Austin Recomendations (August 2022)

I’m heading to Austin to present at a conference. I’ll be there for about 6 days, arriving around 6 August. The conference is occurring downtown, sandwiched between Congress and 35, near the river.

Looking for some recommendations around the city, but also more specifically ones that aren’t too far away. Mostly looking for food, especially close or ones that won’t have an hour+ wait in the heat, but also for any whiskey bars with a good selection (especially if open late, since much of my time is pre-planned for me). As a secondary, also interested in breweries.

I plan to visit Live Oak, but their website seems to suck, and/or they are much smaller than I thought. It seems like they only have maybe 6 beers on tap, maybe another 4 in cans, and only maybe 6 options to go? No crowlers or growlers?

Oh, any whiskey/beer stores I need to stop at? I am likely driving in from the north, and when I leave driving East. So stores to visit aren’t relegated to ONLY Austin.

Thanks in advance. Appreciate those that contribute to these threads very much.

 

Appreciate it! You had me at Cask! Yet to get to try a real cask ale, so pretty excited about that one.

Very excited to visit Live Oak. I guess my post probably came off more bitchy than intended, but mostly I was trying to convey that it just didn't seem like they had many options. I thought they'd have more options on tap and more to go. I'm excited by what they have, but just expected more. Wasn't sure if I'd find more in stores.

I'll be driving by (or through) Houston as I leave (heading east into LA). On my way in I am most likely going to be coming through Dallas, but I haven't yet figured out exactly which route I am taking on the way in yet.

Remind me where you're located, and whether there's any chance to have a drink.

 

Really appreciate the recommendations. Super excited that you listed a couple breakfast options. Love me some good breakfast/brunch. I’m making it a point to go to the comador on my first day there.

Speaking of my schedule, I’ll be driving in on Sat the 6th, with my first day there on Sunday the 7th. Conference starts that night, and I have to set up earlier that day. Then the conference runs the rest of the week and ends Friday night. I’ll leave Sat morning. Hopefully early. I’ll be stopping to see some family in Jennings that day, but hoping to leave early enough that I get some great views as the sun comes up. Thinking about taking a slight detour to drive through Cameron and down by the coast rather than just taking the interstate through Lake Charles. Once I leave Jennings the next day, thinking of taking another slight detour and heading down to Grand Isle for another scenic drive on my way to New Orleans before turning and heading north. I’ll actually be there for a few hours as I pickup some food to take home. Speaking of which, I need to place those orders soon.

For those that need recommendations in the future, best Po’boys I ever had is from Daryl’s in Lake Charles and Jennings (the owner unfortunately recently deceased about 5 years ago I think). The special is great, and you have to get the Jalapeño Mayonaise. Planning to also bring some food back from ‘In-Laws’, and going to stop by Cochin Butcher in New Orleans to bring other food back. Contemplating what I can bring back from Haydel’s, since my daughter is allergic to egg. Considering getting something quick from Norma Jean, which is also delicious. Wish I had a bunch of time to spend visiting more of Donald Link’s and John Besh’s restaurants, but this is just a through trip!

Hoping the family will send me home with some Venison too. Bringing a large Yeti…

Only thing I am thinking about is whether when I leave Jennings, since I may not leave till Noonish if the family is making Gumbo that day, and since I am making a detour to drive down to Grand Isle, and then since I am making stops in New Orleans, if I should just plan to spend the night in New Orleans and just make the full drive the next morning instead of trying to drive for some time and then stopping. No way I’d be able to make the full drive back home that day with all the stops.

On that note, if anyone recommends taking the drive down to Grand Isle vs the drive down to Venice - which is better just as a scenic drive (no more than 30 minutes stopping time): Let me know.

 

I am officially in Austin. I had no idea Austin was such a party city. My hotel apparently sits right in the center of the “cool kids” zone. I’m at the Kimpton.

A few things I noticed while driving in:
1. The speed limit in Texas changes more frequently than any state I have ever traveled through or worked in. Holy mother of god.
2. Texas drivers give Chicago drivers a run for their money, and the herd seems to speed more on the whole than Louisiana, which I didn’t know was possible.
3. Lots of trucks with lights in the wheel wells. Only seen that once before. Didn’t know that was a popular thing.
4. Texans like to drive with their brights on.

