Vida Verde Kitchen -- A Hidden Gem That's Worth Finding…read more Austin is overflowing with trendy restaurants where the food is decent, the lighting is aggressive, and the wait time requires a light snack and a personality shift. I tend to avoid those places. Vida Verde Kitchen, thankfully, is not that. Tucked into a great area but slightly hidden (the kind of spot you feel proud to "discover"), Vida Verde feels like a restaurant that exists for people who actually want to eat, not just post. The menu is a thoughtful fusion of Tex-Mex, fresh flavors, and Americana--familiar enough to be comforting, but creative enough to keep things interesting. Yes, it's a bit overpriced, but the food earns its confidence. The guacamole is an absolute must, and anything leaning Tex-Mex is consistently solid. I can vouch. The wait staff deserves real credit here--knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely invested in the food and experience, which goes a long way these days. The atmosphere hits that Austin sweet spot: industrial touches softened by lush green foliage. It's stylish without trying too hard, which is rare and appreciated. If I had one note? This place needs a happy hour and a few more solid specials. Do that, and Vida Verde becomes dangerous--in the best way. Overall: a unique, thoughtful restaurant that avoids the hype trap and delivers where it matters. Definitely worth your time (and thankfully, not hours of it).

So we came today for Mother's Day lunch. My husband called a few weeks ago to make the reservation…read moreand because of the size they said we would get a private room. This "private room" is just the back part of the restaurant and it is not private. Then they had a 2 man Karaoke duo singing the whole entire time right next to us! It was unbearable, so loud, not even good karaoke! We could not talk at all, we came to spend time with our family. These things should have been explained before we booked! The food came an hour later and hour and half for the rest of the table, so half of our table was done eating and waiting. They didn't even bring out the kids first, so then kids were starving. The quality of the food is good, but they really need to plan better. Would never bring a large group here. It's fine for a small table.

Really good and dense but slightly too sweet for my taste. The service was good and the vibes were…read morenice.

Stopped by Phoebe's Diner while in Austin for business because I didn't want another boring hotel…read morebreakfast. Googled the best breakfast spots near me, and Phoebe's popped up. Glad it did. The menu isn't huge, but honestly that's usually a good sign -- focus on doing a smaller menu really well instead of serving 94 mediocre things and a sad waffle. I ordered the Bad Ass Bacon & Eggs plate. It came with thick-cut bacon, 2 eggs, hash brown casserole, wheat toast, and smoked salsa. Bacon - 9/10 This wasn't your average thin breakfast bacon. Thick-cut, almost pork belly style, with killer flavor and very meaty. Eggs - 9/10 Cooked perfectly and tasted fresh. Simple, but done right. Hash Brown Casserole - 8/10 Different than what I expected, but in a good way. Unique flavor and a great addition to the plate. Salsa - 7/10 Very homemade style salsa with a smoky flavor. Different, but really good. Atmosphere - 9/10 Loved the vibe. Cozy atmosphere, great music, and just an overall comfortable place to sit and enjoy breakfast. If this place was closer to home, I'd eat here often. Service - 10/10 Excellent service. Christy H. was friendly, attentive, and on point the whole time. Overall - 9/10 Definitely a must-try breakfast spot in Austin. They currently have four locations, and after eating here, it's easy to see why.

My brother was visiting from San Antonio, TX. We were tooling around Austin playing tourist and…read morethen landed at District Kitchen for lunch. This place is so intoxicating from the aqua blue color palate and funky green art work to the alluring lighting and huge metal plate (looks like something from a ship...also their logo). My brother said the green artwork looked like broccoli. My brother ordered the Idaho trout with coconut rice and Brussel sprouts. I sampled his food and it was all good. The standout was the Brussel sprouts...crispy with this absolutely delicious drizzle. I ordered the Mezze plate with a flavor explosion and many desirable texture. It had lamb kabobs, fresh salad (emphasis on fresh) with thinly sliced cucumbers, finely sliced onions and creamy feta (never had creamy feta), red round sweet peppers, hummus with the most delightful pesto like sauce, and olives. Oh my...what a delicious lunch! Morgan, our server, was attentive and accomodating. She moved us to another table when we notice our table was rocking a little. Great catching up with my brother and excellent meal!

