The Best of South Austin Restaurants 2015

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"Where should we eat in South Austin?" The age-old question! Well, I've tried to think of every possible decent meal/dish I've had, and list them here for you by type of cuisine (warning: there's a lot of info here). Here are my picks for best restaurants in South Austin, focusing the area from Town Lake to William Cannon, and IH-35 to Mopac. For restaurant picks south of William Cannon, please see Homemade Austin's post, and for vegetarian in South Austin, see Aneelee's post. Happy eating!

Finer Dining (Let's be real, nothing in South Austin requires a tie, but pants without holes in them would be nice.)
-- Barley Swine, 2024 S. Lamar: Now prix fixe and mostly reservations-based; small seasonal plates.
-- Flour and Vine, 300 S. Lamar: Some of the best chicken marsala; next to Zach Scott Theater.
-- Lenoir, 1807 S. First: Also prix fixe at $40 for 3 courses; seasonal menu, enchanting dining room.
-- Olivia, 2043 S. Lamar: Dinners are more French-inspired, brunch Texas-inspired.
-- Uchi, 801 S. Lamar: Japanese, the epitome of customer service and creative food that's not just sushi. Tip: go for social hour when they have half-price apps.

Uchi assortment

-- Vespaio, 1610 S. Congress: It all reminds you of your Italian grandmother's cooking -- pasta, pancetta, parmesan...mmmm.

Mexican (My personal preference is interior Mexican, as opposed to Tex Mex, but there is some crossover.)
-- Borrego de Oro, 3900 S. Congress: No frills, just good food. Yes, that nondescript place on S. Congress right before Ben White. Try it. BLD.
-- Curra's, 614 E. Oltorf St: Al pastor, mole, cochinita pibil, avocado margarita... 
-- El Alma, 1025 Barton Springs Road: One of the few places that uses duck (rellenos and enmoladas); great rooftop patio.

El Alma's sangria

 -- El Chile, 1816 S. First: A beautifully remodeled space, brunch, happy hour specials.
(On its way to becoming Alcomar, a Latin seafood place, by the same owners/chef, also the same owners as El Alma.)
-- Habanero, 501 W. Oltorf: This little place is mostly open for breakfast and lunch; dinner on Fri/Sat only.
-- La Mexicana Bakery, 1924 S. First: Cheap breakfast tacos and a ridiculous amount of sweets (pan dulce).
-- Papalote, 2803 S. Lamar: Street food inspired, just plain good (sister restaurant to Azul Tequila, which I hear is good, I just haven't been there in years); for the vegetarians, they're known for their cauliflower taco.
-- Sazon, 1816 S. Lamar: Haven't been in a while because their parking is more challenging, but have always loved their mole, and how many place do you know that serve huitlacoche?

Burgers
-- Hill's Cafe, 4700 S. Congress: This has been one of my favorite burgers for years, largely because of the sweet kolache bun they serve it on (other bun options available); meatloaf, catfish and chicken fried steak -- something for everyone.
-- Hopdoddy, 1400 S. Congress: Fabulous, creative burgers, partial to the lamb myself; truffle fries and thick milkshakes (honestly, two average adults could split a burger, fries and milkshake); be prepared to stand in line, but they won't take your order until there is a table available.

Hopdoddy's Greek (lamb) burger

-- Phil's Ice House, 2901 S. Lamar: Good burgers and a great playscape for the kids. Conveniently run by the Amy's Ice Cream folks, so you can get your dessert there and eat it too.

Chinese + Korean
-- Chen Z Noodles, 6705 W Hwy 290: This is not your typical Chinese restaurant; they specialize in hand-cut noodles, which can be a bit doughy, but I love them. Their pan-fried dumplings, green onion pancakes, and lamb skewers are top notch; previous post here.

Green onion pancake from Chen Z's

-- Chi'lantro, 1509 S. Lamar: Korea meets Mexico with this food truck that's just made the leap to a brick and mortar establishment; try the kim chi french fries and k-pop chicken wings.
-- Sichuan River, 4534 Westgate Blvd: Finally! Sichuan food that's not in far north Austin! Sizzling Sichuan lamb, mapo tofu, egg foo young, and dan dan noodles are amongst the specialties; see my review here. 

