On my recent trip to Austin, Texas, I made sure to indulge in as much food as I could wolf down, from the truly pedestrian to the truly upscale. Here are four of my very favorites.
Freebirds
This is perhaps the most famous eatery in all of Austin; I had heard about it long before ever stepping foot in city limits. Freebirds (above) is a fast food joint where you make your own burrito from a selection of delectable goodies. You’re not allowed to pack it yourself; the hip looking, face-studded employees do it for you. But you do get to tell them what to shove into your Half-Bird, Freebird, Monster, or Super Monster burrito. The end product comes wrapped in tinfoil which is ceremoniously peeled away and then molded by patrons into various artwork which decorates the walls of the restaurant. Art and food! What more could you ask for?
Mozart’s Coffee Roaster
This awesome café is located on the shores of Lake Austin, a surprisingly bucolic spot that is only a short drive from the center of town. The homey, wooden café has a great coffee selection and a tasty array of desserts. People don’t necessarily come for the goods, however. The café was chalk full of students when we arrived in the afternoon. Nearly every table had at least one weary looking undergrad camped next to a laptop, sipping coffee and studying away–a stark contrast to their drunken counterparts witnessed the night before on 6th street. We found a table outside on a wooden patio overlooking the water and leisurely wiled away the afternoon with some warm coffee and a decadent Snickers Cheesecake. Mmmm….
Halcyon
Another wonderful café we visited while in Austin was Halcyon. This cafe had a totally different vibe than Mozart’s by catering to a far more artsy, bohemian crowd. Embracing their namesake, Halcyon never strayed too far from their theme by providing, among other treats, various board games so that patrons could relive the, um, halcyon days of their youth. I did so myself when I ordered the house specialty: s’mores. $5.95 buys graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows and a tiny little open-flame contraption to roast the old campfire standby. For those more anxious to remember the halcyon days of college, Halcyon also serves alcohol (and at $4 a bottle, it is a great deal).
Vespaio
Austin isn’t just fast food and college dives. The city has a growing number of quality, high-end restaurants as well. Vespaio, the only one we visited during our stay, was an absolute winner. Located on SoCo, the restaurant prepares delicious Italian dishes accompanied by an impressive wine menu. I opted for the lasagna, which was tasty and filling while my friends wolfed down some equally as delectable ravioli. It was great, home-style Italian cooking that came to a manageable $35 a person with antipasti, a bottle of wine, and a couple of martinis. Not too bad!
Yesterday: Austin’s Bizarre Shopping
Tomorrow: Austin’s Wonderful Cinema