Best veggie burgers are at Chili's believe it or not, though I haven't tried Hut's and they got the Chronicle award for the best. Dog and Duck has a great veggie burger with curly fries to match. Trudy's has the best migas. Graces on N Lamar has the best breakfast. The Brick Oven has the best pizza. Check out this weeks Chronicle for all the "best" restaurants in all categories.

Chicken Mole at Seis Salsas rules! Hillbert's burgers cannot be beat! Amy's Ice Cream is the finest! Martin Bros veggie plate with black beans, glazed carrots, and brown rice was my Friday treat for 3 years! Conan's Pizza will put hair on your chest (and I mean that in a good way)! Magnolia Cafe rocks (especially back when you got half off if you wore your jammies on Sunday AM)! Can you tell that my all-too-infrequent visits to Austin are ruled by an itinerary dominated by eating establishments? Ther just aren't enough meals in a weekend!

I'd have to agree that those would be among my top choices, espcially the Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Blvd, though there's one on South Congress now also. And Martin Bros. is great, neck and neck with Mothers for no. 1 veggie restaurant in Austin.

Though the Lake Austin Magnolia was closer to where I lived, I preferred the So Congress one for its outdoor dining. There are so many more places--wish I had a decent memory...Chez Zee/Chez Fred up off MoPac was pretty good. We used to have a fabulous Sunday brunch at this Indian restaurant on Bee Caves Road and of course being a dame my mind locates things by landmarks, not street names, so I can only say it was across Bee Caves from the big shopping center that included what used to be called Tom Thu b but is now Randalls? and a Blockbuster and an Amy's and what else...it's on a street that will take you to BC Mall...maybe I should get a map and get some street names, eh? Or better still, use the Internet and look up Indian restaurants and see if it's even open still (see, I don't even know the name of the place). I only mention it because the food was so good. Have you ever eaten at that weird Mexican place on the drag just north of 26th (or is it 29th?) across from that dry cleaner's? Not the ta o hut next to the gas station, the place north of ToyJoy. In all 8+ years, I never set foot in there but often wondered....

I like the Magnolia on S Congress, but bubbaland doesn't seem to be my stomping grounds anymore. Don't get me wrong. I love South Austin, it just seems like my world has shifted to North Austin. And I live way East. Last time I went to Chez Zee was with Andrew Busey and he told me about a little company he was starting up called iChat, which has turned out to to be wildly successful. Nice place. I dont' know about the Bee Caves Place. Oh, Chez Fred shut down. We used to go there as recently as a couple of months ago before i it closed and listened to Maddy Kay. Well, at least Maddy Kay's still around. Too bad about Chez Fred, cool, jazzy little hotspot. It just wasn't getting any traffic. Don't know why. Haven't been to that wierd Mex place on the drag. I forget what it's called, Amy's has an ice cream place right near there now. Also, there's a real good Tex Mex place right near there called Trudy's Texas Star. And, of course, the above mentioned Martin Bros. is right around the corner.

I think I tried to go to the weird Mexican plase once, but they were serving saltines with their picante sauce and it was all a little too spooky for me. So Big Yellow is too slow for me, but I did find a map and the Indian place used to be in the strip on the Southwest corner of Walsh Tarleton and Bee Caves Rd; my sister insists it was called Bombay something but I maintain it was Indian Palace or Taj Palace (or is that the place on the drag?). Anyway, if you live east, why would you go there! But if ou live east, then there's always East Side Cafe, right? Deee-lish! I'm desk-lunching on my usual pathetic ham-n-cheese sandwich--I think I have to go to another topic as this is just making me hungry for REAL AUSTIN FOOD! One quick query: I never et bar B Q in Austin, tho there are great places here in Big D I frequent. What's there other than Salt Lick? If you're a vegetarian, can you throw this query to a compadre?

REAL AUSTIN FOOD! Now I'm curious about the weird Mexican place. You know, I've always gone by there and thought I'd go there and then thought, nah, I'll go somewhere else. And then end up at Trudy's. Saltines does sound spooky for a Mexican place. El Azteca is my fave' (ever heard of it?) Taj Palace is down on the drag. There's an ultra hip, cybertype place real near there that's the current hot spot. They do pocket type fajita wraps. You get a wrap in aluminum foil. Delicious. Bob Nagy turned me on to this place. I'm leaning toward a veggie but I can say that the Iron Gate or something down town is good, and the County Line is the most renowned and lavish of the barbecue places. There's Pokey Jo's over at the Arboretum. I haven't been to Salt Lick so I can't compare these places to it. Not into the ribs, though, just bbq chicken. Makin' me hungry!

