ATX FYI | Foodie Finale of 2020
This year has been a struggle for everyone, especially the local, small business owners.
I want to highlight the amazing experiences within the Austin food & bev community that I encountered this year!
Disclaimer: These are all meals/dishes that I have personally had this year.
Since the pandemic hit, I have been supporting a LOT of local places and ensured I ate a variety of meals, out and through takeout.
BEST BAR
➜ roosevelt room
307 west 5th street, austin, texas
therooseveltroomatx.com
facebook.com/therooseveltroomatx
instagram.com/rooseveltroomatx
if you know me, you know that I love roosevelt room. one great about roosevelt room is that they have booths and no standing room, so with covid, safety is a huge priority. I might call this place more of a lounge than a bar, but I don’t want to take away from the INSANELY delicious drinks that the mixologists make. the menu is sorted by era, so they have a very wide variety of options.
BEST BISCUIT SANDWICH
➜ little ola’s biscuits
1610 san antonio street, austin, texas
olamaieaustin.com
facebook.com/olamaieaustin
instagram.com/littleolasbiscuits
little ola’s is brought to us from olamaie austin, they made a pivot to preorder during covid, mainly built on their biscuit sandwiches (love seeing this pivot they’ve made!). these biscuits are incredibly made, flaky, crispy, and then topped with some of the best, local meats (house-made sausage!!) and eggs.
BEST BURGER -&- BEST BRISKET
➜ leroy & lewis
@ cosmic coffee + beer garden - 121 pickle road, austin texas
leroyandlewisbbq.com
facebook.com/leroyandlewis
instagram.com/leroyandlewis
as many of my followers know, i had a long love of freedmen’s, which closed a couple of years ago since dorms were being built around it and they were concerned about how that would affect business. but, lucky for austin, evan leroy, opened his own food trailer offering my favorite burger (and barbecue in austin). their burger is made of smoked brisket, by the way. wow. regarding their brisket, it’s akaushi brisket and available saturday and sunday only. don’t forget the beet barbecue sauce either, it doesn’t require it… but the sauce is so delicious!
BEST BRUNCH
➜ sawyer & co
4827 east cesar chavez street, austin, texas
sawyerand.co
facebook.com/sawyerandco
instagram.com/sawyeratx
this new orleans inspired restaurant has my favorite brunch, especially their huey p. benedict with homefries. be sure to sit on the patio, love their vibe there!
BEST COLD-CUT SUB SANDWICH
➜ little deli & pizzeria
woodrow ave - 7101 woodrow avenue unit a, austin, texas
windsor park - 1804 briarcliff boulevard, austin, texas
littledeliandpizza.com
facebook.com/littledeliandpizza
instagram.com/littledeliandpizza
is it okay to say that i am addicted to their classic italian sub sandwich? i think that the bread is what really makes a sub sandwich spectacular, along with the ratio of bread to meat. and little deli, really nails it.
BEST FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH
➜ las abuela’s
11444 menchaca road, austin, texas
pollolasabuelas.com
facebook.com/pollolasabuelas
instagram.com/pollolasabuelas
an unassuming small trailer off of menchaca, this place has my favorite chicken sandwich and banderas tots. with particular hours and being closed on sunday and monday, be sure to check beforehand.
BEST HEALTHY RESTAURANT
➜ honest mary’s
rosedale - 4800 burnet road c300, austin, texas
arboretum - 9828 great hills trail suite 300, austin, texas
honestmarys.com
facebook.com/honestmarys
instagram.com/honestmarys
cannot believe that I JUST found honest mary’s. it has been my go-to for a healthy lunch, usually getting a chicken bowl.
BEST MARGARITA
➜ reunion 19
1700 east 2nd street, austin, texas
reunion19atx.com
facebook.com/reunion19atx
instagram.com/reunion19atx
there’s no doubt r19’s slush box is the best (and one of the booziest) margaritas in austin. a drink with high-end ingredients and tequila, frozen, and sweet. additionally, reunion 19 takes covid protocols very serious, which puts your mind at ease while dining there.
