602119 Sun Mar 08 15:13:25 -0700 2009 19 61 Austin 0 4485082 my husband will be staying in downtown austin for sxsw festival for 9 days. he will have a car but probably won't want to drive too far. can you give some suggestions for: bbq steakhouse breakfasts southern fare burger joints seafood anything else that is quintessentially austin. thanks. Sun Mar 08 15:13:25 -0700 2009 11827 woofer 1 4485290 I started a similar thread last fall regarding the Austin Film Festival; so I copied the downtown suggestions over to this thread as The SXSW Film Festival shares some of the same venues. My thread was specifically about cheap eats. These were suggestions from. Don_ya, micksgirl, yummygirl8, and budgethound: Try Dona Emilia's @ San Jacinto & Cesar Chavez for breakfast or lunch. A lot of items under $8. You can get the $1.99 burger and fries from 4-6:30, and then again after 9, at McCormick & Schmick's on 4th & Congress. There is a $2.50 minimum drink order. There's a new mobile food truck at 5th and Brazos, and OMG they have the best empanadas since grandma. It's big, it's red, it's quick, it's cheap and I think it's called mmmpanadas. Their hours on the weekends are 10pm on, so best pick one up after a film. You can even buy a few extra for breakfast. I recommend Green Chile Chicken, Spinach mushroom--it has pine nuts+goat cheese, or Pumpkin. near CONGRESS AVENUE (Paramount; Hideout) Marakesh Café & Grill Mediterranean; mezze is pretty good 906 Congress Ave Frank & Angie's Fellini on foccacia, hold the lettuce ($6.25) 508 West Ave [about 7 blocks west of Congress] near SIXTH STREET (Driskill; Ritz) Koriente Asian fusion 621 E 7th St http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/564695 If you’re not on a budget. I recommend the 1886 Café at The Driskill Hotel for breakfast. I very much like their Paris, Texas Benedict. L.B.J. and Lady Bird had one of there first dates there. Sun Mar 08 16:32:42 -0700 2009 4485082 20951 Helind 2 4485567 thanks. not really looking for cheap eats as he will be with a client. hoping to find a bunch of good local places. Sun Mar 08 18:11:48 -0700 2009 4485290 11827 woofer 3 4485589 hmmm, i think taking a client to breakfast/lunch/dinner is a bit different than your regular SXSW suggestions (seeing as lots of people will do bar & street food). maybe some more information like what type of client/business would get you better suggestions. are they looking for some more upscale, business-type places? a lot of the "quintessentially austin" is low brow or low price (but not all, of course). Sun Mar 08 18:18:22 -0700 2009 4485567 202980 dinaofdoom 4 4485653 just looking for the best of: bbq steakhouse breakfasts southern fare burger joints seafood doesn't have to be expensive, just not looking for taco trucks. Sun Mar 08 18:44:34 -0700 2009 4485589 11827 woofer 5 4485902 let me think about the rest but... here are some downtownish/not-too-far of a drive reqs. most of your requests are hot topics (bbq in particular)! i can't think of any non-chain steakhouses, which explains why i can't remember the last time i went to one... seafood: eddie v's (especially love the tuna tartare and the oysters. on the posher side) uchi (sushi focus, but not all they have. one of the best places in austin-- wish i could afford to go more often) southern fare: moonshine (great sunday brunch but pretty much everything is rich and delish) lambert's ("fancy bbq", but many would not recommend the bbq. go for the rest) threadgill's (can't get more southern than the fried chicken liver app) chez zee (their menu leaves me so indecisive) if budget or super casual dining is not a need, i would also recommend: zoot (local ingredients, tasting menus) wink (same) restaurant jezebel (chef's labor of love) other austiny places include: parkside (they have a raw bar so might be considered seafood, depending on what your interests are) green pastures downtown z'tejas downtown manuel's some other websites that might be a good resource for you are foodhawk (restaurant nabes & menus) and dishola (dish-specific, which is a really great way to find a new restaurant). Sun Mar 08 20:11:12 -0700 2009 4485653 202980 dinaofdoom 5 4489082 Close or in downtown area: BBQ -- Sam's (a hole in the wall but about the best bbq downtown) Breakfasts -- lots of choices here. Besides recs others might give I'd add Angie's, Sunday brunch at Fonda San Miguel, Blue Dahlia Burgers -- Casino El Camino, Five Guys (no alcohol there, though) Southern -- Galloway's, Hoover's Mon Mar 09 17:53:07 -0700 2009 4485653 17424 zebcook 6 4788710 A note on Sam's BBQ: I just have to say that I went here this week on a brief trip to Austin at 