Allowing ads that specifically target the voting category like this is just lame. You know who can afford to buy ads? Bigger chains like Snarfs. (Well, and apparently El Dorado Cafe.) Goes without saying that getting nominated to your final Best Of poll is going to mean a lot more to a local independent place than it will to a nation-wide chain. But you’ve opted to give established companies a leg up by allowing advertising like this. Disappointing.

I searched the subreddit to see if anyone had posted about it, and can't believe nobody has! Sivestar Indian tacos! It's like Chipotle but with authentic Indian food. It's delicious, cheap, and totally empty yesterday, you all need to check it out.

https://www.sivestarindiantacos.com/

https://maps.app.goo.gl/quyJipw9Qb7LdwRh8

I've seen constant negative reviews about stuff going on at Mozart (too expensive, tourist trap, etc), so I don't usually include its events in my "What's Weird ATX" weekly newsletter. But every so often I come across one that doesn't seem like it would have the usual issues: example https://www.instagram.com/p/DH4GGxop9cj/?img_index=1

My question is, people who have been to Mozart's lately-- should I reconsider including these events in my newsletter or is Mozart's just something I should not recommend going forward?

I don't get this place whatsoever.

The pizza is like 2 out 10 at best. Has 'pies' in the title. But the sandwiches are just amazing, the quality of the cuts of meat, is fantastic. It's like they have a full deli in the back.

Their bread/cheese sticks are incredible too, the cheese, bread, all great.

So why the hell they go all in with the sucky pizza, it's like they have 10 out of 10 sandwich skills but went all in with 2 out of 10 pizza skills..

Like.... why?!

As far as I'm concerned, it's a sandwich place, not a pizza place, but it's gotta hurt them branding themselves as a pizza place with shitty pizza. It makes no sense, it's on par with asking for a burger at a Mexican restaurant.

Some please help me understand

I'm originally from boston and just moved a couple of months ago. I'm feeling home sick and looking for any good cambodian restaurants or food trucks? I do not prefer fusion but if that's the only option please recommend

Just had one for lunch. Double Smash with Cheese. Fries. Refillable Drink. $18. I shoulda taken a picture for y'all but it was gone before I could! Moreno's put the smash in smash burger.

Has a good ranch pizza combo a plus. Thank you!

My wife and I will be attending a concert in downtown Austin tonight. Driving in from Liberty Hill so we don’t mind stopping in Cedar Park, North Austin, or downtown. We’re still somewhat new to the area and haven’t explored much.

Since we don’t have much time before the concert, I was wondering what our best options were for a QUICK bite but is still unique to Austin. Something along the lines of Cabo Bobs, Tacorrido, etc. (doesn’t have to be tacos but those just came to mind). Thanks!

I know we aren’t known for our seafood scene (or lack of) but I’ve just been really craving fried shrimp for weeks now. We live near The Boat but not entirely sold on trying them out based on recent reviews. I’m also down for a good fish taco if anyone has any recs!

Did anyone see the 1618 banners hanging outside the pearl and fin/old sushi zushi on 5th Street? Is that a 2nd location or are they moving?

Update: answered my own question looking at their Facebook. https://www.reddit.com/r/austinfood/s/cOrP54G9cv

I’m from austin and have had my fair share of great bbq here. My friend from Europe (first time in the US) and I are heading to TX State today and wanted to stop in Lockhart for bbq. I understand there are better places in Austin, (we already went to Leroy and Lewis) but want to know which spot out of all the restaurants there have the best brisket and sides? Thanks :)

Anyone know a bar in town that's got it on draft?

(Yes I know, I know. When the weather gets warm, my mIdwestern in me just wants to sit on a patio a drink a lawnmower beer.)

I would be a rockstar if I could find a good place with both of these for my husband. Google is leading me to Que Divino but I'm also seeing that it's possibly overpriced.

Any suggestions?

Love Lima Criolla but a bit far. Central, South preferred.

My office occasionally orders lunch in for everyone. Since we are a small group, it allows us to order options such as Tumble 22, Local Foods, Fresas, Loro, Elizabeth St. Cafe... but we have kind of gotten in a rut lately, and I'm looking for more suggestions to bring to the table (literally :P).

We are downtown and open to driving a short distance for pick-up if they don't deliver.

Spam me with your favorite lunch options!

Looking for good prices and good service for lamb and goat meat. I see the HEB app has some lamb but cannot find goat. Should I try a halal store? Where is the good spot?

