Tag Archives: Austin Restaurants

Cool Spot: Man Bites Dog

Man Bites Dog

When a local restaurant brands itself with phrasing like “More meat. Bigger ideas.” you know they mean business and probably don’t specialize in salads. Sure enough, Man Bites Dog offers no fewer than 15 meaty hot dogs with a wide array of toppings at its two locations. Try the Banh Mi, for instance, with pork sausage, peanut sauce, cucumber, carrots, jalapenos and cilantro, or the Buffalo Hottie, with a beef frank, bleu cheese crumbles, buffalo sauce and green onions. And if that’s not enough to satisfy your appetite, there’s always a heaping helping of tater tots, hand-cut fries or — of course — ice cream to sink your teeth into. If that’s not a recipe for happiness, we don’t know what is.

 

Man Bites Dog‘s two locations:

5222 Burnet Road and 3005 South Lamar

Sun-Thurs 11 am-9 pm. Fri-Sat 11 am – 10 pm

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Filed under Cool Spots, Eatery, Family Fun, Northwest Austin, Southwest Austin

Cool Spot: Asti Trattoria

As much as we love a good square meal around here, and as much of a reputation as Austin is garnering as an up-and-coming foodie paradise with all its Tex-Mex, barbecue and farm-to-table inventiveness, Italian fare just isn’t something we’re known for.  Although we’ve already shared one of the city’s best kept secrets in the realm of pizza (The Backspace at 5th and San Jacinto), we’ve since uncovered another respectable trattoria: Asti at Duval Street and 43rd.  Its simple, straightforward menu of antipasti, pizza and pasta doesn’t disappoint.  Try the daily risotto with a glass of Chianti; it’s a dinner fit for The Godfather indeed.  That’s Italian!

Asti Trattoria, 408 East 43rd Street

Mon-Thurs 11a-10p, Fri 11a-11p, Sat 5-11p (happy hour M-F, 4-6p)

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Filed under Cool Spots, Eatery

It’s Austin Restaurant Week!

Here in Austin, we take food pretty seriously.  That’s why it’s literally a feeding frenzy every time Austin Restaurant Week rolls around.  The twice-a-year citywide event is back again with a vengeance, teasing our palates for two extended weekends in a row.  Stretching from September 23-26 and September 30-October 3, opportunities abound to try prix fixe menus at Austin’s finest restaurants at a reduced price, which in turn benefits local charities.  Lunches generally run $11-16 while dinners range from $26-$36.  Doing good while doing well?  We’d love another helping of that.

Austin Restaurant Week, Sept 23-26 and Sept 30-Oct 3

Full listing of restaurants and reservation info here

Proceeds benefit local charities like Meals on Wheels and more.

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Filed under Annual Events, Eatery

Cool Spot: North Austin Trailer Yard – NOW OPEN

NATY Now Open

We’re no strangers to food trailers around here, but until recently, we’ve had to venture south to get to some of the best ones.  Now, however, North Austin has its very own food trailer yard, very aptly named… North Austin Trailer Yard, or NATY for short.  Featuring the beef, chicken and pork sandwich specialties of Snarky’s MooBawkOink (again with the literal titles), the yard also boasts a mobile version of the nearby Genuine Joe coffee house (with its original location just a stone’s throw away, about a mile west on Anderson Lane), as well as a Greek food trailer, a hot dog vendor and a traditional Ramen truck. NATY also offers free wi-fi and shaded outdoor seating for those who need to stay connected while they nosh al fresco.  Individual trailer hours vary.

 
1012 West Anderson Lane, near Lamar Blvd.
Visit the Facebook page for individual trailer hours & news

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Filed under Coffee, Cool Spots, Dog Friendly, Eatery, Family Fun, Northwest Austin, Outdoors

Cool Spot: Gourdough’s Donuts & Izzoz Tacos

Izzoz & Gordoughs

Austin is undoubtedly known for its food trailers and, of late, there’s been an ever-increasing array of them popping up in “parks” downtown, down south and on the Eastside; one trailer in particular, though, simply can’t be imitated, and it’s recently relocated to become neighbors with an instant classic.  Gourdough’s is essentially a bastion of caloric excess, with its two dozen donuts slathered in everything from maple syrpu and bacon to berries and chocolate.  Nestled next door to Izzoz Tacos on South First at the intersection of Monroe Street, this duo offers a one-two punch of salty and sweet, with Gourdough’s staying open late into the night to feed the concert-going masses in need of sugary sustenance on their way back home. Pro tip: during the day, start with a migas taco at Izzos and move on to the Dirty Berry next door; bonus points if you can get through the whole thing. Bon appetit!

 

South First Street at Monroe Street
See Izzoz and Gourdough’s websites for menus and hours

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Filed under Cool Spots, Dog Friendly, Eatery, Family Fun, Outdoors, Weekend Activity Ideas