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Austin
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| Top
7 Most Popular Places to Enjoy Food |
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Emilia's
Restaurant
ph:
(512) 469-9722
600
E 3rd St
Austin, TX 78701-4130
American
- Moderately Priced
The Scene
The restaurant preserves the integrity of its 1850s limestone
structure while boasting an exquisitely simple design: wide swaths
of satiny drapes, curvy chairs upholstered in a dusky shade of
gold, burnished oak floors, photographs by Kate Breakey and
tranquil paintings by Ellen Berman. Impeccable service satisfies
discriminating, older, wealthy diners, while the charming outdoor
patio and bar, with a pared-down menu, attracts a younger set.
The Food
The peekytoe crab cake makes its debut perched atop a pedestal of
fresh grapefruit, embellished with chopped avocado, leafy cilantro
and a habanero sauce--a demure portion handled perfectly. Roasted
rabbit loin, tender and moist, gets splayed across a bouquet of
spring vegetables and soft, flavorful discs of Yukon Gold
potatoes. Ravioli, stuffed with corn and tangy goat cheese,
benefit considerably from an earthy truffle cream sauce enlivened
by bright spring peas.
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Dan
McKlusky's Restaurant
ph:
(512)
473-8924
301
E 6th St
Austin, TX 78701-3627
American - Affordable
The Scene
Unlike the restaurants of the Warehouse District, this place is
neither slick nor trendy: simple brick walls and exposed wooden
beams comprise the decor, while families and business associates
constitute most of the crowd. A full bar, handily located off the
main dining room, allows you to have a drink without being jostled
by folks entering the restaurant.
The Food
The tasty trademark appetizer, mushroom caps ($5.50), come topped
with a puree of shrimp, cheese, spices and lemon. For entrees,
diners can choose individual steak and seafood items or, even
better, order a la carte for a mix-and-match meal. The prime rib
($14.95), tender and delicately salty, comes with a fine
horseradish sauce. Those ordering the filet mignon ($17) will find
the center lukewarm, deep red and as soft as cotton candy.
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Magnolia
Cafe
ph:
(512)
478-8645
2304
Lake Austin Blvd
Austin, TX 78703-4546
Cafe-Desserts
The Scene
Magnolia harks back to the days of old Austin, with a fiercely
independent spirit that no amount of high-tech growth can squelch.
Laid-back and comfortable, the cafe features tables covered in
whimsical designs and friendly, if casual, waiters. The crowd
includes old folks, alienated teenagers and little tykes. There's
always a line for brunch, but free coffee will keep you awake
while you wait.
The Food
Try the Neptunian Landscape, a potato dish consisting of a
mountain of chopped spuds blanketed with melted Monterey Jack
cheese, a lemon sour-cream sauce, tomatillo salsa, avocado and
green onions. Or, for the same low price, you can sample a
generous stack of pancakes, including gingerbread, buttermilk,
whole wheat and cornmeal varieties. You can add blueberries,
bananas or cherries for a little extra.
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Central
Market
ph:
(512)
206-1000
4001
N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78756-3733
Northwestern American
- Moderately Priced
The Scene
This destination grocery gives children's tours introducing
youngsters to the glories of specialty sausage and organic fruit.
Second in popularity only to the Capitol, Central Market is the
top tourist spot in town. And it's no wonder. The store includes
an 18,000-square-foot produce section, a 75-foot seafood counter
and bakery stocked with 60 varieties of bread, not to mention the
immense selection of fruit and hard-to-find gourmet items. Can't
find something? Just locate one of the store's "foodies"--savvy
employees who never give up until they've found your Thai coconut
milk or fat-free cranberry granola.
More Than PB&J
The cafe even caters to finicky eaters. Anyone under the age of 12
benefits from a tailored menu featuring macaroni and cheese, a
bitty burger and of course the venerable peanut butter and jelly
sandwich. Not bad for $2.50.
Citysearch reviews are based on anonymous visits, and all expenses
are paid for by Citysearch.
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Chez
Nous
ph: (512) 473-2413
510
Neches St
Austin, TX 78701-3710
French - Affordable
The Scene
Lacy cafe curtains shield diners from the assault of Sixth Street,
while fresh flowers poke out of anisette bottles and candles on
the tables cast an aura of romance.
The Food
The assiette de charcuterie makes a pleasing array of the daily
pates, prosciutto, salami and imported cornichons. The lamb loin
had a soft cast to its exceedingly tender, pink flesh. It's all
soaked in a stock-based sauce, pleasantly salty but not overly so.
The escargots de bourgogne came in a little dish, resting in a
bath of olive oil exploding with garlic and meaty mushrooms. The
tried-and-true French dessert, mousse au chocolat, had a bold
chocolate flavor, a dense, velvety consistency and lots of tiny
airy pockets.
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Brick
Oven Restaurant
ph: (512) 477-7006
1209
Red River St
Austin, TX 78701
Italian
The Scene
This is a great family restaurant with casual decor and a wall of
large windows. The furniture and large paintings are plain and
tasteful.
The Food
The key to Brick Oven pizzas is the 100-year-old, 700-degree
oven fueled by oak wood. The portobello-prosciutto specialty pizza
contains oven-roasted portobellos, mozzarella, Gorgonzola and
sun-dried tomato pesto, and a hint of rosemary and anise gives it
just the right amount of flavor. All pizzas have the Brick Oven's
addictive, slightly smoky taste. For meat lovers, there's a
selection of meats at an additional cost per topping: pepperoni,
sweet Italian sausage, chicken and lean ground beef. Other tasty
dishes include the spinach calzone made with mozzarella, ricotta,
Asiago and Parmesan cheeses, fresh basil, garlic, and onion.
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Vespaio
Restaurant
ph: (512) 441-6100
1610
S Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704-3522
Italian - Moderately Priced
The Scene
This cool, elegant Italian spot has become a trendsetter. Luckier
folks score a seat at the bar, and usually order one of the
appetizers displayed behind the counter for the wait. Always
boisterous, Vespaio caters to people who don't mind spending $50
for a bottle of red.
The Food
The littleneck clams are served with linguini, garlic, basil and
white wine sauce. The cannelloni crespelle consists of two
generous pasta tubes filled with chicken, veal and prosciutto and
covered with a tomato and bechamel sauce. Also try the amazing
sauteed sea scallops, which are topped with bread crumbs, baked
and served with a Pernod-Gruyere cream sauce. Dessert menu changes
every six months. Generally a better meal results from choosing a
first course and skipping the third.
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