Thai 
-- Sap's, 4514 Westgate Blvd.: While I don't love their noodle dishes, their tom kha soup is other-worldly.
-- Sway, 1417 S. First: Australian-influenced Thai, can be very loud inside. Son in law and jungle curry both delish.
 -- Thai Fresh, 909 W. Mary St.: Some of the best pad thai I've had, but they can be inconsistent.
-- Thai Taste,  7010 W Hwy 71: Bit of a hidden spot by the HEB in Oak Hill; great noodles; my review here.

Thai Taste's Pad Se Ew

Japanese 
-- Ramen Tatsu-ya, 1234 S. Lamar: South Lamar location just opened in January 2015! If you're feeling hungry, get the #1 original tonkotsu broth -- it's rich! Chicken broth offered at lunch only (I was pleasantly surprised how much flavor it has), vegan available for at Sunday dinner. 

Lunch at Ramen Tatsu-ya with the chicken broth ramen

 -- Uchi, 801 S. Lamar: Again, the gold standard for food and service. Exquisite sushi but plenty of other dishes for those who aren't into raw fish (see also Finer Dining, above).

Vietnamese
-- Dong Nai,  4211 S. Lamar: I love having this casual place so close to me, and the #7D bun (vermicelli) bowl with char-grilled pork and a crispy egg roll will forever have my heart. 

Love this pork! The #7D at Dong Nai

-- Elizabeth Street Cafe, 1501 S. First: upscale French-inspired Vietnamese; hormone/antibiotic free meats; decent banh mi, bun, and pho, but the real stars are their range of French pastries.
-- Lulu B's, 3632 S. Congress: Just transitioned in February from a trailer to an actual restaurant; their bbq pork banh mi is the stuff of dreams.

Chinese sausage summer roll at Lulu B's

Indian 
-- Bombay Bistro, 4200 S. Lamar: Always a good sign when Indians are at an Indian lunch buffet; delicious curried mussels on the a la carte menu and I hear occasionally on the buffet.
-- Tarka.  5207 Brodie Lane: Modern Indian in Sunset Valley (and other locations around town too), with both traditional dishes like samosas, biryani, and korma as well as twists like "naanini" sandwiches.

Tarka's chicken korma

-- Whip In, 1950 IH-35: Is it a liquor store, bar or restaurant? Yes. Indian twists on bar food as well as some more traditional dhaba bowls. Open late too. 

Sweets/Desserts
-- Amy's Ice Cream: The best ice cream in town with bold flavors and fun mix-ins! Several locations, including a small outlet at the Phil's Ice House.
-- Central Market Westgate, 4477 S. Lamar: Full-service bakery (four words: Anthony's Chocolate Mousse Cake) and house-made gelato.
-- Dolce Neve, 1713 S. First: An Italian gelateria run by Italians! They've embraced South Austin culture, and "do it" in front of everyone. Oh, and the gelato is crazy good! Blog post here.
-- Lick, 2032 S. Lamar: Great quality ingredients, more subtle but interesting flavors. 
-- La Patisserie, 602 W. Annie: French pastries? Yes, please. {And the toasted almond macaron flavor was suggested by yours truly!} The morning bun is a favorite, especially slightly warmed in the toaster oven so the sugar caramelizes.
-- Sugar Mama's, 1905 S. First: Not just cupcakes, but cakes, pies, muffins, bars... sugar heaven! 

Can't go wrong with a carrot cake cupcake!

Pizza (lots of places like aRoma, Enoteca, and St. Philip have good pizza too)
-- Homeslice,1415 S. Congress: New York style pizza; I appreciate the fact they close for a week and take the whole staff to NYC for pizza research.
-- Southside Flying Pizza, 2206 S. Congress and 1224 S. Lamar: good portions and family-friendly
-- Via 313, Coming soon in Oak Hill! Detroit style -- uber-thick crust! 

Gastro Pub/Eclectic
-- Jack Allen's Kitchen, 7721 Hwy 71: Texas food: upscale cross of Southern and Mexican
-- Odd Duck, 1201 S. Lamar: local seasonal food, amazing breads; blog post here.
-- Porter Ale House, 3715 S. First Street: Excellent happy hour with equally excellent desserts; my post here.

