Casual but tasty b-day dinner

[adewaal]

My birthday is next week and I am trying to decide where to go. Hubby and I will be going to NYC later in the week to officially celebrate the occasion so I want to do something good, but casual on my actual b-day. I am currently thinking about Sunflower, Din Ho, or T&S. I have never been to any of these places and would love to hear feedback, favorite dish, and/or other restaurant suggestions. Please, no Tex-Mex although South American or Mexican would be fine.
Thanks!

[foodiegal71]

I'm now a big fan of First Chinese BBQ in the Chinatown Center. In fact, I have decided that I put it above DinHo. Seriously. And they have large round tables that would be great for a birthday party if you're inviting some friends. Also, it's casual and has the best duck I've ever tasted. One word of caution, they don't serve alcohol, but you can bring your own and there's no corkage charge.

[Homero]

I heard from a little birdie that First Chinese BBQ in the Chinatown Center was started by the same people who ran a Chinese Restaurant in Dallas that the folks from Din Ho left to move here to Austin. Of course, My little birdie friend could offer no proof, but I was wondering if anyone noticed any similarities in their dishes.

[adewaal]

Good to know, thanks foodiegal.

[Greg Spence]

I know that it's probably been over mentioned on this board, but the place that I'd like to go for a casual, pleasant, tasty birthday dinner would be Enoteca Vespaio. The food is some of the best in town and the wine list is just great. Weather permitting , an outside table would be just the ticket.

[saticoy]

Yeah, I immediately thought of this first (my casual celebration place of choice), but with Otto on the horizon...I think maybe another place for this celebration. Dona Emilia's sounds like it would fit the bill, nice ambience and good chow. And adewaal - T&S would be perfect for a "dim sum 101" experience at lunch where you order off a menu - they have all the classics.

[kalex]

Happy Birthday! Pleased to have met you!

My recommendation is Sunflower. I agree with the other posters about Din Ho's atmosphere - it's very chaotic and can be loud. T & S is very low on decor as well (but that doesn't bother me) but Sunflower is a pretty sunny restaurant due to all the windows of the restaurant (one wall and front) and although small, it's got a nice family feel to it.

At Sunflower, try their Goi Cuon (soft rice paper) spring rolls or their Cha Gio (Imperial Rolls - Vietnamese eggrolls that have meat as an appetizer. Their pork and shrimp salad comes recommended as well but I haven't tried it personally. For main entrees, the Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe) is really good with pork and shrimp and since they make it fresh, you can have them leave out whatever you don't like - I personally am not a big fan of mung bean sprouts. The shaken beef (Bo Luc Lac) is awesome and so is their Five Spice Chicken. I LOVE their Ca Kho To (catfish braised in a clay pot) but it's just all fish and kinda spicy/peppery but I love this with just the plain white rice. The Lemongrass Chicken is also tasty. I recommend their fried rice too - specifically the beef fried rice and the veggie fried rice that has firm tofu and mushrooms in it - both are very flavorful and have the authentic wok char/fry taste. I add a little of the chili garlic sauce (the one w/ seeds in it) to the fried rices and it's just yummy. Lastly, don't miss out on their light desserts. Red bean w/ coconut milk or even their 3 color Che Ba Mau is refreshing and won't leave you weighed down. Hope that helps...

[amysuehere]

Of the three you mentioned, I think my choice would be Din Ho. Kind of a bustling party atmosphere and if you go with a group, the family style allows you to taste all sorts of dishes and promotes good conversation. Favorite dishes there are the satay noodle beef, the pork/duck bbq combo, any of the hot pots, the h&s soup, the General Tso's chicken (when it's good there's never any left, when it's eh, most of it is left).

My new favorite casual place is Freddie's on South First. Love the big back yard and oak tree. Chicken fried chicken is VERY good and affordable and I like the GIANT onion rings and the spinich casserole. There's usually a band playing (not to loudly) on the weekend and the washers are always fun. Okay drink prices (better at happy hour).

[rollledspleen]

All three restaurants you mention get plenty of print here on chowhound, so a search will get you a lot of detail on each.

All are good choices for food, but know they are all very casual for a b'day. Sunflower is the smallest and is often subdued. Favorites are shaken beef, seafood crepes, but everything I've had there has been good. T&S has good food, but the decor/feel of the restaurant borders on depressing to me. Din Ho is big, bustling, even chaotic. BBQ, especially duck is excellent. Also the roast pork and oyster hot pot is good.

Musashino is casual, with sushi that is first rate not just for Austin, but anywhere. Maru on Burnet Rd is a even more casual (like Sunflower) and is good too, I'd rank it a notch below Musashino.(all the sushi has been very good except spicy tuna rolls - try the sammari (sp?) roll). Fonda San Migel isn't casual - though I go in shorts and t-shirt all the time - but it would be a dinner (interior Mexican) that you can probably do better in Austin than NYC. Enotecca on south congress is casual and good, but you are about to be in NYC.

Hope this helps, and happy birthday.

[adewaal]

Thanks! It sounds like Din Ho may be a good option in terms of balancing good food and a lively environment. I haven't been to Fonda San Migual since college (yikes) so maybe it is time for a repeat visit.
In NYC, we plan on eating at Blue Ribbon Sushi and Otto so I am covered on the sushi and Italian thing. I have never been to Maru, but will place it on my list of places to visit.

[luniz]

casual but tasty is what Austin is all about. Are you going to be drinking? Hopefully by then it's nice enough you can sit outside but maybe you don't care for that. Would you be splurging on a dessert, maybe you should factor that in?

[adewaal]

A drink would be nice, but is not mandatory. I imagine I'll pass on dessert unless there is something special offered. And sitting outside is always a plus!
Basically, I just know I will be spending a lot of time, energy, and money on fine dining in NYC that I want something easy and good.

[luniz]

Well I will vote for Dona Emilia's with the ceviche and a spicy margarita...but I haven't tried the places you list so I can't compare. Hope you get something tasty wherever you decide, please report back after :D