The Vitals:
the spot: The Carillon AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave, Austin, TX 78705
the eats: Three course Dinner
the bucks: $55 per person
the full nelson: Throwback to American Continental Cuisine dining era
Over Easter Sunday, I was pleasantly surprised to feast at the Carillon by the campus of the University of Texas Austin. The sumptuous brunch took me back to the days of my youth where American Continental cuisine classics like Hollandaise draped seafood and filet mignon seared to perfect medium rare screamed “the good life”.
Dinner at the Carillon bodes well for more throwbacks from that era of dining. I’m eyeing the Wagyu Carpaccio, The NY Strip with bordelaise(a totally classic continental cuisine sauce) and the black forest cake. The latter happens to be vegan, so can’t say it screams 1980s(0r 1930s) for me but chocolate is always the answer. And so goes The Carillon for my pick for some the best food in Austin.
The Vitals:
the spot: JewBoy Burgers 5111 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
the eats: The Cubano Burger special
the bucks: $
the full nelson: The city’s most lowkey beloved burger joint
What makes JewBoy Burgers an easy pick for the best food in Austin? It’s a low key locally beloved burger joint. The food trailer turned brick and mortar also has spun off a sub shop concept, a West Texas Mexican concept(sadly closed) and a burger slider concept. The main location is always packed and more often than not you will see the JewBoy himself, Mo Pittle working the room.
It’s worth noting that Mo is Jewish. The name “JewBoy”, which I initially found a touch disarming, is in fact a term of endearment. One that was bestowed upon him by the Mexican American community in El Paso where Mo grew up. Think of it has a play on “homeboy”.
As far the burgers go, Mo has a gift of making hearty topped burgers work well. His “Goyim” which features a generous amount of pastrami on a sizeable beef patty is less an episode of “Man vs Food” and more like “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”.
This month he is doing a take on a Cuban sandwich, a staple of Miami, that serves up layers of roast pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickle, yellow mustard in a pressed panini sandwich. And in true Mo Pittle style, a burger patty is slipped in. This one might just be the Man vs Food moment for JewBoy Burgers, but there is only one way to find out.
The Vitals:
the spot: Paperboy South 1401 S. Lamar blvd Austin TX 78704
the eats: Texas hash, Paperboy Pancake, Ricotta Toast
the bucks: $$
the full nelson: The best everyday brunch in Austin expands
Paperboy makes my list of Best Food in Austin because they serve brunch every day of the week. Now they doubled that service by adding a second location. Those who live south of downtown can get their Roasted Pork Sweet Potato hash or their decadent pancake, or a bevy of bodacious brunch fare without having to drive to their original location and waiting in line.
I’m hopeful this means the wait might ease up. And even if it doesn’t, I won’t mind. Their food is worth it.
The Vitals:
the spot: Distant Relatives 3901 Promontory Drive Austin TX 78744
the eats: ribs, chicken, pulled pork sandwich, all the sides
the bucks: $$
the full nelson: the perfect place to eat in honor of Juneteenth
I confess that it was with the the last few years that I learned what Juneteenth was. If you were like I was in 2017 I will explain. Juneteenth is a U.S. holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Fitting then, that on this day you choose to eat at Distant Relatives. Chef Damien Brockway left the world of fine dining and took to barbecue. The African American chef chose the name as he was researching his own past where he traced his ancestors from Africa and sourced ingredients and spices to craft his own barbecue. I adore the bbq chicken and pulled pork which are relatively affordable when it comes to barbecue.
The Vitals:
the spot: Loudmouth 1209 Rosewood Ave Austin TX 78702
the eats: pizza, meatballs, Caesar salad, Italian sandwich
the bucks: $$
the full nelson: a pizza and Italian American comfort spot from the Paperboy team
Housed in a gorgeous Victorian-era building on Rosewood Ave, Loudmouth is a pizzeria and Italian American comfort food spot from the team that gave us Paperboy. The menu appeals to what seems to be what everyone loves these days: wood fired pizzas, cocktails and elevated comfort food like chicken wings, Caesar salad, and hefty Italian Sub.
Personally I was blown away by two things: the building which has a charm like one finds in a New Orleans restaurant and the focaccia that comes with the meatballs. The bread seemed to be made with an extra helping of olive oil and arrives toasted to a lovely yellow gold color. The red sauce was spot on as well, just tangy enough without every wearing out its welcome.
The pizza game is getting crowded in Austin but what makes Loudmouth standout is that bread and the environment.
And a special shout out to Arjav Ezekiel, co-owner and beverage director of Birdie’s in Austin, who wine the James Beard Award for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service. The wine aficionado was honored for the restaurant’s extensive wine list. Birdie’s has logn been on my list for Best Food in Austin because of the cooking of Arjav’s wife: Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel.
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