Need Austin rec for Xmas gift certificate
My son and his wife live in Austin, and for lack of something better I'd like to give them a gift certificate for a dinner for two at one of Austin's finest restaurants. I need your help, people of Austin! Tell me where they'd want to eat, any cuisine acceptable. $$$ is no object.
-
popvulture
Dec 10, 2011 01:15 PM
I honestly have to say that if money's no object, there's no better option than Uchi. Nothing else in town really even comes close (although there are plenty of fantastic restaurants here). The most I've spent there for two people was probably $300 for food, drinks, tax and tip, and that was REALLY pigging out.
It's also got a great ambiance... great for a romantic couple's night. I really can't say enough good things about the place. So that's my two cents.
-
-
This is a little different from your original idea but how about giving them tuition to cooking classes? Both Central Market and Whole Foods have set 'couples' classes but there is a lot of other classes that a couple could enjoy together. I think everyone could profit from taking a knife skills class or one on making sauces, stocks, etc. Even if they have different partners in the classes they take it should be instructive, fun, and lead to taking chances in terms of cooking, as well as eating, new and different foods.
-----
Central Market
4477 S Lamar Blvd Ste 100, Austin, TX 78745 -
dinaofdoom
Nov 6, 2011 08:39 AM
agreed that it would really depend upon their tastes/style.
what do they enjoy?›3 Replies-
-
re: ptrichmondmike
dinaofdoom
Nov 6, 2011 07:12 PM
here are some respected and loved places that would make a wonderful gift:
east side show room
parkside
uchi
uchiko
foreign & domestic
barley swine
congress
zoot
wink
hudson's on the bend
olivia
-
-
-
I think it depends on what they like. I'd suggest looking up the following places and deciding what works best. I don't think you could go wrong with any of them, but its more of a style thing. Uchi and Uchiko: get amazing press and are really very good. They are Asian influenced and usually packed. The chef at Uchiko is on Top Chef this upcoming season. Foreign and Domestic: upscale casual, great food... I love this place but it also specializes in offal, so if you are creeped out by seeing offal, probably skip it. However, they have some amazing dishes on the menu and is considered one of the rising stars in the area IMHO. Barley Swine: its the brick and mortar brewpub that grew out of the Odd Duck trailer. The food is amazing, the place is usually packed and you have communal tables. It's become one of the 'must try' places in town. Congress (along with Bar Congress and Second) were named one of the Best Restaurants in Bon Appetit for 2011. I've been to Second which is the brewpub casual side, and the food was excellent. Congress is the upscale, formal restaurant for the location and I've only heard amazing things about it, but I haven't made it over there yet.
There are plenty of places in town beyond this list that are really excellent, but I don't think you could go wrong with a gift certificate from any of them.-----
Uchi Restaurant
801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704Barley Swine
2024 S. Lamar, Austin, TXOdd Duck
1219 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704Uchiko
4200 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78756Bar Congress
200 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701›1 Reply -
"Tell me where they'd want to eat."
That's a pretty unanswerable question. Honestly, I can't tell you where I'd want to eat from one evening to the next. I'm guessing you'd want to get them something for a high-end spot, and we can recommend something like that if we have a little guidance. Otherwise, you might consider a generic sort of Visa gift card that they can spend as they wish.