Service was great. The food was good with an exception…read more The trout with Brussels sprouts was tasty. The chicken and waffles were enjoyed but one of those chicken pieces was burned and bitter (see pic) The buffalo chili was on the spicy side and for $16 a small portion. (See pic). My 10-year-old has a tiny appetite, and it was even a small portion for him. The whipped feta appetizer was delicious as were the fries. Very well executed. I'd probably come back.

Should you make a reservation before you go? perhaps. Did we need the one we made for this past…read moreSunday on Memorial Day weekend? Not when we went right at 11a. As I walked up to the easy to find and steps from the PURPLE PARKING GARAGE restaurant, I was already vibing off the patio. Totally giving vacay veranda. The hostess greeted me with a smile, and I dipped into the restrooms before I asked about our table. Of course, I went for a patio table and while I didn't enjoy the occasional fly zipping around, the shaded and breezy tables were perfection on a Sunday afternoon. Our server was Jamie and he was absolutely a DREAM. I was fully prepared for that awkward wait at a table alone when you're lunch date is running late and you have no idea exactly how late... From the moment I was seated alone, Jamie introduced himself, was warm, and fully engaged in manifesting a wonderful experience. He was mindful about sharing just enough with me about the scratch to table mission they have at Doc Bs while saving the good stuff for when both my friend and I were present. My friend ended up going with their special and it was TO DIE FOR!!! I want to say it was Chilean Ahi Tuna Salad? It was some sort of voodoo magic seared onto the Tuna, and they present it like dominoes across the bottom of a giant pile of delightful, chopped salad. I did the Buffalo Chicken Salad, and I ate every crunchy blue cheese tickled bite! Waiting on a friend too? My safe go-to order was the Guacamole! They bring it out with the Sweet Potato Chips - HOUSE MADE and Jamie gave me Tortilla chips too in case my friend preferred something different. They have fans on the patio, so it's not too hot. I'd complain they didn't have the wine I wanted, but when they didn't have my first request, not only did they bring me my 2nd request, but the gentleman from behind the bar walked over a taste of a comparable wine to the one I had originally chosen and I absolutely appreciate that extra effort to make sure I felt valued and seen. Way to go, Doc Bs! **Note: When a fly decided to take a dive and a swim relay in my glass of wine, they didn't bat a lash and replaced the glass for me and seamlessly disposed of Fly Guy in all his drunken Memorial Day glory! Jamie is a treasure. That kid is going places, very impressive spirit.

Fancy casual? Upscale chill? It's hard to describe but overall, I'd say it's a special occasion…read moreplace that isn't stuffy. You'll certainly pay for it, but at least you're getting high-quality food and drinks. I absolutely adore the grilled artichokes, which don't need the tartar sauce because they're already so rich and flavorful, but it kills me that it's $20 for a starter with 4 trimmed halves. The guacamole with sweet potato chips is also superlative, and reasonably substantial in terms of portion size and satiation. For the best value, definitely hit up the lunch menu, where you can get a "wok out" bowl with tofu; a highly competent vegan option. I only go once every year or two, but service is always on point and I never walk away unhappy with my meal. Just make sure you have the budget for it!

I recently visited Roaring Fork for a company dinner, and once again, it reminded me why we keep…read morecoming back. The service is consistently attentive and welcoming, making the whole experience feel effortless and enjoyable. The food quality never disappoints. I always order the Rainbow Trout--it's absolutely delicious every time, perfectly prepared and full of flavor. It's become my go-to dish for a reason. And I can't forget the cocktails. Their Paper Plane is my personal favorite, and they also make a fantastic Old Fashioned. Both are well-balanced and crafted with care, which really elevates the dining experience. Overall, Roaring Fork continues to deliver on both food and service, making it a reliable spot for any occasion.

While in town for work I was looking for something close to the hotel for colleagues and I to grab…read moredinner and came across Roaring Fork. Easily booked a reservation and was able to request seating on the patio overlooking the lake! The decor and overall vibe is extremely welcoming and several guests took advantage of the photo ops with the lake background. One colleague had the Huckleberry Bramble and we shared Shrimp Cocktail...the sauce wasn't quite atomic, could use more horseradish (my palate may be spoilt by St Elmo's). Both colleagues ordered the Salmon while I opted for the Roasted Duck. There was a significant period of silence when we first sampled our meals soaking in every flavor. We all devoured and commented on the green beans as well! I tried the Pecan Pie for dessert and it was outstanding and very rich! We had a great meal and will return on a future trip I'm sure!