S'mores in a mason jar from Porter

-- Snack Bar, 1224 S. Congress: in the heart of South Congress, a great mix of food with a lovely wine program -- something for everyone.

Grilled mahi with mango salsa from Snack Bar

 -- St. Philip, 4715 S. Lamar: After opening this fall, they seem to be settling into the groove with their comfort food menu and fresh pastries.
-- Winebelly, 519 W. Oltorf: I've only been a couple of times, but have really enjoyed this wine bar; silky smooth pate, amongst the best I've had. 

Italian and Other Ethnic
-- aRoma, 3403 S. Lamar: open for lunch and dinner, pizzas, pastas and a decent happy hour
-- Barlata, 1500 S. Lamar: Spanish, tapas, don't miss the Crema Catalana for dessert. 
-- Enoteca, 1610 S. Congress: This bistro has been my go-to Italian for years, as their carbonara is amongst my favorite comfort foods. (The less-formal sibling to Vespaio.)
-- Habana, 2728 S. Congress: The outdoor cabanas, along with mojitos and the pollo salteado, make for a perfect Cuban meal.
-- Phoenica Bakery, 2912 S. Lamar: This Mediterranean staple is both a grocery and take-out deli; the simple cheese bread with garlic sauce makes me swoon.

Bars with decent food
-- Austin Beer Garden Brewing (ABGB), 1305 W. Oltorf: They brew all their own beer onsite and make a mean pizza.
-- Black Sheep Lodge, 2108 S. Lamar: Mini corn dogs? Yes!
-- Doc's Motorworks, 1123 S. Congress: Great for people-watching on South Congress
-- Red's Porch, 3508 S. Lamar: Quite good food, a Tex-Mex/Cajun combo
   
Vegetarian/Soup/Smoothie/Sandwich
-- Bouldin Creek Cafe, 1900 S. First: Vegetarian spot, great patio, huge omelets, and my favorite veggie burger around.

One of the many omelet options at Bouldin Creek Cafe

-- Casa de Luz, 1701 Toomey Road: Macrobiotic (which is not for everyone!), charming locale.
-- G's Dynomite, 2312 S. First: Hidden gem with great sandwiches.
-- Mr. Natural, 2414 S. Lamar: One of two locations, all vegetarian with lots of vegan options.
-- Soup Peddler, 501 W. Mary and 2801 S. Lamar: Fresh soups and juices/smoothies; love the Flotsam and Jetsam (green juice with a lot of ginger!).

Barbecue
-- Rudy's, 2451 S. Capital of Texas Hwy: A bit outside the geographical boundaries I am trying to stick with for this post, but Rudy's is definitely worth a mention, even if they are a chain. 
-- Terry Black's, 1003 Barton Springs: I didn't love it, but didn't hate it either. See my post. 

Terry Black's menu board

 -- Uncle Billy's, 1530 Barton Springs: It's admittedly been a while since I've had their 'cue, but I was there for an event in the fall, and the appetizers they served were delish! Plus they brew their own beer.
   
Wine Bars
-- Henri's, 2026 S. Lamar: Wine, cheese, charcuterie, sandwiches -- yes!
-- Patika Wine and Coffee, 2159 S. Lamar: Just opened this fall, this former trailer is doing both coffees and wines, and they have a killer pastry chef.

Have wine or coffee at Patika

 -- Winebelly, 519 W. Oltorf: Again (see Gastro Pub), nice wines and tapas.  

Old Standbys
-- Central Market Westgate Cafe, 4477 S. Lamar: Soup, salad, pizza, nightly specials, and live music Thursday - Sunday.
-- Magnolia Cafe, 1920 S. Congress: Open 24/7 for breakfast, soup, desserts, you name it.
-- Kerbey Lane Cafe, 3003 S. Lamar (multiple locations): Also open 24/7, not just for stoners or college students.


What are your favorite South Austin meals? Please share and leave a comment below! Also, see my guide to South Austin food trailers!

Guide to South Austin Food Trailers

Click here to go to the entire 2015 AFBA City Guide!

Welcome to the South Austin Trailer Guide, part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance's 2015 City Guide! This post is a roundup of food trailers/trucks in South Austin with permanent locations; I am (mostly) focusing on the area bordered to the north/south by Town Lake to William Cannon and east/west by IH-35 to Mopac.