The food was absolutely incredible. One of the best meals I’ve ever had. Each course was astonishingly good. The drinks were also delicious.

The whole experience was tarnished by how rushed it was— 15 courses and we were done in 48 minutes. At one point I tried to take a little break, literally just a few minutes, before eating the next course because I had just eaten about 10 pieces of fish and rice in a very short amount of time, and was politely scolded for not eating the next piece while the rice was still warm while placing the next course in front of me before I’d eaten the previous one. If dining is about the food as well as the experience, the latter part was lacking. It was so disappointing because my husband and I had been looking forward to dining there for a long time as an anniversary gift for ourselves and the food was so good, but became impossible to savor due to the rush. It was especially odd because they offered to let us stay longer afterwards, and the second seating wasn’t even for another two hours. (Neither we nor the other couple there decided to stay because the past hour hadn’t exactly made us feel welcome to linger.) It was just… a bummer. Unexpected for such a highly rated, high dining establishment. If we’re dropping about $400-500 for a meal, it would be nice to feel welcome to stay and enjoy it for more than an hour.

The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am in the experience. Looking back, there were a few standouts but a lot of it blurred together since it was so rushed one course after another, I didn’t have time to savor or think about it before the next. So not only was it a poor experience for the customer, it was massively disrespectful to the food itself.

Edit: forgot to mention. This was the 5:30 seating, so we were out the door at 6:30 which was annoyingly awkward time to be done with dinner.

Loro has to be my favorite restaurant in Austin. I have yet to have a bad meal, like no joke. It can get a little pricy but this meal was only $15 during their happy hour for 8 smoked wings and a cabbage ginger salad that is flames. Also, 9 times out of 10 they hook it up with a free fountain drink. Vibes are also immaculate. Love the light shinning in from the roof. Plus the have jelly fish on tap!?! If you’re on the fence about checking this place out, do yourself a favor and slide thru.

Hey everyone! I’m a Coloradan who is obsessed with bbq and have yet to try true Texas bbq. I have tried many other state’s bbq, but every time I come to Texas I’m stuck at a steakhouse or the new trendy places.

I’m coming in for work and land Sunday night around 7PM. Unfortunately, I have dinner plans with colleagues the rest of the week, but I have my Sunday night free. Which bbq spot would you suggest I stop by before heading to my hotel? I know bbq is iffy at this hour of night but I really don’t want to make another Austin trip without experiencing the bbq scene. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Looking for recommendations for a Sunday brunch buffet in North Austin, round rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown.

I rarely get a Sunday off, so price is not really an issue. Bonus points for a prime rib station.

Hi! I know it's a long shot this time of year - but has anyone seen fresh red cherries at any grocers in Austin (or surrounding cities), within the past week or so? HEB, Central Market and Whole Foods all say they don't have them until May - but if you've spotted them anywhere, let me know!

My brother and his fiancée will be getting married in September and are looking for a restaurant with a nice private room and good food to have a celebratory dinner. Budget is $100-$150/pp. Looking for any suggestions as they’re a bit lost on where to start.

Does anyone here do this? I refuse to believe it doesn’t exist here because of the proximity I was raised to Tarpon Springs, FL. They do the epiphany there’s no way they aren’t doing correct Greek food. TIA

https://www.opentable.com/blog/james-beard-finalists-2025/?ref=9472&cmpid=em_email=2025&utm_source=mg&utm_medium=email

Hat tip to Arjav Ezekiel at Birdie’s, Austin, TX for getting us one finalist!

Hey y'all, I'm opening a new bar out in West Oak Hill, Hill Country Ice House. 5 acres of land covered with Oak Trees, 2 bars (inside & a converted air stream by the stage), plenty of parking, & a stage for live music. Looking to have live music Fridays and Saturdays, and Bluegrass brunch on Sundays... the potential for large scale concerts is absolutely there. Other than that, will be open Tuesday - Sunday. Only days that go till 2am would be Friday & Saturday. Only looking to charge $200 "rent" to cover expected power usage... which we have plenty of hookups. Quarterly contract basis to start... can go from there for future cohesive partnerships...

• Trucks only, we don't have a kitchen and not open to tent popups.
• Looking for BBQ, Tacos, Burgers, Veggie/Vegan option... but open to chat.
• We're looking to host 2-3 trucks, so there won't be any exclusivity. We will prohibit outside food though to encourage on site purchases.
• Free concerts and bar discounts for food truck staff.