Where should we take the in laws to eat? Someplace different... (Austin: how much, live)

[jwb123]

We are looking for a quintessential Austin restaurant, that screams "old Austin", for my urban Seattlite inlaws that are in town.

Not BBQ, Not Tex Mex... we've got that covered.

Threadgills? Nutty Brown Cafe? Or other place? Not Chuy's, Hula Hut, or those type places.

[achtungpv]

Tony's Southern Comfort smokes Threadgills any day of the week if you're looking for southern comfort food.

Hill's Cafe isn't bad either...live music on a lot of nights makes it very Austiny.

Shady Grove...very Austiny, ok food.

[jwb123]

Took them to Shady Grove for lunch last time they were here.

Thanks, I'll look up the other two ideas.

[another_hot-day]

Threadgills has a great atmosphere of old Austin however both times I ate there I tought the food sucked.
So did the people I took there...

[car957]

Mesa Ranch is a good spot in road located on Mesa near Spicewood Springs.

[TexasHorseLady]

Dot's. They've reopened in Pflugerville.

Louisiana Longhorn in Round Rock (down in the old town part of town).

If Threadgills, definitely the original on North Lamar.

If you want "old Austin", the Hoffbrau on 6th Street has been there since 1937. But you have to like steaks floating in butter (fortunately, I do).

Something's tickling at my brain but won't surface. I'll be back when it does.

Back! How much do you want to spend? Jeffrey's is an option if you want to spend a LOT, and it's definitely old Austin.

The Omeletry on Burnet Road.

Chez Nous.

[jwb123]

Louisiana Longhorn in Round Rock (down in the old town part of town).

Everyone I know that has eaten there has said it sucked.... and they were from Louisiana

We don't want to spend A LOT - they are pretty simple, though they like the urban life, so it must be downtown and must be original locations. They are snobby (not really snobby, they are great) Seattlites that think it doesn't get any better than Seattle and can't believe we moved to TEXAS, of all places!!!! (You people from Seattle know what I mean.... )

We want good food and good atmosphere is just as important.

[jwb123]

I was also considering The Omeletry... what's better, The Omeletry or Kerby Lane?

Tell me more about Dot's, please.

[TexasHorseLady]

Everyone I know that has eaten there has said it sucked.... and they were from Louisiana

That's interesting, because I am thoroughly enamored of Louisiana food FROM Louisiana (as are the proprietors of Louisiana Longhorn) - one of my life goals is to eat my way from Baton Rouge to New Orleans - and I found it to be right up there with much of the best food I've eaten in LA. Depending on what you order, of course. (My married name is Jumonville, by the way - I HAD to learn how to make an outstanding gumbo and jambalaya and develop a taste for the cuisine, it was written in fine print on the marriage license.)

We don't want to spend A LOT - they are pretty simple, though they like the urban life, so it must be downtown and must be original locations. They are snobby (not really snobby, they are great) Seattlites that think it doesn't get any better than Seattle and can't believe we moved to TEXAS, of all places!!!! (You people from Seattle know what I mean.... )

We want good food and good atmosphere is just as important.

Well, Chez Nous would do it, then. Downtown, good food, and good atmosphere - and just off Sixth Street for that Austin urban feel.

On the other end, you could go to Whole Foods on Sixth Street and eat there. Since Whole Foods was born in Austin, it qualifies as old Austin, I'd think.

[mckg]

If you're out by Lake Travis, the Springhill Restaurant has great fried catfish (and some grilled, if you must). They're on the nw corner of 71/620 by the Hill Country Galleria.

Have eaten at the Mesa Ranch, which I loved, especially the cactus appetizer. They also had live music (a cw combo covering Johnny Cash that night) on the weekend, but that was a while back. Best to phone ahead re music. Good food.