Please remember with trailers, they can move! They might be at a weekend event, and then back in their regular spot during the week. Some are amazing at keeping up with their social media, and kudos to them! Many are weather-dependent, and even personnel dependent, e.g. only one person can run the food line, so if that person is sick or injured, the trailer may not be open. Hours can vary so check their social media or website.  

They are all small, local businesses, so please show them your love! Trailers listed by geographical area. Apologizes for those who I have inadvertently overlooked; please add in the comments section below.


Along South Congress (from the river heading south)

• Mrs. P's Electric Cock @1101 S. Congress -- fried chicken 
• Burro Cheese Kitchen @ 1221 S.Congress  -- grilled cheese sandwiches 
• Juice Austin @ 1221 S. Congress -- fresh juice + smoothies
• Fat Cactus @1318 S. Congress -- delicious sweet and savory Navajo fry breads
  
• Gemma Love Jamaican Cuisine @1318 S. Congress -- Jamaican
• Crepes Mille @1318 S. Congress -- crepes
• SoCo Burgers @ 2400 S. Congress (in the HEB parking lot) -- burgers
• Hoek's Death Metal Pizza @ 3808 S. Congress -- pizza

Along South Lamar

• Luke's Inside Out @ Gibson Bar, 1109 South Lamar -- sandwiches
• Texas Cuban, 1700 South Lamar -- Cuban sandwiches, like the El Cubano
  
• Brown's BBQ @ Corner Bar, 1901 South Lamar-- barbecue; really loved the chicken thighs
  
  
• Taco Baby @ Bluebonnet Flea, 2323 South Lamar -- tacos
• Wasota @ Bluebonnet Flea, 2323 South Lamar -- African cuisine

The Picnic -- 1720 Barton Springs Road

• Chi'Lantro -- Korean/Mexican fusion; just opened a brick and mortar on South Lamar and have a couple of roving trucks
• Hey Cupcake -- cupcakes
• Hey You Gonna Eat -- sandwiches
• Kebabalicious -- Turkish meat wraps; the picture doesn't do this beef and lamb kebab justice; they have other locations too, including brick and mortar on E. 7th
  
  
• Mighty Cone -- food in a cone
• Skinny Limits -- juice + smoothies
• Tapas Bravas -- Spanish, tapas
• Turf n Surf -- po'boys

South Austin Social -- 415 Jessie Street

• Beirut Austin -- Middle Eastern foods
• Boca Foods -- Spanish, tapas
• Brunch Haus -- Southern-inspired brunch items
• Unity Vegan -- vegan 

Bouldin Creek Food Court -- 1207 S. 1st Street

• Bombay Dhaba -- Indian
• Little Thai Food -- Thai
• Pitalicious -- Middle Eastern

Torchy's Trailer Park -- 1311 S. 1st Street

• Conscious Cravings -- wraps, salads, smoothies
• Holy Cacao -- cake balls and desserts
• Torchy's -- *damn good tacos*

Next to Elizabeth Street Cafe -- 1503 S. 1st Street

• Dock 'n Roll -- lobster rolls
• Gourdough's -- *big fat donuts*
• Mellizoz Tacos -- tacos
• Shwarma Point --  Middle Eastern

Across from Elizabeth Street Cafe -- 1502 S. 1st Street

• 40 North -- Great Neapolitan-style pizza! This was a special with butternut squash + caramelized onions.
  
• Regal Ravioli -- They are one of my favorite trailers; here's the roasted beet ravioli with pecan pesto; I also LOVE the sweet potato gnocchi with bolognese sauce.
  

Next to La Mexicana -- 1906 S. 1st Street

• The Pizza Shop -- pizza

South First Food Court (at Live Oak) -- 603 W. Live Oak

• Bananarchy -- frozen banana desserts (they're seasonal though, roughly March thru November)
• Crepe Up Delicious -- sweet and savory crepes
• Gravy-- biscuits and gravy (almost as good as my own biscuits!)
  
