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Though Mexican, Tex-Mex, and barbecue are the default cuisines, everything from Brazilian to Pacific Rim fusion has made headway here, and there are strong vegetarian and natural-food followers.
To find the best barbecue, local consensus tends to be that you've got to head out of town to Lockhart, Luling, or Llano, in the Hill Country. Nevertheless, there are several fine options within the city limits, the bulk of them simple places.
In some venues the music and food share nearly equal billing, like Threadgill's, whose massive chicken-fried steak is as much of a draw as the well-known blues and rock acts on stage. Stubb's Bar-B-Q hosts a popular gospel brunch on Sundays.
Austin is a casual city, and the dress code is almost always "come as you are"; a few restaurants require a jacket for men. Tips are generally 20%. Smoking is prohibited inside restaurants and bars, though some allow smoking on their outdoor patios.
This casual Bouldin Creek neighborhood bistro with a breezy back patio is a refreshing respite for a leisurely happy hour or a midday meal during a day of shopping around nearby South Congress. The French-inspired cuisine is light and straightforward, with a wonderful wine list and craft cocktail selection.
Austin's first French bistro, owned by Paris natives, manages to maintain its quiet and cozy atmosphere despite its location mere feet from raucous 6th Street. Simple dishes from the French playbook make appearances on the reasonably priced menu, and the three-course prix-fixe dinner ($32.50) is a bargain. Start with the house-made pâté du jour or escargot, then treat yourself to housemade confit duck legs. The casual bistro atmosphere encourages long meals and romantic glances, so pace yourself accordingly.
Homegrown restaurateur Larry McGuire has revitalized Clarksville’s beloved Jeffrey’s steak house, with rave reviews for the French American haunt that haven't stopped rolling in. The chichi vibe starts curbside, with pink seersucker-clad valets, and extends to the lavish interior and menu, with accoutrements like martini carts and Petrossian caviar service. Find a seat at the bar during happy hour (4:30–6 pm and all night Monday), when all bar food is half-price. The crispy fried Gulf oysters are still a hot ticket—and a mainstay of Jeffrey’s past—and the Wagyu burger is succulent. Plus, it’s a treat to watch the bow-tied bartenders whip up elaborate pre-Prohibition classics and other whimsical (oft times, off-menu) libations.
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