A recent work conference took me to Austin for the first time. I didn’t get to do as much exploring as I would have were I on vacation, but I still took in enough of Downtown to make the experience worth a few reviews. With the exception of the hotel, I omitted national chains.
Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
Location: 700 San Jacinto Boulevard in Downtown Austin.
My homebase for this multi-day business trip, the Omni was large, sleek, and spacious: lots of floors and lots of glass. My room was clean and comfortable. The location – walkable to plenty and near several bus stops – is hard to beat. Check-in and check-out were both easy and convenient.
While this didn’t affect me, those driving in should be forewarned that the Omni charges a fortune ($60) for overnight parking. Due to the hotel’s size and location, you can also expect a bit of noise every now and then.
Overall, I
enjoyed my stay here. If you have the coin for it, the Omni promises a fairly
pleasant experience.
President’s House Coffee
President's House is the Omni’s coffee shop, and with that comes an implicit tradeoff: overpriced mediocrity in exchange for convenience. Measured against that standard, President’s House acquitted itself well. I stopped here once for lunch and once for breakfast and found a decent selection both times. They have plenty of coffee drinks, of course, but also pastries, sandwiches, bowls, and more.
My first visit was a late lunch, and I opted for an Italian sandwich (soppressata, mortadella, prosciutto, provolone). “Adequate” would be the best way to describe it, but it was at least filling and, at $12, not outrageously priced. Breakfast the next day was better. The jalapeno cheddar sausage kolaches offered flaky dough and a nice bit of spice. The latte I had with it was smooth and provided a needed pre-conference pick-me-up.
President’s
House also benefits from a decent amount of seating and friendly staff. For a
quick breakfast before you leave to face the world, President’s House was
better than I expected.
Vaquero Taquero
Located at 603 Sabine Street with another location north of the University of Texas campus, Vaquero Taquero is a taqueria/bar/music venue. It is open Thursday-Saturday from 5 p.m. – 3 a.m. and Monday 5-11. Patio seating and online ordering are available.
This fun, funky spot is as authentic as it gets: it evolved from a street cart, tortillas are homemade, and meat is slow-cooked on a trompo. The simple menu boasts tacos (al pastor, chicken tinga, nopales, and beef with birria subbing in for carne asada at the time of my visit), chips, and drinks.
I opted for one birria and
one pastor taco. Both were prepped quickly and served loaded with fillings. The
pastor had excellent flavor, and I was sorely tempted to get another. I don’t
know how Vaquero Taquero stacks up against other local taquerias, but coming
from an out-of-towner with plenty of respectable taco options back home, this
place rocks.
Iron Works Barbecue
Located at 100 Red River Street, Iron Works Barbecue offers Texas barbecue for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-9 Monday-Saturday. Online ordering and family meals to go are available.
If my
earlier visit to Waco taught me anything, it is that brisket is a must during
trips to the Lone Star State. I knew I wanted a place that was tried-and-true
but also didn’t have a line out the door, and Iron Works fit the bill nicely.
It’s a historical site with still-running wood-burning stoves and lots of old
photos on the walls, so the pedigree was there. The menu boasted plates,
sandwiches, desserts, and meats by the pound. While sausage or smoked turkey
may have tempted me on another occasion, I zeroed in on a sliced beef sandwich,
which was prepared almost immediately.
All told,
it was good but not quite great. The brisket was very tender but didn’t quite
deliver the smokiness I had hoped for. At $12.95, the sandwich came sans sides,
but it was at least decently sized. Even if it didn’t blow me away, I’m glad I
gave Iron Works a try.
Revolucion
Located at 200 San Jacinto Boulevard (with other locations in San Antonio), Revolucionoffers coffee, juices, smoothies, tacos, and more. Online ordering is available.
I had been
walking around downtown in the cold and rain and needed a hot drink to forge
ahead. Revolucion seemed a good bet, and it delivered. It’s a bright and
bustling shop with a decent amount of space. I opted for the Revolucion latte
(with lavender and honey). I could definitely taste the syrups used, but they
weren’t overwhelming. Revolucion made for an ideal coffee stop though had I
found it earlier in the day, I would have probably been all over the breakfast
tacos.
