Your favorite restaurants in Austin? (Pflugerville, Atlanta: houses, tax, price)

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Yeah but once again, those restaurants, aside from Mimi's were not in Atlanta so I never experienced them before moving here. Chili's, Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory are nationwide, the restaurants I mentioned are not.

Interesting that we used to eat at a couple of the original Longhorn Steak House locations around Atlanta; but have only been a couple of times here to "enjoy" their newer corporate/chain image.

The chain snobs probably didn't know that Mellow Mushroom(on the Drag for years) was/is a chain that started in Atlanta(Decatur).

I'd hate for someone to skip Jack Allen's because it is now a chain...same for Moonshine(I'll admit Waterloo fell down a rabbit hole somewhere along the line).



Many of the "chains" still have an original location or something pretty similar...Green Mesquite, Schlotzsky's, Chuy's, Z Tejas, Jim's , Kerby Lane.....BUT, the original locations often don't live up to the hype.


If anyone can explain the crazed popularity of places like In n Out or P. Terry's, they can probably sell ice cubes to Eskimos. ( And can probably explain why ANYbody likes cilantro )

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Yeah but once again, those restaurants, aside from Mimi's were not in Atlanta so I never experienced them before moving here. Chili's, Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory are nationwide, the restaurants I mentioned are not.

Rudy's BBQ - 46 locations in 5 states
BJ's - 202 locations all over the US
Saltgrass Steakhouse - has a location in atlanta
Grand Lux Cafe (Domain) - has a location in atlanta
Mimi's Bistro & Bakery - has a location in atlanta

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Interesting that we used to eat at a couple of the original Longhorn Steak House locations around Atlanta; but have only been a couple of times here to "enjoy" their newer corporate/chain image.

The chain snobs probably didn't know that Mellow Mushroom(on the Drag for years) was/is a chain that started in Atlanta(Decatur).

I'd hate for someone to skip Jack Allen's because it is now a chain...same for Moonshine(I'll admit Waterloo fell down a rabbit hole somewhere along the line).



Many of the "chains" still have an original location or something pretty similar...Green Mesquite, Schlotzsky's, Chuy's, Z Tejas, Jim's , Kerby Lane.....BUT, the original locations often don't live up to the hype.


If anyone can explain the crazed popularity of places like In n Out or P. Terry's, they can probably sell ice cubes to Eskimos. ( And can probably explain why ANYbody likes cilantro )

P terrys makes a very good fast food burger. Austin's in-n-out isnt as good as the ones Ive tried in california but they are solid. I love their fries, but I know lots of people dont.

The problem with chains is a lot of the food is brought in from a central location, pre-prepared. It is very difficult to get higher end food from a chain. Basic flavors, basic ingredients, basic preparation.

All the chains you mentioned are 2* restaurants (chuys, z tejas, kerbey ln etc).

Jack allens is closer to that style of food that can be done in chains.

The places I mentioned are a totally different class of food. It has nothing to do with snobbery, I eat at those places all the time. But someone claimed austin doesnt have good food. If you go by the 2* restaurants, the food is all pretty straightforward. The main seasonings are salt, sugar, and pepper. But austin's 3* restaurants, especially for our size, are great.

I dont eat cilantro, but there is a genetic predisposition for it tasting like soap to some people. To others it apparently tastes great. This is similar to being able to smell asparagus in your urine. Some people have the gene and some dont.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Chili's, Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory are nationwide, the restaurants I mentioned are not.

Grand Lux, BJ's, Mimi's are nationwide, all are in the last three states I've lived. Grand Lux is a Cheesecake Factory chain btw.

Austin97's list is a good one. I enjoyed many of those even though we've been gone for several years.

[m1a1mg]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Yeah but once again, those restaurants, aside from Mimi's were not in Atlanta so I never experienced them before moving here. Chili's, Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory are nationwide, the restaurants I mentioned are not.

Then get out and enjoy your new home instead of frequenting the places from your old one.

https://austin.eater.com/maps/best-r...n-eater-38-map

https://apps.statesman.com/austin360...urants-austin/

https://www.foodnetwork.com/restaura...aurants-austin

https://www.zagat.com/citys-best/austin

[10scoachrick]

I'm pretty sure I predicted this; but perhaps not in such a convoluted fashion...Another 'local chain' bites the dust:




Troubled fast-casual restaurant chain shutters all Austin locations - CultureMap Austin

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Austin97

P terrys makes a very good fast food burger. Austin's in-n-out isnt as good as the ones Ive tried in california but they are solid. I love their fries, but I know lots of people dont.

The problem with chains is a lot of the food is brought in from a central location, pre-prepared. It is very difficult to get higher end food from a chain. Basic flavors, basic ingredients, basic preparation.

All the chains you mentioned are 2* restaurants (chuys, z tejas, kerbey ln etc).

Jack allens is closer to that style of food that can be done in chains.

The places I mentioned are a totally different class of food. It has nothing to do with snobbery, I eat at those places all the time. But someone claimed austin doesnt have good food. If you go by the 2* restaurants, the food is all pretty straightforward. The main seasonings are salt, sugar, and pepper. But austin's 3* restaurants, especially for our size, are great.

I dont eat cilantro, but there is a genetic predisposition for it tasting like soap to some people. To others it apparently tastes great. This is similar to being able to smell asparagus in your urine. Some people have the gene and some dont.

I respect your opinion; but you lost me there. Their fries are as dusty and flavorless as their white buns

[homeinatx]

Austin has a pretty spectacular dining scene for an MSA its size. i would say only NOLA and Las Vegas are better in the 1-2 million MSA range.

We have great chef-driven restaurants and pretty terrific street/cheap food. The in between however is mostly pretty awful and there are some missing cuisines.