I can tell I'm just going to have to EAT MORE FOOD on my next visit. Man, I'd better start planning one now or it'll be summer and HOT! before I get there!

Yeah, you said it, it's *chilly* right now.

I visited the ?food conference, topic what did you eat today, and now I'm so hungry for anything other than the pathetic ham-n-cheese sandwich, the same lunch I've had for about the past 3 years...anyhoooo, just popped in to tout SATAY (which terry mentioned in the other topic)! Yeah! My intro to Thai food was there and I've been a fan ever since. Unfortunately, as I've said, on my flying visits, there's so much food, so little time, and since I have a great Thai place right around the corner from me a home, Satay usually ends up on my regret list. There was another, more "authentic" Thai place down south I only went to once, with the Thai undergraduate student (Songkram Srivithanakul! Brilliant biomedical engineer) who worked in our lab. It was good too!

How can an Indonesian restaurant (like Satay) not server tempeh? You have to go to Martin Bros. to get good tempeh.

I didn't know they didn't! That's just wrong!

Are Chuy's and Basils still there? What about Las Manitas (excuse my spelling)? MMMM-mmmmm good... at least backin '88 when I ate there last. There is no good mexican food in New England.

Not meaning to infer that Basils was mexican... great northern italian if memory serves.

Chuy's is thriving at the old location on Barton Springs and a big new mega place on 183 north on what I all "restaurant row". It's right next to Joe's Crab Shack. I'll have to check out the other two.

Basils is (or was) a kind of dressy place. Las Manitas I think was on 1st just south of downtown... but i'm severly directionally impaired, so don't take that as gospel.

Terry, ya oughta link this topic to the restaurant conference...Gena, feel free to drop in there, also... (btw, Terry, what ever happened to me being a host in there?)

You are the host. I'll check and make sure. And the link will now happen. Kazzzzammm! (this topic is linked)

Mar 2 00:17:37 1998 terry linked item 68 from austin 5

Got it! WOO-HOO!!!

You are now hostly.

doubly-so... (now the fun begins...have you surfed in via the web to the food conf lately, Terry?)

No, I pretty much stay trapped in this two dimension, nongraphical terminal mode. But I'll go there and see via the web.

Tell me what ya thinks... (and I doubt you should call it trapped...)

I just ate at Curra's yesterday, my tamales weren't that great, but Dot's bean burrito was excellent, the margaritas are tops (frozen not iced). El Azteca has the best veggie menu in town and you get a choice of sherbet or a cookie for desert. I haven't seen Ankie's, I'll look. Never been to Rosies. Guerros' is about my favorite place these days.

Is your Spanish improving by leaps and bounds as well? Sounds wonderful!

Not really, I need to get in to Piaf's Spanish class.

My Spanish is Castillan and sounds much different from what you hear in Texas, I think...actually eaiser to take dictation in Castillian because you can tell the C's from the S's