BookPeople
Located at 603 North Lamar Boulevard, BookPeople is Texas’s largest independent bookstore. It includes a coffee shop and hosts events such as book clubs and author talks. It is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
BookPeople pulls off the rare feat of being huge without seeming impersonal. The
vibe is welcoming, and there are plenty of staff on hand. At the same time, the
selection is absurd (in a good way). There are two floors to explore here, and
everything is thoughtfully laid out and clearly labeled. The worst that can be
said about BookPeople is that for out-of-town visitors, it will make you mad
that there isn’t one near you.
Wee’s Cozy Kitchen
Located inside of Royal Blue Grocery at 609 Congress Avenue, Wee’s Cozy Kitchen offers Malaysian cuisine from 4-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Online ordering is available (and encouraged).
I’m no stranger to restaurants inside of other businesses, but this one took some getting used to. While there are a few tables inside of Royal Blue, Wee’s is definitely better equipped for takeout. There’s a separate register toward the front of the store for you to place your order. However, there’s a very good chance the proprietor will be in the back making food, so it’s really a spot for you to browse the menu and order online.
Once you
get past the set-up, however, Wee’s is very, very good. The menu offers Malaysian
curries, noodles, satays, snacks, and drinks. I opted for a beef rendang and a
Thai green tea. After about 15-20 minutes, Wee emerged to hand me my order. She
gave me a warm greeting and seemed invested in me enjoying my meal.
And enjoy it I did! The meat was tender, the sauce rich and creamy, and the coconut flavors paired well with the pickled vegetables. There was also a lot of it: for $18, I felt like I got my money’s worth.
Wee’s Cozy
Kitchen is easy to miss unless you’re looking for it, but if you stop by,
you’re in for a treat.
Malone Specialty Coffee
Malone Specialty Coffee operates a roastery/café at 14735 Bratton Lane and a trailer at 318 East Fifth Street. I stopped by the latter in search of coffee and a smoothie and found a decent selection of both (they also have bagels if you are so inclined). The helpful barista recommended a Southside Caramel, and I paired that with a Green Power smoothie.
The caramel latte came with a dash of
cinnamon, and it was quite good: sweet but not cloying. While the smoothie (spinach,
pineapple, OJ, and protein) tasted good as well, it proved a bit chunky and
difficult to drink (poor straw construction, perhaps?). This was neither the
best coffee I had in Austin nor the worst, but at the very least, it’s a
convenient option for those near the Convention Center.
Fareground
Located at 111 Congress Avenue, Fareground is Austin’s food hall. It features French, Venezuelan, Mexican, Mediterranean, a bar, and a coffee trailer. It can be booked for private events.
My experiences with food halls have been mixed, but I’m still interested in checking them out when I come across them. Fareground is probably the most nicely appointed I’ve come across. It’s busy without being overwhelmingly noisy, and there’s a decent amount of seating and space.
That said, there
simply aren’t enough vendors here. Only four actual restaurants makes for
disappointingly slim pickings for a city of Austin’s size. Hopefully, that can
change in the future.
Austin Rotisserie
“Fast French” seems almost oxymoronic, yet this eatery inside the Fareground food hall (there's another Austin Rotisserie location on Lamar) offers an approximation thereof. You can get varying quantities of rotisserie chicken, soups, salads, and baguette sandwiches. I opted for the latter.
At $14 with no sides, my Norwegian baguette (smoked salmon, goat cheese, arugula, tomato, vinaigrette, and roti sauce) was no bargain though it managed to be reasonably filling. The flavor was good though the sauce dripping through the sandwich made for a messier-than-expected meal. Sadly, the baguette was a letdown: chewy and lacking the softer inside. Très meh.
Carve American Grille
Located at 7415 Southwest Parkway (with another location in Central Austin), Carve specializes in steaks and craft cocktails. Patio and private dining are available. An on-site butcher can prepare cuts to go. The restaurant is open from 11-10 Monday-Saturday and 11-9 on Sunday.
Carve’s gimmick is copious use of smoke and fire: even the desserts involve taking a torch to some Smores. As steakhouses go, this helps give it a unique identity, but thankfully, Carve proved to be more than just sizzle.
Our group
of seven split a spinach artichoke dip starter and a few sides for the table: truffle
steak fries, mac and cheese, and charred brussels sprouts. I then went with a smoked
sliced New York strip. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and we didn’t
have long to wait for anything.
Across the board, the food was very good. This was my first time trying a smoked steak, and it won’t be my last. It was tender with a nice crust, and it paired well with caramelized onions and a truffle merlot sauce. The “steak fries” were definitely closer to potato wedges, but they were crisp, salty, and tasty just the same. I tend to avoid Brussels sprouts unless they are prepared especially well, and Carve’s qualify: the char and the sweet sauce eradicated any trace bitterness.