  
• Mama Mal's -- Italian 
• Snolabs -- shaved snow desserts (also seasonal)
• Tommy Want Wingy -- chicken lollipops (wings) with choice of sauce
  
  
• El Primo -- directly across S. 1st @  2101 South 1st. -- tacos

South First and Oltorf  -- 504 W. Oltorf Street

• Cheke's Takos -- tacos
• Pie Plante -- pies; I've only had their coconut cream pie, but it was heaven!
• The Flying Carpet -- Moroccan souk food; the owners have become friends of mine, and their food is delicious and unique. They also have indoor space where you can eat, and it's available as a rental for private events (they've got a great catering menu!). Pictured below is the Moroccan: beef kefta with scrambled egg, and a savory tomato sauce. Don't forget the L'afrique sauce for your wrap or fries!
  
  

Along Barton Springs Road

• Nuha's Sinful Sweets -- cookies (by Terry Blacks BBQ @ 1017 Barton Springs)
• Short Bus -- subs/sandwiches (by Austin Energy @ 801 Barton Springs)
• SnoBeach -- snow cones (@ 801)

The Barn -- 6218 Brodie Lane

• Fishey Bizness  -- fish and chips (huge portions!) and po'boys
  
• Hey Cupcake -- cupcakes!
• Nutter Buster BBQ + Comfort Foods -- pulled pork and brisket sandwiches

The Midway Food Park -- 1905 S. Capital of Texas Hwy (360)

• The Celia Jacobs Cheesecake Experience -- cheesecake
• Coolhaus -- ice cream sandwiches
• Dock 'n Roll -- lobster rolls
• Gregorio's -- Italian
• One Taco -- breakfast tacos (not just for breakfast)
• Royal Roots Juices -- fresh juice and organic salads/wraps
• Thai Kitchen Express Food Truck (aka Eat Thai or Die) -- a fairly new Thai trailer; these are Phuket pork buns, which were really nice.
  
  
• Widespread Daves -- "the best of what's around"

Manchaca Road

• Veracruz All Natural @ Radio, 4208 Manchaca -- tacos, tortas, juices

Brown's Bar-B-Que Trailer

On a recent warm winter's day, I stopped by the Brown's Bar-B-Que trailer at South Lamar and Mary for lunch. Parked in front of Corner Bar, they've got a picnic table which was filled with people basking in the sun, enjoying the lovely smells that a barbecue trailer brings. And I hear they give bar patrons free barbecue on Sundays!

Looking at the menu, I went with the three meat plate with brisket, pork ribs, and chicken and added a sausage link for extra cost; cole slaw and potato salad were my sides. I had heard particularly good things about their chicken from a couple of people, and was excited to try it. 

I talked briefly with the cutter, and he did say they use post oak to smoke their meats. I was not asked if I wanted lean or moist brisket, but decided to go with what they gave me. They wrapped everything up, handed me a small brown lunch bag and I toddled home. I think the three meat plate was $16, because my total with the extra sausage was $19+ change.

Arriving home just a few minutes later, I found the white butcher's paper fairly drenched in grease. The main culprit was the brisket, and what turned out to be an extremely fatty piece. If you look closely at the top part of the brisket, you can see the fat cap just beneath the crust. The crust that was on the bottom I liked, as it had a sweetness to it, and was not heavy on the black pepper; I have felt some other barbecue places often over-pepper the crust. The meat itself, was, for lack of a better term, very "beefy" tasting. Not really bursting with any particular flavor. We were not off to the best of starts.

The sausage was an extremely fine grind, and there was no snap to the casing when you cut into the link. It also seemed over-smoked, as the casing was pulling away from the interior meat. The flavor was decent, with a touch of black pepper. I don't know if it's "their" sausage or where it's from.

The pork rib was very tender, and had a sweet glaze on the exterior; good flavor and not too fatty. I'd eat these again, though they don't come close to my favorite, the departed Artz Ribhouse or current fave, Opie's in Spicewood.

And then the chicken thigh. While the skin was not crisp, the meat was extremely moist and juicy, and bursting with flavor and a nice smokiness, without being overpowering. This was definitely the winner of the four meats I tried! I would love a smoked chicken salad made from these, but really I'd be happy just eating another *plain* thigh.

The sides were average: the cole slaw was chunky, sweet, and vinegar-based, and the potato salad was more like mashed potato salad with a sweet twang. And I can't even remember how the sauce tasted.

While I linked to their Facebook page above, they don't really seem to keep up with it, as their last posting was from August. I think they're closed on Mondays, but not totally certain. But when you make your way over to Brown's be sure to get the chicken! I'll be back for more!