Really appreciate all the feedback and recommendations. Going to Comedor for Brunch tomorrow for the pancakes. Not sure yet where for dinner. Would like to make it to Live Oak tomorrow. Thinking about the sausage place for dinner. Going to try to corrupt someone into going with me, but we’ll see.

@donspublic if you are local, let me know. I suspect there will be an opportunity for at least a brief meet up.

To all Texans: If I am only going to buy 1 Balcones to take back; which should it be (irrespective of price)?

 

I followed your recommendation and went to Comedor for brunch. Had the pancake. Asked for a side of meat - all they had was (green chorizo), which was wonderful. The butter was the star, but everything was yummy. I’m not sure how I would feel if I had spent $18 of my own money, but it was huge, filling, and yummy nonetheless.

Went to Moonshine nearby for dinner. Not sure I was enthused, but it was fine/ cat-head biscuits were acceptable, and the garlic bulbs were fine. I got the steak salad, which was small (for a full portion), but yummy. Someone got the chicken and waffles, and they were fine. Someone got the center cut pork chop, and it was fine. Someone got the fried chicken salad, and really enjoyed it. Two people got the country fried steak, and it was huge, but too spicey for one, and fine for the other. I tried it. Not too spicey. It was OK. Their gravy is lacking.

The star was reasonably priced W12 and EH Taylor SiB pours.

 

I am thinking about going for dinner one night, but not sure. I really only have dinner tonight, Tuesday, and Thursday to choose. Friday is a maybe. Would like to do Odd Duck for one day. So, that leaves most likely 2 days to choose. Since these events are nearly always with other people, it gets a little messy.

…That being said, I corralled people to go to the Banger house today for lunch, which worked well for our size and timing (we got there 2 minutes before open). It was not exactly as I had expected, but I wasn’t disappointed and I was very happy/satisfied. My only “complaint” is that the appetizers (2 of the 3 we ordered) were really small. The boudin balls I expected to be closer to fist size, and instead they were goftball size (but only 3 of them).

Everyone left hungry and happy, and overall very reasonably priced.

 

Did the Odd Duck last night. It was the only way, given what they had available. So, 5 of us went. It was nice. I am glad we had a larger table, because they put us on the extension at the very back. If we had been much closer up, my god it would have been loud.

We shared corn bread and corn ribs. Both good. I got the burger, others got the scallops, quail, pork, and the special (pigs ear). I only tried mine, but it was good, and everyone remarked that theirs was also good. Several tried mine, and they thought it was one of the best, but one individual believes the pigs ear without a doubt is the winner.

Have of us got the chocolate dessert, while the rest of us all got the cobbler. We all enjoyed.

I also had one of their Old Fashioned made with their 12yr rum, which was god and different.

Overall, great experience. Certainly not a cheap place, but a nice exciting place to try.

Trying to figure out what to do with my remaining communal meals. Considering trying to get a steak. I want to get tacos at least once. I’m determined to go to JewBoy. I have 2-3 lunches left unplanned, and 2-3 dinners also still unplanned.

 

Lots to respond to, but one thing I wanted to mention was steak.

Steak isn’t my go to either. I want something I can’t get back home (and I can cook a mean steak anyway, so why bother by comparison?), but…I like to have one in my back pocket if the need arises.

I was looking at Bird, Bird Biscuit last night or this morning, and pretty interested. Appreciate the rec.

 

No worries. Steak is steak is steak. I can google. I appreciate the downlow on all the other local goodies, like Bird Bird.

 

Two of us walked to Lazarus and then hit Zilker on the way back as well. Zilker was a bit better (to my taste) than Lazarus. We only had IPAs and the kellerbier at Lazarus, and at Zilker we had 2 IPAs and a Kolsh. Overall, all good and would go back.

Don’t know what the deal is with no place selling food after 10pm. Forced myself into a hole last night. We ended up getting VooDoo doughnuts, which were great, but I ultimately needed something more.