Tacos for Breakfast: Veracruz All Natural
Amid stiff competition, this mini-chain serves what we consider the best tacos in town, thanks to house-made corn tortillas and wonderfully fresh vegetables that make the difference on their signature seasoned tilapia tacos. The barbacoa taco, sold only on weekends and laced with a secret blend of spices, is worth seeking out.
Mediterranean for Lunch: Launderette
Once a laundromat, it’s now filled with chairs by Danish brand Hay and salvaged wood tables. The menu is heavy on seafood and vegetables, including artfully plated crab on toasted semolina bread and caramelized endive with blue cheese and thyme. Desserts recall childhood favorites: carrot cake with a twist of parsnips, and a Creamsicle homage.
Seafood at Cocktail Hour: Clark’s Oyster Bar
Waiters in crisp, light-blue oxford shirts and custom striped waist aprons deliver osetra caviar, more than a dozen varieties
of raw oysters, and dishes like wood-grilled Gulf redfish with smoked caper and paprika vinaigrette on gorgeous white-and-blue platters. Tables on the front terrace, shaded by striped yellow awnings, are the place to be.
French for Dinner: Justine’s
Hidden amid the warehouses of East Austin, Justine’s rustic cottage and gated garden feel like discoveries, even though they’re just a ten-minute cab ride from South Congress Avenue. French classics—steak tartare, moules frites, buttery escargots—are served with bottles (and bottles) of Bordeaux.
And About That BBQ...
Franklin Barbecue is as famous for its tender brisket as it is for its long lines. (Seriously—people bring folding chairs.) If you don’t have three hours to wait, hit Micklethwait Craft Meats, which does stellar brisket and ribs as well as surprisingly good pulled goat. About a mile away, La Barbecue serves smoky, flavorful brisket and ribs. Purists say Texas barbecue needs no sauce, but their tangy, vinegar-based dip challenges convention.