I've updated my list of restaurants that source at least some of their produce or meat from local farms by area of town near SXSW venues. I've included some basic details to help you narrow down your choices and, of course, I have some favorites on the list:
- Nibbling your way through the farmers markets is a great way to taste some of the best of Austin. On Saturday morning, the Downtown Austin Farmers Market offers terrific vendors like Dai Due, Bola Pizza and Taco Deli. You can dine al fresco, enjoy the live music and soak up the sunshine. On Sunday morning, the Hope Farmers Market in East Austin is another great spot to grab a snack and a cup of coffee.
- Some of the best happy hours in town are at Trio, Parkside, Uchi and Uchiko. Trio offers all of their incredible appetizers are 1/2 off from 5-7 pm, so you get to eat some of the best food in town for the price of a hamburger. Uchi and Uchiko's social hour offers special prices on a selection drinks and dishes both from the sushi bar and the grill. Parkside's 1/2 price happy hour for the bar menu, beer and cocktails feels incredibly indulgent and is a total bargain.
- At Second + Congress, Chef David Bull has created the unique experience of two very different restaurants sharing the same space. Second is casual and fun with craft cocktails at the bar and playful dishes like the Buffalo Fried Pickles, Pepperoni Soup, and Beef Short Rib Pizza. Congress, which I haven't visited yet, is fine dining, possibly the finest in Austin, with a prix fixe only menu of three or seven courses. The Congress Bar menu offers a different selection of craft cocktails and food items from both the Second and Congress kitchens, letting you enjoy the best of both worlds.
- Slightly off the beaten path, Foreign & Domestic in the North Loop neighborhood is worth the effort. Ned and Jodi Elliott are talented, creative and maybe a little crazy resulting in delicious, innovative dishes served in a comfortable diner style restaurant. You know you are in for a different experience when the dinner special comes with a Lone Star tall boy.
- One of my favorite things about Spring in Austin is eating outdoors. The patios at Perla's, FINO and El Arbol are terrific places to relax, soak in the sun and enjoy lovely meals. [Unfortunately El Arbol closed Fall 2011.]
- In South Austin, I can not get enough of Odd Duck Farm-to-Trailer. Bryce Gilmore is serving up some of the best food in town - from a trailer. I haven't been to Barley Swine, his new place, yet, but I hear good things. Loving local must run in the family because Bryce's dad, Jack Gilmore, is also serving up terrific locally sourced fare at Jack Allen's Kitchen in Southwest Austin.
- Eastside Pies is my favorite pizza in town. One of the owners is a baker and their crust is outstanding. Try their Farm to Table pizza made with farm fresh ingredients.
- 24 Diner serves up high quality diner fare at a reasonable price. I'm particularly fond of the breakfast plates which are all made with locally sourced eggs.
- I like to satisfy my cravings for Tex Mex at Taco Deli. For breakfast, I like the Jess Special taco with their fiery Dona sauce (avoid the salsa if don't like heat; it's very, very, very spicy.) The bison taco made with ground bison from Thunderheart is hearty and rich with meaty goodness. I will drive out of my way on Fridays for the delicious ceviche special, offered in a cup or as a taco. At $3.25 it's the best ceviche deal in town.
6th Street/Convention Center
The Backspace, 507 San Jacinto, Antipasto and Neopolitan style pizza cooked in a brick oven imported from Italy, average pizza price $12
Chez Nous, 510 Neches, French Bistro, lunch and dinner, 3 course prix fixe menu $25.50, average dinner entree $25
Congress , 200 Congress Ave., New American. Congress is dinner only with 3 courses ($65) or chef tasting menu ($95.)
Manuel's, 310 Congress Ave., Mexican, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, average dinner entree $20
Parkside, 301 E. 6th, New American with an emphasis on oysters and seafood crudo, dinner, average dinner entree $23, Austin Farm to Table profile
Second Bar and Kitchen , 200 Congress Ave., New American. Lunch, dinner and late night, average dinner entree $22.
Trio, at the Four Seasons, 98 San Jacinto, New American, breakfast, lunch, dinner, average dinner entree $25, Austin Farm to Table profile
Warehouse District/West Downtown
Aquarelle, 606 Rio Grande, French, dinner, 3 course prix fixe menu $45, average dinner entree $33, Austin Farm to Table profile
Bess Bistro, 500 W. 6th St., Bistro, lunch, dinner, brunch, average dinner entree $21.
La Condesa, 400 W. 2nd St., Mexican, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $26
Leaf Salad, 419 W. 2nd St., Salads, lunch, average entree $10
Peche, 208 W. 4th St., New American, dinner, average entree $22
Peche, 208 W. 4th St., New American, dinner, average entree $22
SFC Downtown Austin Farmers Market, 4th and Guadalupe at Republic Square, various vendors with prepared food, fresh produce, meats, cheeses and artisan food products, Saturdays 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Trace at the W Hotel, 200 Lavaca St., New American, breakfast, lunch, dinner, prices vary widely between breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Walton's Fancy and Staple, 609 W. 6th St., deli, breakfast, lunch, early dinner, average dish $7.