Christmas Eve...Date Night...Catch up time (The Trifecta)! While we had very little preparations…read morefor Christmas day, we decided to have a nice dinner before the big day. Surprisingly, it was not an original idea as Jack Allen's on West Anderson was packed and buzzing. We had the pleasure of having Wiley as our server. He exuded southern hospitality and was super friendly. Both the hubs and I had fried catfish and Cole slaw along with guacamole and chips as appetizer. Jack Allen's also provides a complimentary perminto cheese appetizer. The catfish was especially fresh, lightly fried and super flavorful. I normally give my hubby my Cole slaw and I eat more of the guacamole. All in all, it was a great meal with excellent service. I am sure we will be back to visit. The food is consistently good and service is always great!

Came here today for brunch. Nice atmosphere and staff was very friendly…read more Two of us had miga's, two had pancakes, and one had barbacoa enchiladas. All the food was good, but the pancakes were by far the most popular.

I visited Sixty Vines for the first time last night and I have nothing but positive feedback. Our…read moreserver was personable, confident, knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. The food measured up to the service quality, as well. The server helped us pair our wine with our food, so it all came together nicely. I felt comfortable in the main room and there was enough space between tables. The lighting also helped us feel comfortable. Compared to North Italia, the value for the cost was impressive. The menu measured up to North Italia, if not better in some ways, and the cost was still lower. I will definitely come back here in the future.

A fantastic visit from beginning to end. The place is well…read moredecorated and arranged to allow for easy conversation. The wine selection is of course very nice. They have options for most tastes with pour sizes for all as well The food is excellent. We shared a few small plates and enjoyed everything. The service is the star here. We were made to feel we were the only guest being served as everyone we interacted with was pleasant, unrushed and took the time to talk with us and make sure we didn't need for anything. Our server Hope was outstanding

I had to get in some cajon food in this town…read more this restaurant is very close to my hotel and I have been eyeing it ever since I got here. finally, checked it out a couple days ago. i order the catfish gumbo which comes with 2 sides. I got beans with rice and the veggie of the day, also got a shiner bock beer for 5 bucks. total with tip was ~33 i think i gave 5bucks tip the fish gumbo was really good. i also really like the beans with rice. it has a slightly different flavor profile but also very good. i think this place is a hidden gem.... good portions, decent price, and easy parking, had to figure out another P for a triple P. i think this was better than when I got rip off on bourbon street, yrs back. that was straight up super expensive double charge the tourist stuff...

As soon as you walk into this spot, it feels truly transformed. It's like a time capsule of old…read moretimey New Orleans. We tried to go to happy hour with my partner's parents, but that was only available in the bar area. Given they have some health problems to consider, we could not move over and hover over teeny tables to have dinner so had to handle full price. At full price, I'd give it a solid 3.5. Bumped to a 4 because this is hard to find around here. We got: - shrimp yoli (if you only order one dish, get one with this SAUCE. It's to die for. The shrimp had too much seasoning that it was a little choke worthy and I NEVER complain about flavor. Just lighten up a little!) - escargot (the butter was broken.. so it was kinda rough) -catfish gumbo (solid portion) -redfish add lump crab (while we enjoyed this, it was pricy for what it was) -shrimp and crawfish pasta (good) -orange crème brûlée (light.. not my fav crème brûlée ever but fun to try) - chocolate cake brownie with ice cream

Alexa was so amazing. She truly changed my culinary dropout experience. Would recommend going to…read morethis place over and over again.

The experience and food were so good I came here two nights in a row…read more Service was fantastic. The servers seem happy to be there. The vibe was great the first night but our table on the second night around many families and kids which made the experience less top tier. Still, the food and the service made up for the loss in ambiance.

Absolutely bangin food. Sat outside in the Austin heat but the vibes were great and our dog was…read moreable to calmly sip his water and hang out Angelo is a star and made sure we were well taken care of, despite being away from the main service crowd Cannot wait to return

Very friendly service, delicious food although portions were a bit light…read more One of the best mocktails we have had. We caught a football game here not knowing it's an ordained Eagles bar... luckily there are two sides separated by a wall and we got to sit on the less rowdy side. Their ice cream machine was down so we'll have to revisit for desserts another time!