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Austin

Places : Southwest Region : Texas : Austin

Introduction

It should come as no surprise that Austin's reputation as the most liberal city in Texas extends to its dining scene. In a land where the steak house is king, Austin finds room for foreign cuisines without alienating lovers of traditional Texas fare. Even vegetarian restaurants, once anathema in these parts, have enjoyed a growing popularity, offering their own versions of such beloved regulars as Tex-Mex cuisine and spicy (meatless) Texas-style chili.

Strangely enough, some of the city's music clubs are known for their food, too, such as Threadgill's, whose massive chicken-fried steak as much of a draw as the well-known blues and rock acts on stage. Fine dining has grown in popularity lately, supported by the influx of business diners and tech royalty, both local and visiting, who can eat well at the company's expense. Upscale French, Italian, German (the area was settled by Germans) and other Continental-style establishments offer both inventive dishes, such as duck ravioli, and more traditional fare, such as sautéed veal sweetbreads, often in a relaxed, candle-lit setting.

Of course, no mention of Austin's dining scene would be complete without paying homage to that most Texan of Texas traditions -- barbecue (or simply "'cue," as some locals call it). Lovers of pork, beef, and chicken, be it loin, brisket, breast or even spicy homemade sausage, will find themselves in, well, hog heaven at any of the area's down-home barbecue joints. A few places have made nods toward the non meat-eating world, offering fish specials, salads, and sides prepared without animal fat, but the bulk of them are your standard meat on the grill and napkins on the picnic table affairs. Be aware that smoking is not allowed in nearly all restaurants and bars within Travis County, which includes Austin.

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