The service was great, and the atmosphere felt upscale yet lively while still being comfortable…read moreenough to hold a conversation. They offer quieter indoor seating as well as an outdoor bar area with a more energetic vibe. I ordered the Brussels sprouts, and while the flavor was good, they were a little softer than I would've preferred. The brisket tacos were solid, but the real standout was the short rib taquitos , they completely stole the show. We also tried the $8 margarita, and the pour was surprisingly generous.

We had a huge group here for dinner, and for a hotel restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised…read more The ambience is modern and fun vibes. Service was mostly good. The server was kind enough to do split checks upon request. Everyone enjoyed their dishes, so the food is good overall. Our group was split into 2 tables, which is okay, but 1 table was served way before the other table, so some of our group was done eating by the time others got their food. That was the main challenge we had. Would have been great to serve everyone's food closer time-wise. Overall, good experience and I'd come back if staying at the hotel again.

This is SUCH a delicious food truck! I spotted it on Yelp as we were in the mood for dessert and…read morenot sure what to try. After paying for parking we made our way over to the truck. There wasn't a line (it was a pretty hot day) so we managed to order quickly. We opted to split the Black Betty. It was huge!! I loved the blackberry sauce and fruit mixed in with the cream and sugar. This is one big dessert so I'm glad we shared it - honestly would be worth splitting a whole one amongst a few people unless you have a big sweet tooth! The staff were really quick with the order. There's ample seating by the truck which is probably nice for part of the year, but we were suffering on a hot summer day. I would highly recommend this spot - but keep in mind the weather as it's all outdoor and outdoor seating only.

I have been frequenting Gourdough's original food trailer on South 1st for a long time. I got a…read morecraving for one of their donuts and decided to make a trip. Gordough's is one of those places that fully commits to indulgence. I was able to place my order online and schedule for pick up. The order was ready when I arrived. Parking was a bit challenging and the lot was full and they charge for parking. Service was quick, casual, just good energy and fast turnaround. I ordered my tried and true Miss Shortcake with their famous cake donut with cream cheese icing and fresh cut strawberries. The donut is so indulgent and was served warm with the most delectable flavor combinations. Tried the Son of a Peach with cream cheese icing, spiced peach filling, cake mix topping, cinnamon and sugar with honey butter. This one was a bit too overindulgent and sweet for my liking but was definitely worth a try. Portions are huge and can be shared as the donut is not as good warmed over. If you're in the mood for dessert and not think about calorie count, then this is the place.

It's been two days and I'm still thinking of my meal here because it was that good. This place is…read morepopular so I highly recommend making reservations or risk waiting two hours. I love that you can sit upstairs and they play really fun music. It's a perfect place to come with friends. I loved the Lox plate, it's something that I will crave again and order the next opportunity I get. The migas with carnitas is so good too and vey filling. 10/10

The food was definitely the highlight. The chicken was crispy and flavorful, the biscuit was…read morebuttery, and the spicy honey added a nice kick. The cheddar hash brown had a great crispy exterior with a creamy center, and the empanada was flaky with a well-seasoned filling. The cortado was also well-made and a nice way to finish the meal. Unfortunately, the overall experience was brought down by the seating. When we were seated outside, we were told it was our "lucky day" because the patio had fans. In reality, it was extremely hot and uncomfortable despite the fans, and there were pigeons constantly flying around the tables, which wasn't the relaxing brunch atmosphere we were hoping for. Service was fine...nothing exceptional, but no major issues either. I'd come back for the food, but I'd definitely wait for an indoor table next time. The kitchen delivered, but the outdoor dining experience made it difficult to fully enjoy the meal.

