We like to eat well here, but fine food doesn’t need to be fussy. Luckily, Austin has fresh ingredients and chefs who know just what to do with them.
Barley Swine
If you haven’t been yet, go. Now. We mean it. This place is totally Austin — creative and weirdly cool, but also totally low-key and friendly. Bryce Gilmore is a genius at putting together local ingredients in combinations that seem strange but taste delicious. Grilled broccoli, fermented chili and crushed duck egg? Cauliflower panna cotta, white chocolate, pine nut and coffee? Trust them.
Our Pick: It changes too often to say, but you can’t go wrong. Definitely order a beer for the kitchen.
Contigo
View the Vine here: https://vine.co/v/b623ehuAHOw
When the weather’s nice, this is the place to be for a happy hour that extends into dinner. The folks behind Contigo brought the feel of their South Texas ranch to East Austin with big outdoor tables for hanging out and simple food and drink made with fresh, local ingredients. They even have horseshoes. So bring some friends and stay awhile.
Our Pick: An El Pepino (tequila, cucumber, mint & lime) to drink, Crispy Green Beans to start, and the Rabbit & Dumplings to bring it home.
Moonshine
View the Vine here: https://vine.co/v/brELIEZgegm
The atmosphere is somehow both casual and stylish. The food is classic down home cooking, but with innovative twists. And oh yeah, you get pre-meal popcorn, which in theory sounds strange, but in practice is so perfect that you’ll wonder why more restaurants don’t do the same. While you wait for a table, take up a rocking chair on the porch and watch the crowd stream by as you enjoy your Mint Julep.
Our Pick: Broiled Rainbow Trout (with corn bread stuffing & chile sage butter), White Chocolate Bread Pudding, and a shot of seasonally-infused moonshine (no, really).
Barley Swine
2024 S Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
http://barleyswine.com
Contigo
2027 Anchor Ln.
Austin, TX 78723
http://contigotexas.com/austin
Moonshine
303 Red River St.
(512) 236-9599
http://moonshinegrill.com/