Central West Austin
24 Diner, 600 N. Lamar, American diner fare, 24 hours, average dish $11
Cipollina, 1213 West Lynn, Bistro menu, specializing in pizza, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $15, Austin Farm to Table profile
Counter Cafe, 626 N. Lamar, American, breakfast and lunch, average entree $10, Austin Farm to Table profile
Fabi & Rosi, 509 Hearn St., New American, dinner and Sunday brunch, average entree $20
Jeffrey's, West Lynn at West 12th, New American, dinner, average entree $30
Wink, 1014 N. Lamar, New American, dinner, average entree $25 (the wine bar has a separate less expensive menu), Austin Farm to Table profile
South Austin
Barley Swine, 2024 S. Lamar Blvd., New American, dinner, average dish $14
Enoteca Vespaio, 1610 S. Congress, Italian, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $15
Hyatt Austin - Southwest Bistro, 208 Barton Springs Rd., Southwestern, breakfast, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $18
Jack Allen's Kitchen, 7720 W. Hwy 71 (this place is a jaunt from downtown, but worth the drive), casual Texas cuisine, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, average entree $13 Austin Farm to Table profile
Kerbey Lane Cafe, 2700 S. Lamar, American, 24 hours, average entree $10
La Boite Cafe, 1700 S. Lamar Blvd., baked goods & sandwiches, sandwich du jour $6
CLOSED: Odd Duck Farm-to-Trailer, 1219 S. Lamar, New American, dinner, average dish $6, Austin Farm to Table profile
Olivia, 2043 S. Lamar, New American, lunch (Friday & Saturday only), dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $30, Austin Farm to Table profile
Perla's, 1400 S. Congress, Seafood, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $25
CLOSED: Somnio's Cafe, 1807 S. 1st St., eclectic (some of everything) - vegetarian friendly, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, average dinner entree $12
Snack Bar, 1224 S. Congress Ave., diner and lounge, daily brunch, lunch, dinner and late night, average dish price $9. Austin Farm to Table profile
Taco Deli, 1500 Spyglass, Tex Mex, breakfast and lunch, average taco price is $3
Thai Fresh, 909 W. Mary, Thai, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $10, Austin Farm to Table profile
Uchi, 801 S. Lamar, Contemporary Japanese cuisine + sushi, dinner, average small plate $15, average roll price $12
Vespaio, 1610 S. Congress Ave., Italian, dinner, average entree $25
Whip-In Parlour Cafe & Market, 1950 S. IH-35, Indian, breakfast, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $11
East Austin
Blue Dahlia Bistro, 1115 E. 11th St., French Bistro, breakfast, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $11, Austin Farm to Table profile
Local Yolk, 1112 E. 6th St., Locally sourced egg dishes like egg sandwiches and deviled eggs, breakfast & lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday, dinner and late night Thursday through Saturday, Sunday brunch, average dish $6
East Side Show Room, 1100 E. 6th St., Bistro, dinner, average dinner entree $20, Austin Farm to Table profile
Eastside Cafe, 2113 Manor Rd., American, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, average dinner entree $18
Eastside Pies, 1401B Rosewood Ave., Pizza, lunch and dinner, large pizza averages $20
Hope Farmers Market, 414 Waller St, various vendors with prepared food, fresh produce, meats, cheeses and artisan food products, Sundays 11 am - 3 pm.
Justine's Brasserie, 4710 E. 5th St., French, dinner, average entree $15
Campus/Central
Asti Trattoria, 408-C E. 43rd St., Italian, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $20
Chango's Taqueria, 3023 Guadalupe, Mexican, lunch and dinner, average cost for 2 tacos $6
CLOSED: El Arbol, 3411 Glenview, Argentinian, dinner, average entree $23, Austin Farm to Table profile
FINO, 2905 San Gabriel, Mediterranean/Spanish, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, average dinner entree $22, Austin Farm to Table profile
Foreign+Domestic, 306 E. 53rd St., New America, dinner, average entree $19, Austin Farm to Table profile
Get Sum Dim Sum, 4400 N. Lamar, Asian, lunch and dinner, average cost of 3 items $10, Austin Farm to Table profile
Kerbey Lane Cafe, 2606 Guadalupe and 3704 Kerbey Lane, American, 24 hours, average entree $10
Taco Deli, 4200 N. Lamar, Tex Mex, breakfast and lunch, average taco price is $3
Texas French Bread, 2900 Rio Grande, American, breakfast, lunch and dinner, average dinner entree $20
Uchiko, 4200 N. Lamar, Japanese farmhouse dishes and sushi, dinner, average small plate $15, average roll $13, Austin Farm to Table profile
Vino Vino, 4119 Guadalupe, New American, dinner, average dinner entree $18
