Austin restaurants and dishes are featured in my Flavors of the Month posts. Check out this post for recommendations on where to eat next!
Here are some of the delicious things I enjoyed in October, November, and December. Enjoy these recommendations to plan the next place you try! (Note: if you see complimentary, that means it was a media tasting but all opinions are my own.)
Dinner at Birdie’s
I love the texture of this ribbon pasta in general and mixed with the perfect amount of sauce and plenty of mushrooms, this is a hug in a bowl. Birdie’s is a casual, counter-service restaurant on the east side that has low-key yet special vibes. It must be the sunny patio and dishes like this one.
Donuts at Salty Donut
This famous shop is originally from Miami and recently opened in Austin on South Congress. The shop is open 7 am-7 pm most days (10 pm on the weekend) and has online ordering, so it’s easier to get your hands on a donut. I got the dragon + passion fruit, cookies and cream, and Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake – all delicious!
Beer at Fitzhugh Brewing (Complimentary)
Fitzhugh Brewing in Dripping Springs invited me to their one-year anniversary party and it was a great time! The brewery is known for old-world beer styles with a fresh take and my favorite was the Warped IPA.
Happy Hour at Neighborhood Sushi
They changed up their happy hour in the two times I visited this quarter – from 25% off the full menu to 25% off appetizers, rolls, and tempura – but Neighborhood Sushi is still a solid option on South Congress. Be sure to order a tempura dish, and I also loved the steamed egg custard.
Dinner at Hotel Granduca (Complimentary)
Hotel Granduca invited me to their long-table dinner, which is a themed family-style meal with wine pairings. Here are some of my favorite dishes: Red Wine Marinated Burrata with Agrodolce, Soppressata with Marcona Almonds, Anchovies, Roasted Peppers, and Caper Berries, Cheese fondue – Harvarti with Herb Gremolata and Brie with Berries, Pumpkin Risotto, Ricotta Cake, and Cappuccino Mousse Cake.
Texas Craft Brewers Festival
Out of about 10+ tastings, my favorite beer at the festival was the Pyrite NEIPA by Pondaseta Brewing Co from Amarillo, TX.
Lunch at Nixta Taqueria
How pretty is this taco table at Nixta Taqueria. I loved the duck carnitas and horchata!
Pastries at Patika (Complimentary)
Be sure to visit Patika for the selection of pastries! I recommend all three we had: cranberry orange scone, pecan swirl biscuit, and apple muffin.
Beer at Wolf Branch Brewing Co (Florida)
While on a trip in Florida, we happened upon this brewery! It was a solid hoppy beer.
Butterbeer at Universal Studios Orlando
On the same Florida trip, we went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios and made sure to try butterbeer. This non-alcoholic butterscotch cream soda was very sweet!
Dinner at Launderette
Launderette has a good happy hour and the birthday cake ice cream sandwich is a must-order!
Dinner at Otoko
Be sure to read this post about my dinner at Otoko!
Cocktails at Fierce Whiskers (Complimentary)
Fierce Whiskers Distillery invited me in for a tour and tasting and I shared all the details in this blog post. I highly recommend it!
Dinner at Canje
New from Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Emmer & Rye, Hestia) is this Caribbean-focused restaurant. We had a delicious meal with the spiciest jerk chicken, beef curry, roti, and ceviche. We also enjoyed the light sorbet dessert.
Dinner at The Peached Tortilla
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to The Peached Tortilla and this Malaysian Laksa Bowl was perfect for a cold front. I also had a bite of my friend’s Hainan chicken and it was really good!
Nomadic Beerworks and Vacancy Brewing
For my birthday, we went on a little brewery tour in South Austin. Both of these breweries had something hoppy to enjoy!
Chef’s Tasting at Sushi | Bar
We were very lucky to snag a reservation at Sushi Bar! It was an impressive dinner with non-traditional, creative sushi bites. It’s a fun experience!
Lunch from Choo Sando
Have you ever had a Japanese sando? It’s a sandwich made with milk bread and typical flavors are egg salad and fried chicken, pictured here. Chef Choo started Choo Sando as a fundraising project and the pop-up continues. You also want to try the honey milk bread. It’s a crispy and sweet toast covered in powdered sugar. You can order the food for pick-up.
Cake from Kat’s Hand-Baked
Another pop-up find is Kat’s Hand-Baked. I’ve heard lots about these crepe cakes, so I’m glad (and very lucky as she usually sells out) I got to try them! The pandan, mango, and Thai tea flavors were really good!
Lunch at Vic and Al’s
Vic and Al’s is located on East Manor Road, across the street from their sister restaurant Patrizi’s. I ordered the blackened catfish on sassafras rice while Will got the fried chicken thigh. We also got fried boudin. And we ate every bite!
Beer at Vector Brewing (Dallas, TX)
We met some friends at this Dallas brewery during our Thanksgiving weekend, and it’s a great spot for food and drinks. I liked their Hop Gravy IPA.
Dinner at Red Ash
After dining here for a birthday dinner, I’m baffled how I hadn’t eaten here yet and why more people don’t talk about this Italian restaurant! Great service, great food, and great drinks. I enjoyed the Cassarecce Alla Campagnola, which features their handmade pasta.
What was your favorite thing you ate recently?
P.S. Want more take-out options? You can find them in past Flavor of the Month posts.
You might also like