Carve
exceeded expectations even for an upscale (read: expensive but not fine dining)
meal. If you have an occasion to celebrate, it’s well worth a look.
The Hideout
Located at 617 Congress Ave, The Hideout bills itself as Downtown Austin’s oldest independent coffeehouse. It also shares a building and a name with an improv theatre that offers shows and lessons for kids and adults. The coffeeshop is open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 7-10 Thursday and Friday, 8-11 Saturday, and 8-5 Sunday. Online ordering is available.
Though overpriced
($7 for a 16 ounce vanilla iced latte), The Hideout is otherwise everything you’d
want in a local coffee shop. There’s local art for sale on the walls, they
stock bites and baked good, and the baristas are friendly and fast. The coffee
was good though not appreciably better than similar drinks that cost less
elsewhere.
Mexic-Arte Museum
Located at 419 Congress Avenue, Mexic-Arte Museum features Mexican and Latin-American art and culture displays. It is open Monday-Thursday from 10-6, Friday and Saturday from 10-5, and Sunday from 12-5. The museum offers tours and workshops and sponsors events such as an annual Taste of Mexico.
Occupying a single floor, Mexic is small: a mere handful of rooms. Given that size, the $8 admission seems like a reach. Look past that, however, and Mexic offers unique art ranging from murals to photos to an elaborate room-sized nativity display. The gift shop is well worth a look as well.
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
Located at 303 Red River Street (with another location at West Parmer and Avery Ranch), Moonshine serves comfort food and cocktails. It is open from 11-10 Monday-Friday, 10-10 on Saturday, and 9-2 (brunch) and 4-9 on Sunday. Online ordering, patio seating, and catering are available.
Housed in a historic building, Moonshine exudes charm, which is why it was packed even on a Monday night. I was lucky enough to find a seat at the bar. While the bartenders were great, the noise levels prompted me to make mine a quick meal. Had I caught Moonshine during a less busy time, I suspect I really would have enjoyed the experience.
Instead, I’ll have to settle for “only” really liking the food. Moonshine’s menu is a fun mix of Mexican and Southern influences with steaks, chops, and burgers thrown in as well. I usually pounce on shrimp and grits and would have here had not a blackened catfish caught my eye.
Thankfully, it proved to be the right call. It came topped with crawfish tails, a not-hot hot sauce, and pecan meuniere and served with stone ground grits. The fish was flaky, the grits were creamy and cheese, the pecans added a welcome crunch, and while hot sauce may have been a misnomer, damn if it wasn’t good. It paired well with an Austin Eastcider (when in Rome…) Blackberry, and at under $30 pre-tax, it felt like a good deal for a good meal.
If I’m
ever back in Austin, a return to Moonshine seems like a must. I’ll just need to
catch them during a slower hour…if such exists.
Capital A
The Omni’s restaurant, Capital A is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a bar that serves until midnight. As with President’s House Coffee, Capital A is best approached with the knowledge that you’re paying for the convenience of not having to venture outside. And, as with President’s House, it’s respectable by hotel dining standards.
I stopped
by for breakfast on my last day in town and was seated promptly. After
considering the assortment of omelets, sandwiches, and other fare (including,
surprisingly shakshuka), I opted for the migas tacos. They came filled with beef,
eggs, jalapenos, pico de gallo, and cheese, and they were paired with potato
wedges. The tacos were definitely a knife-and-fork rather than a handheld
affair, and they delivered all the right flavor notes. The accompanying
potatoes were well-seasoned and perfectly crisp. All told, it made for a salty
but satisfying and filling meal.
Fleet Coffee
Located at
804 Congress Avenue with additional locations on Webberville Road and on Manor
Road, Fleet Coffee serves coffee from several local roasters as well as teas,
tacos, pastries, and more. It is open from 8-3 on weekdays and closed weekends.
Online ordering is available.
This
location of Fleet is a walkup counter rather than a full-blown shop, but if you
don’t need space to sit, you’ll probably be satisfied with what you get. There
was a short line when I arrived though it moved quickly thanks to very
efficient baristas. I went with a cinnamon toast crunch cold brew. While it was
expensive ($7.25 for a 16 ounce), it was possibly the best coffee I had in
downtown Austin: smooth, sweet, bold, and complex. It also contained actual Cinnamon Toast Crunch pieces, so Fleet
gets points for novelty.
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