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
➜ mediterranean cuisine
11444 menchaca road, austin, texas
mediterranean-cuisine-mediterranean-restaurant.business.site
facebook.com/Hummus-Cuisine
this lebanese food trailer in south austin off of menchaca is ran by a couple of the sweetest people who make amazing gyro and falafel wraps. if you like tabbouleh, you will love theirs!
BEST OUTDOOR VIEW
➜ tillery kitchen & bar
3201 east cesar chavez street, austin, texas
tilleryatx.com
facebook.com/tilleryatx
instagram.com/tillerykitchenandbar
it’s really hard to beat the colorado river views while having weekend brunch at this stunning east austin restaurant.
BEST PATIO
➜ aba restaurant
1011 south congress avenue, austin, texas
abarestaurants.com
facebook.com/abarestaurantaustin
instagram.com/abarestaurant
with the new music lane popping up in south congress, we now have aba! they have the most striking patio with an outside bar and greenery.
BEST SEAFOOD
➜ salt traders
zilker park - 1101 south mopac expy, austin, texas
round rock - 2850 north i-35, round rock, texas
salttraderscc.com
facebook.com/salttraderscczilker
instagram.com/salttraderscc
salt traders being owned by the same people who own jack allen’s, I had high hopes for this place, and boy, were my expectations exceeded. first off, get the bbq shrimp, it’s nothing you’d expect, but they are incredible, you will be wanting every last drop of sauce.
BEST SLICE OF PIZZA
➜ little deli & pizzeria
woodrow ave - 7101 woodrow avene unit a, austin, texas
windsor park - 1804 briarcliff blvd, austin, texas
littledeliandpizza.com
facebook.com/littledeliandpizza
instagram.com/littledeliandpizza
after visiting new york and new jersey many years ago, i figured out what a real slice is. ever since then, i have been very particular about my pizza. little deli has a great flop, thin-crust, and amazing taste profile.
BEST SUSHI
➜ neighborhood sushi
1716 south congress avenue, austin, texas
neighborhoodsushi.com
facebook.com/neighborhood-sushi
instagram.com/neighborhoodsushi
this ‘enter through the backdoor’ place, is lively and stunning on the inside, with some of the best sushi being served. fresh, fresh, fresh sushi and new, bold flavors that i would not have placed together, but it works. don’t forget to get a handroll while you’re at it!
BEST TAKEOUT
➜ hank’s
5811 berkman drive, austin, texas
hanksaustin.com
facebook.com/hanksinaustin
instagram.com/hanks.austin
to-go food is tough, but hank’s does such a great job at keeping warm things warm, crispy things crispy, and cold things cold. the first time i tried hank’s, it had to be to-go (thanks to covid) but since it was so great, i had to go back afterward!
BEST VEGAN
➜ revolution vegan kitchen
7800 south 1st street, austin, texas
revolutionvegankitchen.com
facebook.com/revolutionvegankitchen
instagram.com/revolutionvegankitchen
within the awesome thicket food trailer park, you might not realize the amazing hidden gems. food trucks might scare people away but I can say that they can house food and chefs that are better than in a brick and mortar restaurant. revolution offers a ‘munchwrap supreme’ that is fully vegan and better than taco bell’s, in my opinion!
BEST RESTAURANT OVERALL
➜ eberly
615 south lamar boulevard, austin, texas
eberlyaustin.com
facebook.com/eberlyatx
instagram.com/eberlyatx
eberly remained closed for the majority of this year once covid hit, but after going there soon after they reopened, they are still on top of things and the best of the best. the most exquisite restaurant and a back bar that takes you straight to new york city. also, make sure you try their grilled sourdough, it changed my life. lol
overall, thank you to all of my followers. 2020 has been a struggle and I have seen the most love and support now more than ever. it blows my mind with how much everyone supports local here and cares for one another.
here’s to 2021, y’all. much love!
CHEERS!