Had a lovely dinner at Sammie's Italian, A Little Taste of Old Italy in Austin, Texas". Was able…read moreto secure a reservation during the 4th of July holiday week, but reservation availabilty is usually very limited. They offer valet parking but we were able to get free parking on the street. We were greeted promptly upon arrival and seated in a booth with a view of the entirestaurant, which made the whole experience feel a bit more relaxed and elevated. It's a lively space, but the booth still gave us a comfortable corner to settle into and enjoy the meal. The service was elevated with friendly conversation. We started the meal with complimentary focaccia bread, which came out warm and topped with fresh herbs. The waiter brought out olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping upon request. For dinner, we started with the Caesar Salad alla Tommy, which I remember from a previous dining experience was a highlight. The Caesar salad was so fresh and flavorful with a nice balance of creamy and tangy flavors and a crunchy bite. For our entrees, I ordered the Mafaldine with unghi & tartufo which turned out to be the most memorable pasta of the table. The dish had a cream sauce with mushrooms and truffles that was rich, well-textured, and comforting without feeling heavy. The Chicken Parmigiana was a generous portion size that was satisfying, with a solid crisp on the breading and a good layer of sauce and cheese. It was served with a side of pasta. Overall, it's a strong option for classic Italian in Austin, especially if you can catch a reservation during a busy week.

Who would have thought an Italian red sauce joint would go straight to my top tier Austin recs?…read more Place is just legendary. Sammie's has been hyped up on social media for a long time and I gotta say it's still underrated! I will gladly have Sammie's take the Pepsi challenge against red sauce joints in NYC/NJ etc. In fact, I've told friends and family that I am going to take them to Sammie's when they visit from there. We just had such a fantastic experience - everything..the vibe..the red light fixtures and the color of the booths and the floor..the service - our server was great..loved their outfits..really had an old school little italy feel to it. The food was much better than I even anticipated - as a guy who grew up on NJ diner mozzarella sticks, I have a high bar for them and these were magnificent. And seriously...taking the "everything's bigger in Texas" slogan and applying them to mozzarella sticks?! top 10 achievements of the decade. The chicken parm was perfect - well seasoned, proper amount of crisp..the basil on top...the perfect browning of the cheese. Also the lasanga was excellent..and best part - the leftovers..took it home and the next two days put them in a small cast iron and re-heated them..and the magic was right there in my hill country kitchen! Lastly and certainly not least - the cannoli...just look at the photo below.. I'll say, yes, the place is pricey but you can really easily split these entrees and then it becomes cheaper than a jersey strip center Italian joint. I haven't stopped raving about Sammie's since I've been there, and I cannot wait to return, recommend it, and take friends and family that visit.

Kiin Di is such a great addition to Austin's Thai food scene. One thing I really appreciated was…read morethat they have their own parking lot, which is a huge plus on South Lamar. The space is cozy and stylish which would make for a great date night spot. I actually went with a group of girlfriends, and it was just as fun for catching up over dinner. The atmosphere strikes a nice balance between intimate and lively. One thing to note is that they don't have quite as many vegetarian options as I'm used to seeing at Thai restaurants, but there were still enough choices to enjoy. I ordered the pad see ew, and it tasted really fresh with perfectly cooked noodles. Overall, if you're looking for delicious Thai food in a cute setting that's easy to get to and park at, Kiin Di is definitely worth checking out.

I was super excited when I heard Kiin Di was opening a full-service restaurant. I've been a fan of…read moretheir food truck for years and they were always consistently excellent, so I couldn't wait to see what they would do with an expanded menu. There were so many new dishes that caught my eye, but I immediately gravitated toward the Creamy Crab Curry and it was absolutely the right choice. The curry was rich, creamy and packed with flavor while the fried soft-shell crab was perfectly cooked and added a great texture to the dish. Honestly, it's the kind of meal I could see myself ordering every week. My partner went with the Lost Recipe, which looked just as delicious. You can never really go wrong with fried chicken, and this version certainly didn't disappoint. The service was equally impressive. Our server was friendly, attentive and checked in regularly throughout the meal. She even brought us a complimentary crab pastry to try, which was a thoughtful touch and much appreciated. One thing to note this place gets busy, especially during lunch so plan accordingly. That said, the food and service are well worth it and the menu is reasonably priced. Kiin Di has successfully made the jump from food truck to full-service restaurant and it's definitely earned a spot on my regular rotation.