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Bess Bistro
500 W Sixth St, Austin, TX 78701 · 512-477-2377
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WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. Bess, Sandra Bullock's subterranean bistro, opened in 2006 and it's been earning glowing reports ever since – critics and foodies alike appreciate the comfy atmosphere, careful service and wonderful food. Street level signage is minimal (look for an understated awning); the space itself retains much of its historic character but includes some attractive contemporary features such as a pewter bar. Chef Brenton Childs' menu concentrates on traditional classics, from meatloaf to chicken pot pie to steak frites, with great attention to detail. Bess would be a winner even without its Hollywood connections.
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Café 909
909 2nd St, Marble Falls, TX 78654 · 830-693-2126
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MARBLE FALLS. Award-winning Café 909 sports fashionably minimalist decor that reflects the subtle colors and textures of the Texas countryside, complete with stone walls and wood ceilings. New American cuisine is well-executed in items like the unusual foie gras crème brulee appetizer, a custard-y indulgence with port-glazed sweetbreads and gingersnaps. But this is Texas, so choose a locally inspired main course like a grilled Black Angus ribeye with poblano sofrito sauce, pickled red onions, and mashed potatoes. Fans of Black Forest cake should save room for Café 909's version – it's luscious!
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WEST END. An Austin stalwart, Castle Hill creates complex, layered flavors much appreciated by legions of adoring fans. The food is simultaneously adventurous and comforting, relying on unusual combinations of traditional foods. Comino-crusted pork tenderloin, for example, is surrounded by a distinctly south-of-the-border sauce, piquant relishes and condiments, and a corn pudding tamale. No two bites are exactly alike. For dessert, indulge in banana bread pudding topped with caramelized espresso-bourbon sauce.
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Driskill Grill
604 Brazos St, Driskill Hotel, Austin, TX 78701 · 512-391-7162
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6TH STREET. Everyone recommends this restaurant, and the food is not the least of it. As evidence, consider octopus chimichurri with Granny Smith apples and chile-orange vinaigrette to start, or maybe beef tartare with fried oysters, caviar and hot mustard. A main-course possibility is roasted veal tenderloin with red pepper capellini, roasted garlic, sweetbreads and sauce Mornay. Finish up with a subtle chilled pear soup, which comes with a small Camembert cheesecake and whiskey apples. Tasting menus and prix fixe options are available; a more casual menu is offered in the bar.
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Jeffrey's
1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703 · 512-477-5584
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WEST END. Located in a restored house in the Clarksville area of town, Jeffrey's offers an art-infused setting. Founded by three UT graduates in the 1960s, it delivers a fusion of tastes from around the world, including local Southwestern flavors. Complex dishes employ a variety of textures and themes, as proven in duck rillette and shrimp with black French lentils or a bone-in beef tenderloin with vanilla potatoes and smoked piquillo crab sauce. A visit will leave you in a state of gastronomic bliss! Tasting menu $79; with wine pairings $115.
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NORTH AUSTIN. The lovely Mansion at Judges' Hill, a turn-of-the-century estate that's now a boutique hotel, features beautiful guest rooms and a fantastic restaurant that, in true local fashion, remains casual and relaxed amid elegant furnishings and gracious architecture. The exuberant menu has a Texas bent, evident in starters like shredded duck confit quesadillas with smoked gouda and in main dishes like duck breast with chipotle-eggplant polenta. Be sure to save room for dessert – the zingy toasted pecan cheesecake will leave your taste buds singing.
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ARBORETUM. Rustic lodge decor augmented by industrial touches lends an unusual quality to this popular, family-friendly restaurant. Beer is brewed on the premises (order the sampler to check out the ones you like best), and the menu appeals to a wide range of folks, from burger-lovers to adventurous sorts. Dishes worth mentioning include skillet-fried cornbread with goat cheese and mushroom sauce, barbecue chicken pizza with pepper jack cheese, rosemary pork loin with garlic-parmesan mashers, and a special chicken pot pie. Accompany them with something from the small, well-chosen wine list.
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Vin Bistro
1601 W 38th St, Austin, TX 78731 · 512-377-5252
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NORTH AUSTIN. When a restaurant has a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, you expect wine to hold a place of prominence on the menu. At Vin the name of the wine comes first, followed by a suggested food pairing. It's an unusual twist, but it works. Sip a glass of Chateau D'Armajan Sauternes 2000 while you savor a Hudson Valley Foie Gras Trio; complement a 2004 Vertrice Chianti Ruffina with white balsamic glazed chicken with toasted pecan caponatina. Of course, since the wine inventory includes some 150 selections, you can branch out and create your own pairings; by-the-glass options are numerous, and wine flights are also offered.
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Wink
1014 N Lamar Blvd, Ste E, Austin, TX 78703 · 512-482-8868
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WEST END. Fashionable and casually upscale, Wink has garnered rave reviews and a loyal bastion of regulars. Although it's possible to order a traditional appetizer and main course, the best way to appreciate the culinary skills at work is to order a series of small plates. The menu changes often to take advantage of the freshest seasonal produce, but past winners have included scallops with baby sweet potatoes, grilled lamb loin on Stilton polenta, duck breast with wild mushroom risotto, and sautéed sweetbreads on Yukon Gold potatoes. Fabulous selection of by-the-glass wines.
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Zoot
509 Hearn St, Austin, TX 78703 · 512-477-6535
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WEST AUSTIN. The same creative forces that gave birth to Wink offer this stylish eatery. The innovative menu is arranged by size – from small plates to main course-sized portions – so you can sample several tastes or keep things simple. Highlights include a roasted sea scallop with ratatouille and a lemon tuile, veal sweetbreads with walnut bread pudding, and grilled quail with jalapeno-sunflower seed salad and fried oysters. For dessert, try chocolate fondue or El Rey chocolate cake with zinfandel-soaked cherries. The carefully chosen wine list offers many varieties by the glass.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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