Where to Eat When Saying Goodbye to Austin
So, it’s all happening. My soldier and I got married. The kitties and I are settled into our home in Birkenfeld. I’ve packed and shipped almost everything I own. And, of course, of the 10 boxes I shipped, four of them contained kitchen equipment and another four contained cookbooks. The remaining two were all of my winter clothes and memorabilia. I guess you can see where my priorities lie…
In preparation for the big move away from my home of 17 years, I knew I needed to hit my favorite restaurants one last time. Over the years this list has changed and morphed with my changing tastes and the influx of great new restaurants. I had to forgo some of my favorite higher priced restaurants simply because weddings, moves to a new continent and completely furnishing new homes can really make a dent in the ol’ bank account. If I had had unlimited funds to work with and I little more time, I definitely would have hit the following restaurants, as well:
1. Fonda San Miguel: Known as one of the best interior Mexican restaurants in the country, Fonda San Miguel also makes my favorite dessert of all time – Crepas de Cajeta (Crepes with Goat Milk Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream).
2. Wink: Wink serves some of the highest quality food in town, sourcing most if it’s ingredients from local farms, ranches, and fisheries. Their wine list is always incredible, and the ambiance is cozy and romantic.
3. Justine’s: While it is extremely affordable and hands down the best French restaurant in town, I decided to skip Justine’s simply because I will have very easy access to France for the next 3 years. If you go to Justine’s, try the escargot. It is perfection.
4. Musashino: My favorite authentic, super fresh sushi in Austin. I skipped this simply because I could only squeeze in one sushi joint, and I would never forgive myself if I left Austin without eating at Uchiko (info below).
5.Enoteca Vespaio: I just adore this cozy little Italian bistro. The menu is simple yet delicious. I can’t believe I am saying this, but don’t miss the Patate Fritte – they are the best fried potatoes I have ever eaten! And, the extensive and super affordable pastry menu allows me to have lots of little bites of lots of different desserts for not a lot of money. A great place for a relaxing nosh with the ladies when you want Capuccinos and biscotti.
6. Guero’s Taco Bar: Located on the trendy South Congress strip, Guero’s has been a stand by of mine for quite some time. The tacos are amazing, the margaritas are yummy, and the atmosphere is always fun. Wait times can be pretty dang long, so get your name on the list and cruise around the shops
or have some chips and salsa while you wait. Although I never tried it, I hear the Al Pastor is awesome.
That said, here are the places that I did make time to visit:
1. Lambert’s: My newly-crowned favorite place in Austin! The “Fancy Barbecue” menu is incredible with items ranging from Achiote Seared Chickpeas and Goat Cheese (one of the best vegetarian entrees I’ve had the pleasure to eat) to Housemade Charcuterie to, my favorite, the Country Style Pork Ribs. Sunday brunch is an absolute knockout and well worth the $28 price tag. Many of their ingredients are from local farms and their meats are humanely-raised. If you can only eat in one place in Austin, Lambert’s is the place to hit.
2. Eastside Showroom: The food is sourced from local farms and is pretty tasty. But, what really shines here are the cocktails and the eclectic, pre-war Eastern European atmosphere. The vibe reminds me of what a Vaudevillian bar in Prague circa 1930 must have felt like. Definitely a nice addition to the East Side.
3. Thai Fresh: Chef Jam Sanitchat grew up in Thailand, and makes some of the best Thai food
in town. Part restaurant, part cooking school, and part grocery store, I always feel cozy when I warm my tummy with some Pad See Ew and Jam’s awesome Tom Kha. The service is incredible, the food locally sourced, and the ice cream (both dairy and vegan) is to die for. Don’t miss out on the Vegan Coconut Corn Ice Cream. It sounds weird, I know. But, it’s fabulous.
4. Cipollina: Located in Clarksville, my favorite Austin neighborhood, Cipollina is the bistro you wish was always just around the corner. With excellent prices and a creative seasonal menu (Kale Pizza with Roasted Garlic, Goat Cheese, Balsamic Reduction, and Preserved Lemon, anyone?), this is a definite weekly standby.
5. Taco Deli: The Bison Picadillo tacos make me swoon. Just be sure to get there sometime between 11am to 3pm. Before that is only breakfast tacos, but they offer spinach as a filling and that makes me happy.
6. Uchiko: The second establishment from Iron Chef contender, Chef Tyson Cole, this, in my opinion, is even better than the first. The interior design is stellar, and the service and food are out of this world. I recommend the Hotate sushi (raw Diver Scallop, aioli, and avocado); It just melts in your mouth. Even the vegetarian options are outstanding! This restaurant is definitely one of the true gems of the city.
My new town, Birkenfeld in Rheinland-Pfalz (pop. 7,000), is considerably smaller than Austin (pop. 800,000), but I am hoping to find a few new gems in the area. If not, Paris is just a hop, skip and a jump away, and I hear they have some pretty good food there…
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Just saw that you started blogging and I’m excited to be following your adventures! We will miss you at book club this Monday but glad to be in touch this way