40 North Pizza

In the past couple years, South First Street from Barton Springs Road to Oltorf Street has become a bustling hubbub with various eateries and hip stores continually popping up. I've lived in the area for over 15 years, and it's nice to have so much within walking distance, especially when it comes to good food. 

The latest addition to the Bouldin Creek food scene is the 40 North food trailer, specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza. They are directly across the street from Elizabeth Street Cafe, and share the lot with Regal Ravioli, which has always been one of my favorites. I was invited by 40 North to try their pizzas. 

They offer six regular pizzas and then a couple rotating weekly specials, as well as some salads and dessert. Owner/chef Clint says once the weather is warmer, he hopes to expand some of the salad and other offerings. He was a lawyer in New York before deciding law wasn't his thing, and went to Italy to study the craft of pizza making in Naples (hence the name, as Naples is at the 40⁰ latitude mark), and then returned to Brooklyn and worked in a pizza shop there, before moving to Austin in 2011.  He hopes for a brick and mortar spot down the road!

Their trailer contains a wood-burning oven, which takes up almost half the trailer space. On this blustery February day, we were invited inside the trailer to check it out, and to see the oven first hand. You could immediately feel the heat! Those beautiful coals are burning at over 900⁰, and they actually had to cool it down a bit before serving pizzas; 850⁰ is more the ideal temperature, and pizzas cook in about 90 seconds.

The first one we tried was one of the specials, butternut squash with caramelized onions, ricotta, a bit of thyme, calabrian peppers, and a drizzle of Mike's Hot Honey (honey infused with chiles). Loved it! I am a sucker for sweet and savory, and all the components together worked extremely well. The crust which is very lightly charred at the edges, had a very nice chew to it without being overly dense.

Then we tried the hot honey pizza, which is a regular menu item; with a base sauce of San Marzano tomatoes, it has hot coppa salumi, ricotta, and a drizzle of the hot honey as well. The coppa crisps up nicely, and again with the contrast of the honey, it makes for a tasty pie.

Beautiful and delicious pizzas. 40 North knows what they're doing and they're doing it well. I definitely suggest you go check them out! They have live music on some Saturdays, so check out their Facebook page or website for updated info. A fabulous addition to the neighborhood!

Full disclosure: I was invited by 40 North to check them out, but was not paid for my opinion or a blog post. But I am happily and honestly providing one that I hope will make you want to go try them!

Bits and Bites -- Austin Food News

LOTS of stuff coming up!

Events
-- I Knead That pop up bakery at Metier, January 24th and 31st, 10 am until sold out, cash and credit cards now accepted; Flat Track Cold Brew will also be available.
-- Bacon and Beer Fest  is this Sunday, January 25th, but it's sold out! Hope you got your tickets for this tasty annual event.
-- January 27th, 6 pm, Jack Allen's Kitchen (Oak Hill)  hosts a Gulf seafood cookout benefiting the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation,$150/person, tickets here.
-- Chavez will host a 5-course Folio Fine Wine Dinner on February 3rd; $100/person.
-- Central Market's (all locations) annual chocolate festival will be February 4 - 17. This year's event, A Chocolate Affair, will also include a store wide chocolate tasting on February 6th from 5 - 8 pm.    
-- Leading up to their 5th anniversary, Antonelli's Cheese Shop has a couple different events going on: Feb 9th -- Pig Crawl with La Quercia charcuterie maker Herb Eckhouse; Feb 10th -- pizza party with special pies at ABGB; Feb 11th (their actual anniversary) -- a house party at their shop. Check their events page for more details on all of these!
 -- Sit Stay Day from Emancipet is coming up on February 13th. For $175, you purchase a box of locally curated items donated by area restaurants and food smiths; the various items are gathered in a basket, which can be delivered to your Valentine on the 13th. Some South Austin favorites such as Sugar Mama's, Bouldin Creek Cafe and the Soup Peddler are amongst the donors, and the full list can be found on their website.
--  Lamb Jam will be February 22nd,  at Barr Mansion, brought to you by the American Lamb Board, with 16 local chefs making great use of lamb. $60/person.  From the press release:

Competing for the titles of “Best in Show,” “People’s Choice” and “Best Mediterranean, Asian, Latin and Middle Eastern inspired dishes,” chefs will prepare and serve their most flavorful American lamb fare to be voted on by lamb-loving attendees and judged by Austin’s top food media. 