1am on a Tuesday night. I love BBQ and have been to a bunch of places while visiting. This place is gross. -First of all the BBQ is not very good. It has a metallic funky taste to it like it's been sitting around all day in a chafing dish. I was not impressed. -The place has crack whores hanging out in front and people coming in trying to sell fenced goods. -The owner starting talking about circumcision to the regulars while I was eating and why all men should be circumcised. I would not recommend this place to anyone unless they like really mediocre bbq and alot of atmosphere. The owner was nice though I have to give him credit. Am I missing something? Fri Jun 19 16:13:12 -0700 2009 4489082 322678 natinator 1 4495168 Downtown has tons of everthing. Check out Opal Divines it is kinda southern and kinda burger joint. Iron Catus tex-mex Seafood & steak: McCormick & shmicks I have heard the Driskell is good for brunch, but i have never tried it BBQ: Green Mesquite Check out Austin360.com for address and more ideas! Wed Mar 11 13:08:24 -0700 2009 4485082 271079 Sumstar524 1 4501293 Here's a list of places to eat that I wrote up with some friends and the help of CH last year: http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/more/where_to_eat_during_sxsw_2009/ It's aimed more at cheap, tasty, fast, and within walking distance of the Convention Center, though. But I do second the suggestions for Moonshine if you want something a little more upscale. Beer battered asparagus! Mac and cheese! Yum. Fri Mar 13 08:56:20 -0700 2009 4485082 10936 kathryn 2 4501803 Thanks for the list kathryn. It's awsome. Fri Mar 13 11:18:41 -0700 2009 4501293 20951 Helind 3 4501825 Oh, I forgot to mention, while the Roaring Fork looks like an upscale restaurant, they have a really nice bar with happy hour specials on food and drink. I've only eaten in the bar but the food is very good, and I'd imagine that the formal dining area is good, too. Fri Mar 13 11:23:33 -0700 2009 4501803 10936 kathryn 2 4505099 moonsione's brunch buffet is gut-bustingly delicious. i took a friend there who hates brunch buffets and even he loved it. Sat Mar 14 15:26:25 -0700 2009 4501293 202980 dinaofdoom 3 4505533 I second the Moonshine Buffet. A lot of buffets suck due to food getting dried out, overdone-theirs does not. Smaller pans, and replaced frequently, and a lot of good stuff! Sat Mar 14 18:37:31 -0700 2009 4505099 244555 barleybob9 4 4516305 mmmm those cornflake-coated chicken tenders... Wed Mar 18 09:26:35 -0700 2009 4505533 202980 dinaofdoom 1 4507576 woofer, here's the only thing I'm qualified to respond to. It's what I know, inside and out. I won't waste your time on the other categories because I know that personal preference is not what you're looking for. What follows is fact, not preference. Ruby's BBQ (29th & Guadalupe) will impress, satisfy, and help you avoid tourist traps/austin cliches. Not RUDY'S (cheap gas station, chain garbage) Ruby's is one of a kind. It's not quite a dive, but it's close. Plenty of seating, great food, great atmosphere, real Austin old school BBQ (they just celebrated 20 years), favorite of touring bands in the know (the old Antone's was next door for a decade until it moved a while back), Here's the best part: Hormone free meats, all sides (EVERYTHING) made from scratch there on site where they smoke their meats overnight. No Sysco b.s., no pre-made anything. As far as I know, no one else can say that. Anyways, it's amazing. Nothing better in Austin, no matter what you read here. Even Salt Lick (which someone is bound to recommend) isn't as good. Their meats are good at Salt Lick, sure, but the rest is prepackaged shite. have a fun stay. Sun Mar 15 16:20:06 -0700 2009 4485082 258749 mif 2 4508161 thanks. he's been so busy that the only places of note he's reported back to me on were: ironworks bbq, he said it was solid but the sauce was bland. eddie v's, he liked very much and commented on the excellent personal service and presentation. Sun Mar 15 20:11:11 -0700 2009 4507576 11827 woofer 2 4515332 thank you for the ruby's rec. my husband went tonight and he said it blew ironworks out of the water. he LOVED it. Tue Mar 17 22:58:34 -0700 2009 4507576 11827 woofer 3 4528209 my pleasure. glad to hear that he liked it. Sun Mar 22 16:31:00 -0700 2009 4515332 258749 mif 1 4509504 Burgers-- Hat Creek Burgers is fantastic www.hatcreekburgers.com. Its in a food trailer downtown- behind Star Bar at W. 6th and Nueces. Excellent prices and great food. Here's a link to another post with more info http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/569863 Mon Mar 16 10:38:53 -0700 2009 4485082 244004 Bosco5