Where should we eat tonight? (Austin, Chico: restaurant, food, oven)

[Nor Cal Wahine]

Chez Zee is fantastic! So is Chinatown and my own favorite ... Matt's El Rancho!

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by readymade

My sister-in-law is in town and we're all going out tonight for dinner. Where should we go? We're just south of downtown.

I don't want somewhere too expensive (i.e. Jeffrey's) but not too inexpensive (i.e. Kerbey Lane), either. Somewhere "Austiny" and fun that has great food, is comfortable (no hard wood chairs), and where we can sit & talk.

I kinda thought Joe's Crab Shack 'cause it's on the river... but I don't know how "Austiny" it is since it's a chain. Fiddler's Hearth is another thought. But I also thought it might be fun to try somewhere I've never been.

And to add to the fun, I'm trying to cut out sugar, wheat, & starch... so no Italian.

Any suggestions?

gumbos downtown is really good. I think it also has comfortable booths that are the right color

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Austin97

gumbos downtown is really good. I think it also has comfortable booths that are the right color

Oh and they have chocolate pudding..

[10scoachrick]

Chez Zee on a weeknight might be quiet enough for a conversation...Friday and Sat. be prepared for a long wait and lots o' noise. Good food, however.

[spanko75]

Drive to Temple and try our KFC

[Huckleberry3911948]

at home put on linen and table cloth but the most expensive steaks and potatoes you can get at the store micro potatoes and do butter, chives and mushrooms. serve with wine.
dress up, put out candles make up a bill, present it to yourself then tear it up and laugh and laugh.

[centralaustinite]

Hoovers is crazy good! Y'all have me hungry now. I think we'll take the family out tonight. I'd go to Hoovers but the kids all love Matt's El Rancho something fierce! (Along with EZs! can't go wrong there either)

[jobert]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

at home put on linen and table cloth but the most expensive steaks and potatoes you can get at the store micro potatoes and do butter, chives and mushrooms. serve with wine.
dress up, put out candles make up a bill, present it to yourself then tear it up and laugh and laugh.

I know your kidding, but in all seriousness, make a pact with a friend as such:

take turns being the chef/waiter for each other at each others house - the whole nine yards, take orders, put on music. It sounds cheesy, but you can get top notch service for the price of having to give top notch service.

[chickenfry]

i agree, threadgill's ain't what it used to be, and hoover's is very good for comfort food and have nice booths as well. shady grove is a nice austin kinda place, altho i would wait until later to let the crowds move out. mrs b's cajun on the east side, just east of i-35 is a nice, inexpensive, unrushed place as well. great cajun, killer fish to be had at mrs. b's.

[Nor Cal Wahine]

Huckleberry and jobert: those are GREAT ideas!