Rated as one of the top restaurants in Texas, Uchi is a very romantic restaurant with dimly lit lanterns. If you want some privacy, then the sushi bar is for you. For an appetizer, try the Yokai Berry, Sakana Carpaccio and Machi Cure. Make sure you leave some room for desserts, the creme caramel, gelato and panna cotta are delectable. As for the selection of sakes, it is wise to come in for the daily Sake Social to sample small bites and sakes that pair perfectly.
With its menu of Italian bistro cuisine and charming interior, Enoteca Vespaio offers a less expensive but still fresh and high-quality alternative to Vespaio, its sister restaurant next door. Enoteca boasts offerings like the mozzarella panino stuffed with housemade mozzarella cheese and roasted tomatoes, flat-crust pizzas, and rich pastas. Fresh ingredients are in abundance. The dessert case at the entrance offers a glimpse at their tarts, cookies and cannoli. Sunday brunch offers a selection of egg dishes and sweet breakfasts like pancakes and freshly made bread. The interior is small but welcoming, and the outdoor patio at Enoteca Vespaio allows diners to gaze at passers-by strolling down South Congress.
Justine's Brasserie serves up some of the best food in Austin. Specializing the French cuisine, Justine's is located in a very stylish small house in East Austin. No reservations are accepted, so be prepared to wait for a table at this popular spot. When you get a seat, make sure to start your meal with the escargot, one of the most popular dishes here.
Serving chef-prepared cuisine inspired by the La Condesa neighborhood in Mexico City, La Condesa offers upscale street food and tweaked home-style dishes in an energetic, airy atmosphere designed by acclaimed architect Michael Hsu. The menu contains street favorites like tacos and elotes, whole corn cobs served on a stick with cotija cheese and chili powder, as well as composed dishes like a Sunday Chicken with potato gratin and a butternut squash-stuffed chile relleno. La Condesa focuses on using local ingredients whenever possible for the best flavor. At the bar, award-winning cocktails are mixed, and a selection of over 80 tequilas is available.
A break from the fried food, burgers and pizza near the downtown bars, Koriente offers fresh, healthy food in the heart of the Red River bar scene. Open late on weekends, the Asian-inspired restaurant has a diverse clientele, from health-conscious diners to late-night snackers. The menu features lots of fresh vegetables, noodles and spicy dishes like curries and bibambap. Snacks include summer rolls, tapioca wraps and edamame. To drink, Koriente offers an extensive tea list featuring greens, blacks, reds and herbals. Bubble tea, the chilled drink with delightfully chewy tapioca pearls suspended in it, is also available in a variety of fruit or yogurt flavors.
The Moonshine Grill sits in the oldest building in Austin, and the decor tastefully reflects the same. The sweeping arches and exquisite mirrors on the brick and stone walls, not to mention the warm fire place all make for a cozy setting. The starters everyone raves about are the corn dog shrimp, which are skewered shrimp in cornmeal batter, served with honey and blueberry mustard. The choice entrées are the broiled rainbow trout and Texas flat iron steak. Behind the main restaurant is a refurbished carriage converted into a bar, making the Moonshine Grill an ideal setting, no matter what the occasion.
At Gloria's Latin Cuisine, delicious Latin-American cuisine is served in a warm, cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Here you get to taste a little of everything from tamales, plantains, papas to fajitas, enchiladas and more, everything is served with salsa and warm black bean dip, which is heavenly. The menu is dominated by Latin-American specials with few Mexican dishes. They are also known to serve some of the best margaritas in town and they also house a full bar. Their waiters and staff are really friendly, warm and welcoming, known to make you feel as ease as soon as you enter. On Saturday nights, the place turns into a dancing hub as they push aside the tables to make room for you to welcome you weekends.
How often do you see a business establishment having a split identity? Halcyon does just that. During the day, it has a relaxed atmosphere and serves coffee. But by night, it transforms itself into a classy lounge, offering delicious food and drinks. This place may portray some sort of identity crisis but that shouldn't stop you from paying a visit. They're famous for their s'mores--you can actually roast your own marshmallows at your table!
Tease your taste buds with a wide variety of Chinese dishes at Wu Chow. The menu mainly consists of rice and noodle dishes like Sesame Peanut Noodles, Zha Jiang Noodles, and Dan Dan Noodles. Other dishes listed are Tangerine Peel Beef, Squid with Chive Blossoms and Sichuan-Style Chicken. Indulge in their sweet treats like Matcha Cotta, Black Sesame Sammy and How Yuzu Doin. Complement your meals with creative cocktails, like Nien Nunb or Shane Hi!
Little Woodrow's has a beautiful extended patio with a firepit, it is perfect for a night with friends or for a romantic date night. It is a nice place to grab a drink, you have a variety of draft beers to select from and they also house a full bar. There is everything to suit your taste as well as your mood. The interiors are also spacious enough to accommodate larger groups, and they house a number of television, so if you wish to catch a good game in the company of a good beer, head to Little Woodrow's. The bar prices are a bit high but the perfect ambiance and generous pours will make sure you are happily high!
OneTaco, a food truck unabashedly advertising itself as An Urban Eatery decided to drop anchor at West 6th Street. Of the lunch & dinner options, the Traditional al Pastor tacos combine spicy marinated pork, onions, pineapple, and cilantro within corn tortillas. Customers can One Up their orders by choosing a side at an additional fee. Moreover, the Guacamole Selection brings together avocado, lemon juice, tomatoes, cilantro, and onions. You can opt to wash everything down with Austin's own Sweet Leaf Tea (Citrus Green is a fine choice). Additionally, the employees of bar Little Woodrow's have no problem if you bring in whatever you order from OneTaco.
The Southern Cuisine is brought to life at the Fixe, the fine-dining restaurant in Austin. Chef James Robert and his team exercise perfection as they combine traditional Soul Food recipes with modern accents to bring together a tantalizing culinary experience sure to leave a lasting impression. The restaurant offers an elegant and sleek space perfect for an intimate dinner as well as casual after work drinks.