana chef James Robert is ready to prove it with his fine-dining twist on the classics. And you…
Patrizi’s
On a spring evening, there is something magical about sipping on a glass of rosé and watching the neighborhood go by. But if you live in certain parts of East Austin, you want to be able to see it from your front porch. The gang is all at Patrizi’s, scarfing down handmade semolina pasta with…
Fukumoto
Chef Kazu Fukumoto’s focus on intricately composed izakaya classics combines a menu of Edomae sushi with yakitori specialties like toe to tail chicken parts marinated in sugar and soy, pork belly, and bacon/asparagus skewers. All of it is grilled over Japanese oak branches and all of it demands to be accompanied by a couple of…
Komé
Drive past this unassuming little sushi joint on Airport Boulevard on any given night of the week and witness a throng of people patiently waiting to be seated. It’s no wonder, as Také and Kayo Asazu consistently deliver fresh, high-quality Japanese comfort food, from the quirky sushi rolls to grilled octopus at dinner and piping-hot…
Tuk Tuk
We’re not saying that Bob Dylan isn’t a big deal, but whoever invented Tuk Tuk’s bacon fried rice is really who deserves the Nobel. Oh, and if they came up with the great idea of BYOB too, we’ll just go ahead and give them that EGOT.
Sway
Thai used to be the last thing that came to mind when we deliberated brunch options … but then Sway debuted its a.m. menu last year. The modern kitchen’s basil chicken & waffles is borderline supernatural, and the brioche French toast hits just the right sweet spot. Pro tip: The full dinner menu is also…
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City Council meets today, May 4, with a 66-Item agenda lacking in obvious contentiousness: initial authorization of Mobility Bond spending, executive session personnel reviews, and a few robots to entertain. See “Council: Day of the Robots.” UT Stabbing Monday: University junior Kendrex White attacked several fellow students with a knife, killing Harrison Brown and injuring…
Irene’s
The Xavier Schipani iconography sets the tone. Part midcentury clip-art, part contemporary graffiti; it tells you that Irene’s honors the past while looking to the future. Sandwiches, rotating blue plate specials, and classic snacks like pimento cheese and pigs in blankets are the focus here, but you won’t find them using dried onion soup. Be…
Salty Sow
While some of us at the Chronicle Food section care about the difference between Kylie and Kendall and some of us are still hoping Lindsay Lohan will finally make it through the storm, there is one thing that brings us together. The duck fat fries – only $5.50 at happy hour – are GOAT.
Grizzelda’s
With its bright beachy decor and Tex-Mex meets traditional Mexican cuisine, dining at Grizzelda’s feels like spring break in Cancún, only with better food, decidedly better booze, and way less embarrassing memories. Their equally fun cocktail menu features the playful mezcal-based “Bad Girl Ri Ri” and the vodka and banana liqueur “Tropic Thunder.” We won’t…
The Peached Tortilla
Southern comfort doesn’t have to start in the South? Chef Eric Silverstein’s menu bridges the cuisine of his international youth – Japanese, Chinese, and Malaysian from Tokyo and traditional Southern from Atlanta. We wish all memoirs were so delicious.
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
If Valentina’s were on RuPaul’s Drag Race, we would pronounce “shante, you stay.” If it were on Survivor, we’d vote to keep it on the island. Whatever the reality, we’d bet that the humble trailer could win any competition – especially when it brings out those brisket breakfast tacos.
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
Going to the ABGB feels a little bit like stepping inside a country song – not the kind where you cry over that cheating lout with a fifth of rotgut, but the kind where you invite all your rowdy friends over for a few dozen beers. Sure the South Austin staple might not be a…
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La Condesa
There are enough new restaurants in the Downtown core that La Condesa is something of a grande dame, but the hip interiors from famed designer Joel Mozersky and the contemporary Mexican small plates from chef Rick Lopez still feel as fresh as ever. We recommend a margarita la clásica and a barbacoa taquito.
Unit-D Pizzeria
This Manor Road staple is like a long-distance lover: always on your mind, delicious every time, but only available for dinner. Their Neapolitan pies feature quirky toppings like sweety drop peppers and cauliflower, and a delightful menu of ambitious sides, salads, and desserts. Pencil in this hot spot every chance you get, especially on the…
The Hightower
For $6 you can buy a scratched record or maybe part of a Tidal subscription. We prefer to hear the angels sing when we spend it on ceviche. Chef Chad Dolezal puts the happy in happy hour by discounting some of his most sought-after small plates like peanut butter brussels sprouts or three-cheese queso fundido…
Picnik
Brightly lit, airy, and full of plants, the interior of Picnik is so fashionably cheery that you can’t help but feel a little dour in comparison. Don’t worry; a dose of bulletproof coffee (made with grass-fed butter and organic espresso) or a cup of one of their lush bone broths will put you in a…
Veracruz All Natural
Reyna and Maritza Vazquez are the best counterpoint to snobby Centralists’ side-eyeing of South Austin. Frankly we would move to Siberia if it meant we could be closer to their chicken mole tacos. Sure, there are two other locations scattered about town, but this one has the generous taps of Radio Coffee & Beer.
Delicious
Though Delicious hasn’t been in town very long, the hefty sandwiches and loyal lunch crowd indicate that Delicious is here to stay. Located around the corner from the Alamo Drafthouse, Delicious is an ideal spot for grabbing a bite before a show or for discussing how you still don’t get Terrence Malick films after.