We now have great Mexican food from most regions at every price range:

There are dozens of great taco trucks all over the south and east sides of town: favorites would include Tacos More, Veracruz All natural (best aqua frescas, I have had outside of Mexico), La Fruta Feliz, Tysons, too many to mention. There is no reason for anyone ever to eat at Chuy's. Fonda San Miguel (still fantastic) used to be the only place in town for upscale Mexican. No longer. Suerte, currently the best Mexican restaurant in town is terrific. La Condesa can be hit or miss, but when it is great, it is delicious. ATX Cocina . . .

I have not found any good Korean or Indian food (though the dosas at Swad on Rundberg are ridiculously cheap and delicious), but increasingly we have Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese covered. While dim sum is still tough, most of the Chinese restaurants in the strip malls on Far North Lamar are pretty great. Din Ho has been making excellent Chinese BBQ for years. Asia Cafe is solid. And H Mart has been a game changer- best selection of fish in Austin. Austin has excellent sushi, odd for a landlocked city: Tomodachi, Mushashino et al all very good and Uchi/Uchiko are pricey but superb. We are in the midst of a Ramen Renaissance. And Paul Qui's East Side Kings empire offers excellent Asian fusionist street food at very reasonable prices in all its locations. I particularly like the Thai inspired venues at the Domain and at Whislers on east 6th. Sway is pretty great upscale Thai

I could go on and on. I like Austin 97's list on the previous page. Start there... i would add Swift's Attic, Parkside, Olive & June (though Italian in Austin remains rough), Perla's, Clarks, Yuyo, Austin Land & Cattle, Hoovers, Salty Sow. We are the smoked brisket capital of the world: Franklin, Style Switch, Micklethwaite Craft meats, Kerlin, LA Barbecue and the Lockhart greats all now have Austin outposts. I like Rudy's extra moist brisket but it is a cut below these places.

If you want to eat really well for less, Austin is queen of Happy Hours. Check out Eater Austin for a current list. If you are not eating well in Austin, you are really not trying. We don't have the range and depth of Foodie meccas like NYC or Chicago or L.A., other places I have lived in the U.S. We have dozens rather than hundreds of excellent dining options, and there is also a lot of bad food. the worst vegetarian food I have eaten in my life was at Mothers and the food at tourist traps like the Oasis is nothing short of disgusting . The best restaurant strips IMO are currently North Burnett from 45 to 183 and Manor Road from Airport to 35.

[ScoPro]

Most of the time when we eat out is for Happy Hour & appetizers.

I don’t care much for overpriced foo-foo stuff garnished with weed sprigs.

[m1a1mg]

Originally Posted by homeinatx

Austin has a pretty spectacular dining scene for an MSA its size. i would say only NOLA and Las Vegas are better in the 1-2 million MSA range.

We have great chef-driven restaurants and pretty terrific street/cheap food. The in between however is mostly pretty awful and there are some missing cuisines.

We now have great Mexican food from most regions at every price range:

There are dozens of great taco trucks all over the south and east sides of town: favorites would include Tacos More, Veracruz All natural (best aqua frescas, I have had outside of Mexico), La Fruta Feliz, Tysons, too many to mention. There is no reason for anyone ever to eat at Chuy's. Fonda San Miguel (still fantastic) used to be the only place in town for upscale Mexican. No longer. Suerte, currently the best Mexican restaurant in town is terrific. La Condesa can be hit or miss, but when it is great, it is delicious. ATX Cocina . . .

I have not found any good Korean or Indian food (though the dosas at Swad on Rundberg are ridiculously cheap and delicious), but increasingly we have Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese covered. While dim sum is still tough, most of the Chinese restaurants in the strip malls on Far North Lamar are pretty great. Din Ho has been making excellent Chinese BBQ for years. Asia Cafe is solid. And H Mart has been a game changer- best selection of fish in Austin. Austin has excellent sushi, odd for a landlocked city: Tomodachi, Mushashino et al all very good and Uchi/Uchiko are pricey but superb. We are in the midst of a Ramen Renaissance. And Paul Qui's East Side Kings empire offers excellent Asian fusionist street food at very reasonable prices in all its locations. I particularly like the Thai inspired venues at the Domain and at Whislers on east 6th. Sway is pretty great upscale Thai

I could go on and on. I like Austin 97's list on the previous page. Start there... i would add Swift's Attic, Parkside, Olive & June (though Italian in Austin remains rough), Perla's, Clarks, Yuyo, Austin Land & Cattle, Hoovers, Salty Sow. We are the smoked brisket capital of the world: Franklin, Style Switch, Micklethwaite Craft meats, Kerlin, LA Barbecue and the Lockhart greats all now have Austin outposts. I like Rudy's extra moist brisket but it is a cut below these places.

If you want to eat really well for less, Austin is queen of Happy Hours. Check out Eater Austin for a current list. If you are not eating well in Austin, you are really not trying. We don't have the range and depth of Foodie meccas like NYC or Chicago or L.A., other places I have lived in the U.S. We have dozens rather than hundreds of excellent dining options, and there is also a lot of bad food. the worst vegetarian food I have eaten in my life was at Mothers and the food at tourist traps like the Oasis is nothing short of disgusting . The best restaurant strips IMO are currently North Burnett from 45 to 183 and Manor Road from Airport to 35.

The best post in the thread.

The biggest problem with Austin, in particular, and Texas in general, is that they foist Tex-Mex on folks who don't know better. I prefer Hecho in Mexico, although they've made some populist concessions.

For Indian we go to Clay Pit. Not perfect, but still very good.

Din Ho has the best fried rice I've ever eaten.