http://www.bdrileyspub.com "Cead Mile Failte" Ten Thousand Welcomes Designed in Dublin Ireland by the Sonas Design Company, built at the Truwood carpentry shop in Emyvale, Ireland, and shipped to Austin to be reassembled by Irish Craftsmen, B.D. Riley's recreates the True Pub Experience. Our menu reflects the traditional dishes of Ireland, as well as the more contemporary cuisine found in the Temple Bar area of Dublin. For our less adventurous patrons, we offer a variety of local dishes as well. Our "Perfect Pints" are drawn by our trained staff into a specially sanitized 20 oz. glass. Our beers are stored at a recommended and consistent 39-45 degrees,and are the freshest available from our local distributors. We pride ourselves on pouring "The Perfect Pint". The freshest beer and ales available, stored at brewery recommended temperature, poured from our calibrated draft system into a sanitized glass by a trained bar staff, combine to make your beverage the pinnacle of presentation. A wide variety of Whiskies, spirits, wines and non-alcoholic beverages are also available. Curry Chicken....Tender strips of sauteed chicken with garlic and fresh veggies in curry sauce Shepard's Pie....Ground beef and lamb in rich gravy with veggies. Topped with mashed potatos Fish n Chips....Fried Cod in beer batter with thick cut chips, cole slaw and tartar sauce N.Y. Strip....12 oz. strip served with sauteed veggies and choice of potato Corned Beef and Cabbage....Beer braised beef served with sauteed cabbage and mashed potatoes Roadrunner Pasta....Sauteed chicken and veggies tossed with Penne Pasta and tomatoe sauce Stuffed Bell Pepper....Large pepper filled with veggies, black beans, and rice with tomatoe sauce We pride ourselves on the eclectic menu we have developed, featuring both traditional and contemporary dishes from across Ireland, the U.S. and Great Britian. Our Pub Fare consists of award winning fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, and shepherd's pie, as well as more mainstream american dishes Kitchen open from 11:30 a.m. until late night...7 days a week Special Promotions Available for parties and group gatherings...call for details Wednesdays: Pub Quiz Night with a $100 prize. Starts at 8:00 p.m. Thursdays: The acoustic sounds of "Cameron Road" live on stage from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Fridays: Irish like you've never heard it before.."Pubcrawler" takes the stage from 10:00-1:30 a.m. Saturdays: Local favorites on stage each Saturday from 10:00-1:30 a.m. Sundays: Traditional Irish Music Jam Session. Live on Stage from 6:30 to 9:30 pm All Major Sporting Events on the Big Screen TV Join us for the Great Guinness Toast on Nov.30 2001

It's a great Sixth Street, authentic Irish pub. They have great draft beer and they really care to let the lady "lift her skirt" as they say when they peour your Guiness. The fish was nearly as good as the astronomically good fish 'n chips I recently had on the Vancouver trip. They used Cod, just like the fish and chips place in Vancouver. Given that they many not have had fresh fish as they did in BC, the dish was primo, excellent!

See my comments in topic 23, the beer place topic.

Will do.

i absolutely love norm's. never heard of them before but we should have our own table as often as we eat there. it's like a denney's but better.

Terry, suggest some super restaurants in Louisville. Not that I will ever get there, but it might be nice if given the chance.

Yeah, there's one. It's between the Shakespeare Park and downtown. It's a great place and I can't remember the name. It was *the* place.

Did it have a mock-Tudor style to the architecture? It may have changed hands. THE restaurants are downtown in the old gracious hotels, now.

It was pretty close to Central Park, I don't know about the Tudor stuff. Could have been. I just can't recall the name.

I'll write it down next time we go by. It is also near the Belknap campus fraturnities. The one I am thinking of. Don has no idea what the food is like as he has only been there once and that was 10 years ago. I guess that means it was not memorable?!

I know it was between St. James Court and downtown. A bit closer to St. James Court and Central Park. I had a place in Butchertown for a while also.

Ok yours is across the road (4th?) from Central Park rather than on the same side? It is now a sort of bar with little food and lots of adult beverages.

Don't exactly remember. I think it was a few blocks away toward downtown. Had an Irish name maybe?

Could it have been Masterson's? I found that at an Old Louisville Restaurant website.

Masterson's or Cunningham's. Cunninghams has the best rating (and highest prices) but was busy during Derby week. I think it might take a really special occasion to afford to go there, but I am always willing to try anything once!