 -- February 26th, is the Official Drink of Austin event, where the local bartending community gets the spotlight, as the Austin Food and Wine Alliance partners with the Tipsy Texan. Tickets $45 before February 1st, $55 after. 

-- The Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest will be February 28 - March 1 at the Austin Convention Center. Attendees will be able to sample hundreds of gluten-free and allergy friendly foods, learn new cooking techniques and sit in on lectures from leading researchers in the field.  
-- The third annual Austin Oyster Festival will be February 28th, 12 - 6 pm at Carson Creek Ranch, $45-75/person, benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank. East and west coast oysters, bloody Mary bar, games, live music and more!
-- Tickets now on sale for the Austin Food and Wine Festival, April 24 - 25; restructured pricing from last year.

Super Bowl -- February 1st 
-- Did you know that chicken wings have surpassed pizza as the "must have food" for Americans watching the Super Bowl? Pluckers will make 5,000 wings an hour for the 4-5 hours surrounding the big game, but you can place your order now!
-- Fresa's will have special offerings for the game, including wood-grilled wings, jalapeno poppers and 7-layer dip.
-- Salty Sow and Roaring Fork present "Dinner On Us" (or, buy one entree get one free) throughout Super Bowl Sunday.

Valentine's -- February 14th, duh! ** make reservations now!**
--Three course luncheon at Fall Creek Vineyards, $39/person (includes wines); strawberry and goat cheese salad, choice of chicken, pasta or spinach tart, chocolate raspberry mousse
-- Five course dinner at Olamaie, $80/person with optional $45 wine pairings; Olamaie Biscuit, Venison Heart & Sunchoke Tartare, Day Boat Fish, Rutabega Spoonbread, Biscuit Wellington, and Chocolate Cremeux
-- Four course dinner at Finn + Porter, $75/person, with optional wine parings. Different offerings for each course, which include oysters, smoked duck, sea bass, and hazelnut pot de creme. 
-- Five course dinner at The Carillon, $80/person, with optional $65 wine pairings; beef tartare, grilled romaine, blue prawns, beef tenderloin, and chocolate in black and white. (They're serving on both Feb 13 and 14.)
-- Four courses at Lenoir, $65/person. No further menu info available at this time.
-- Four courses at Sagra, $50/person, with optional $15 wine pairings; different offerings for each course, including saffron bisque, pistachio crusted scallops, and creme brulee; vegan options also available.
-- Odd Duck and Peche will offer plate specials as well.  
-- Dai Due offers three savory courses plus dessert. 
-- Due Forni: dinner for two for $60. 
 -- Epicerie, four courses for $45/person with scallops.
-- NXNW has four courses for $49/person with beef tenderloin or snapper. 
-- Daily Grill, three courses with choice of lamb, scallops, or filet + lobster as an entree.  
-- The Preserve at Travaasa offers four courses for $75/person with optional $45 wine pairings. Entree choices include halibut, prime rib, or vegetable melange. Couples massages also available. 
-- And a "Love Hangover" brunch at drink.well on February 15th.

Now Open/New Offerings
-- Barley Swine's Hour of Snacks and Drinks (aka Happy Hour) is now a thing, every Monday through Friday from 5:30 - 6:30 pm.
-- Eastside Cafe is now offering their homemade soups ($3.95/12 oz and $4.95/16 oz) to go next door at Elaine's Pork and Pie. Check their Facebook page for daily varieties.
-- Chi'lantro, a 1509 South Lamar -- Korean/Mexican fusion food.  I attended the media preview last week, and found the k-pop chicken wings to be particularly tasty! Excited to have them in South Austin!

-- Lucky's Puccias at 1611 W. 5th Street
-- Delysia Chocolatier and Tito's Vodka have paired up for three new limited edition truffles.
-- Ramen Tatsu-ya is holding soft openings at their new south location (1234 South Lamar) through January 24th, with their official grand opening on the 25th.

In Progress...
-- The old Fran's at Mary and South Congress was demolished this week to make room for the new flagship Torchy's Tacos.