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At EAST, you are bound to run into a lot of people you know. And let’s face it, all that hugging can be exhausting. That’s why you will need to load up with a niçoise salad at Blue Dahlia Bistro. It’s huge and loaded with power proteins. Add a glass of rosé and you’ll be ready to face the public. -
Counter Cafe is maybe the only reason why we would get up early on a weekend. Get there at opening to beat the crowds lining up for Southern poached eggs or perfect crab cakes. Don’t forget to look at the blackboard for the daily special. -
Jesse Griffith’s hyper-local eatery impressed us so much last year that it made the top of our First Plates top 10 lists. Almost a year later, Dai Due is still a can’t-skip destination for inventive takes on diner classics that will keep you going all day. -
Gardner’s Scandinavia-inspired minimalist dining room is the perfect palate cleanser to all of EAST’s bright colors. We are looking forward to chef Andrew Wiseheart’s new Sunday roast program, a twist on the classic meat and three. -
Here’s one thing you need to know: Happy hour at Hillside Farmacy starts every day at 3pm. You may not be able to afford the sculpture you saw at Canopy Austin, but after a couple of glasses of the Hillside’s house punch, you may not care. -
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile is where you take your mom. Sure, the rancho deluxe restaurant and shop has loads of charm, but that’s just a bonus. The real stars are dishes like duck confit migas. We’ve seen your mom put down three of ’em. -
You’ve spent all day gathering ideas for your future pied-à-terre, but now you really want to amp up the seduction? Take him to Justine’s Brasserie for escargots and tartare. By the end of the night it won’t matter that all you own is a bed. -
It’s probably a good thing that Launderette’s Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki don’t live in 17th century Salem. Surely they would have been accused of witchcraft. We aren’t that superstitious, but we’ve paused after having their buttermilk pancakes and pork & grits. Maybe we do believe in magic. -
Cooler weather means you can wear that J. Crew toggle cardigan that has been moping in your closet for a year. We don’t mean to get all up in your Instagram, but it would be really cute if you took a selfie at Mongers Market + Kitchen. The nautical restaurant is one of the most photogenic places in town. They also happen to have terrific seafood like blue crab and smoked fish dip. -
Don’t let the psychedelic exterior of Nasha fool you. Inside you’ll find spicy cocktails, solid Indian classics like korma and vindaloo, and inventive dishes melding traditional flavors with Tex-Mex. This isn’t a head shop, but you’ll still get plenty high. -
If you need a light snack while browsing the umpteen galleries at Canopy Austin, Sa-Tén’s toasts are hard to beat. We like the anchovy garlic and the sriracha mayo smoked salmon. Those with a sweet tooth will want to go straight to the honey butter. -
it’s pretty difficult not to be a pig at Salty Sow. With dishes like candied pork belly and pastrami salmon, it’s perfect for unwinding after biking across the Eastside. The serious cocktails don’t hurt either. -
How to kill the East Austin Studio Tour: 1) Go to Sawyer & Co. and order a huge $3.50 Arkie’s taco. 2) Empty your bank account on local pottery. 3) Go back for an Arkie’s taco. You may be broke, but at least you can still eat well. -
For those of you used to only seeing one kind of Hightower Report in the Chronicle, we have another one for you. We are happy to report that the Hightower has a breakfast sandwich that might cross partisan lines. It certainly has our vote, but we have always been populists. -
Yeah, Yellow Jacket Social Club is a dive bar. But it’s a dive bar with a cheese plate. And it may be the only place in town where you can enjoy Scandinavian death metal while eating a seasonal frittata. -
Special happy hour-only snacks? Half-off bubbles and glasses of beer? Puffy potatoes? Yeah, we thought you’d be ending your day of art at newcomer Juniper.
Where to Eat During EAST