Voila! It is Cunninghams indeed that I was trying to recall. I don't think it used to be that expensive. It is near St. James Court though, isn't it? I found a review, never mind, it has changed locations. Cunningham's Delicatessen, History, Ambience, and Romance Mar 31 '00 (Updated May 08 '03) Author's Product Rating Pros Friendly, charming, fascinating history, good food Cons none at all The Bottom Line Like the mythological Phoenix, the Derby City's oldest restaurant has risen from the ashes and re-opened in downtown Louisville Full Review In 1870, five years before the first Kentucky Derby was run at Churchill Downs, a combination delicatessen and Livery Stable opened at the corner of Fifth and Breckenridge Streets. For the next thirty years the restaurant's proximity to city hall, the courts, downtown businesses, and Churchill Downs, plus good food and a place to stable your horse while you ate, kept business thriving. After the automobile made its debut, Cunningham's became more popular and the small rooms upstairs were let to a Miss Polly and her sisters who ran a rooming house, which was in fact a very popular Brothel. In 1922 Cap Cunningham, a local entrepreneur, bought the delicatessen and evicted Miss Polly and her sisters. Cap re-named the restaurant Cunningham's Delicatessen and offered the folks of Louisville an expansive menu of reasonably priced comfort food, classic ambience, and convenience. Prohibition was cutting into profits pretty badly, so Cap started selling soft drinks to his customers to boost business. The ploy worked very well until a Federal Agent stopped in for a soft drink and discovered the reason Cap's customers were so loyal, the soft drinks weren't soft, in fact they were pretty hard. The Federal Government closed Cap's business down. The restaurant re-opened quickly, and once prohibition ended prospered. Cap, ever the entrepreneur, converted the stable area into small private dinning rooms and re-modeled the former blacksmith shop into what is still today, the main bar room. During the thirties the restaurant and bar were one of the focal points of Louisville politics and business. City leaders, local businessmen, and lovers used the small private dinning rooms to make deals, conduct business, and engage in illicit romances, Cap's waiters were known for their discretion. By the early forties Cap had converted the delicatessen into Louisville's first drive in, complete with waiter service. Because of the large parking lot, and the restaurants location close to downtown, the drive in was a huge success. Cap continued to manage Cunningham's until the late sixties, when he retired and sold the restaurant to a group of local investors. The new owners (and several others after them) wisely changed nothing. Cunningham's today is much like it was 130 years ago, there is still a sign in the bar room that says, This bar for men only, the walls are covered with paintings and photographs of Derby winners, Jockeys, local politicians, baseball players, and Kentucky movers and shakers. Newspaper clippings of prominent local events (like the prohibition shut down of Cunningham's and the 1937 flood) are displayed along with some of Caps early menus. The small private dinning rooms are filled each day with deal makers, business meetings, and romantic assignations. The friendly staff handle the large volume daily lunch business, efficiently taking and filling orders, for the many hungry office workers who flood the restaurant every day at noon. Most of the to go orders leave in large grocery style brown paper bags. Cunningham's is best known for their Corned Beef and Cabbage, classic white bean soup (the very best in Louisville), the fish sandwich on rye, Turtle soup, hot roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, and fried chicken. Portions are large and the prices are quite reasonable. It is easy to spend thirty minutes wandering through the maze of small rooms and hallways, looking at the pictures that cover almost every wall in the restaurant. The staff is friendly and helpful (many of them have worked at the restaurant for decades) so service is good but not invasive or pushy, the ambience is classic, and the food is excellent. The restaurant caters parties, the private dinning rooms are available for business meetings or romantic lunches, and the entire menu is available for carry out orders. Historical Note In July of 2001 Cunningham's Delicatessen was heavily damaged by fire. Many of the historic photographs, drawings, and paintings were saved. The original building at Fifth St. & Breckenridge has been torn down. Due to the combined efforts of many local folks Cunningham;s re-opened in March 2003. The new restaurant's dark wood paneled interior is hung with some of the historic photographs that were saved from the fire at the original location. The new Cunningham's tries very hard to duplicate the ambience and atmosphere of the original with a menu that features old favorites like White Bean Soup, Corned Beef and Cabbage, and the classic Fish sandwich on rye. There are still private dining rooms available. Cunningham's new location is at 630 South Fourth Street, just across from another Louisville landmark, the Palace Theater. For more information (or to reserve a private dining room for a romantic rendevous) call (502)587-0526. Recommended Yes Best Suited For: Couples Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime from http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-14A4-A285108-38E4DE82-prod5

I suspect the high prices I saw were special meals and catered picnics just for the Kentucky Derby participants. It has a great reputation, and yes, it is near St James Court. It would be lovely to go to dinner then Shakespeare in the park. How elegant!

As to the location nearer St James Court and rather far from Churchill Downs, they were advertising delivered-to-you picnic basket luncheons which were pricy and very top drawer. Where else can you get delivery with linens and silver and goblets to go with your wine?

Not too many places! They have a bunch of restaurant delivery services in Austin, one is called Eatin' Out In. But not that fancy.

Some friends and I had a bad experience at Guerro's. Even though we left a $7 tip on the table (about 20%) our waiter chased us and yelled at us and said we didn't leave a tip. It was very embarassing to us to to our out of town guests, who were quite upset as they were treating us to dinner. What could have been a nice night out in Austin turned sour because of this uptight waiter. This happened on the evening of October 12, 2004.

They probably won't want to go back to Guerro's again. Too bad, because it once was our favorite Austin restaurant and we told them such good things about it before we went there.