Where to Eat Now

Where to eat in Austin right now: 6 unexpected spots for game day grub

Football season is in full swing and fans are looking for places to enjoy the game with a few friends. There are dozens of well-known sports bars in town, some even dedicated to hosting a specific college or team, but this month we’re changing things up. Here are six out-of-the-ordinary options to get your game day grub on.

backYARD at Waller Creek
This outdoor hangout at the Sheraton Austin at the Capitol is now an official partner of the Texas Exes Austin Chapter, hosting a lively tailgate party for every game as the official game watching venue for the Longhorns this season. Fans can rev up pre-game with a Bloody Mary bar, themed cocktails, craft brews, and signature tacos from the adorable onsite airstream. The game will be live-streamed on a big screen for those who do not have home game tickets, and outdoorsy games like cornhole and giant beer pong add to the festive atmosphere. If the Horns win, fans can stay and celebrate post-game with live music by a rotating lineup of local bands in all genres. The Texas Exes Austin Chapter will also be on hand with raffle tickets for prizes, Longhorn swag, and information on how to become a member.

Cane Rosso
Pizza and football go together like … well, pizza and football. But why not try a different approach from the usual delivery chains? Cane Rosso is offering a special catering pick-up menu, served in disposable containers perfect for tailgating, to complement their authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. Fans can order pizza rolls (30 pieces stuffed with cheese, pepperoni, or mushroom with a side of marinara); wood-fired wings by the dozen (with your choice of “dry and spicy” rub or "sauced" with caramelized onion dressing); popcorn-fried cheese curds with spicy mayo; meatballs by the dozen with barbecue or tomato sauce; and more. Don’t forget to grab one of their dessert pizzas to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Cover 3
These Austin-born spots are sports bars, but they make our list for going above and beyond. The food here is far from being an afterthought, with hearty brunch options that range from classic egg and meat breakfasts to stuffed brioche French toast and chilaquiles. And who can beat the stand-alone bubbles and Bloody Mary bars? Available Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm, the bubbles bar allows you to mix your own mimosa with fresh juice options like cranberry, orange, grapefruit, peach nectar, and pomegranate for only $4. At the Bloody Mary station, pick your vodka (Tito’s is $4); your choice of flavored mixes; season with a variety of hot sauces and spices; and garnish with condiments like applewood-smoked bacon, celery, jalapeños, various stuffed olives, and house-pickled veggies. Cover 3 also hosts a happy hour from 4 pm to 10 pm on Mondays, perfect for watching pro games.

LeRoy and Lewis
Rapidly becoming the barbecue buzz of the town, LeRoy and Lewis is offering an Ultimate Tailgating BBQ Package that might make your guests (momentarily) forget about the game. The package serves 15-25 guests and includes 60 smoky, falling-off-the-bone chicken wings, 30 brisket and cream cheese stuffed jalapeño poppers, 10 pounds of brisket, 5 pounds of house-made sausage, a seasonal side, their signature smoked beet barbecue sauce, house-made pickles, and bread. Price is $500 plus tax, with additional meats available for $12-14 and additional sides at $5 per person. The package is available Saturday and Sunday throughout football season. You can swing by the South Austin trailer for pick-up or get it delivered in the Central Austin area, but you must order one week in advance. Get everyone to chip in and be the envy of the neighborhood.

The Rickhouse at Treaty Oak Ranch
Is there anything an Austinite cannot do at this lovely spot in Dripping Springs? Apparently not, since football-watching is now available at The Rickhouse, the property’s rustic cocktail bar. Enjoy college and NFL action on two big flat-screen TVs while sipping house-crafted libations and nibbling on Hill Country-inspired noshes from chef Chris Andrews’ onsite Ghost Hill Restaurant. Snacks range from simple bites like Cajun-spiced party mix and kettle chips to green chile pimento cheese; cheese and charcuterie platters; and house-made brisket rillettes served with pickles, whole grain mustard, and water crackers. If you want something more filling, you can carry whatever you desire from the Ghost Hill menu back to the bar. Draft cocktails with the whole line of Treaty Oak spirits are available, and beer lovers will certainly enjoy the fresh offerings from Treaty Oak Brewing, light in alcohol content but big in flavor. Check out the Fitzhugh British Mild Ale, a quaffable brew at just 3.5% ABV.

Soursop/St. Elmo Brewing
Southeast Asian fare does not immediately come to mind as football food, but it’s time to expand your horizons. Pair chef Teddy Bricker’s innovative fare with St. Elmo’s excellent brews and you have a party. St Elmo will be showing all UT games, so you can toast or drown your sorrows accordingly with $2 pours of Carl kolsch. Meanwhile, Soursop is serving the O.G. and Hot Gai chicken sandwiches for $6 during the games. The O.G. features green curry spiced fried chicken, fermented green tomato relish, burnt scallion aioli, and Thai herbs; the Hot Gai is seasoned with massaman curry, doused with chili oil, pickles, and “Swiss cheese food product.” The happening trailer serves other football-friendly shareable dishes like an amazing Thai-spiced queso with airy shrimp chips, fiery yet addicting curry wings, and pimento cheese served on special crab chips with pickled Thai chili, shallot, and cilantro.

Cane Rosso chicken wings.

Courtesy photo

Cane Rosso chicken wings.

where-to-eat

Festival fare

Where to eat in Austin right now: 12 hot spots to feed your face during SXSW

Photo by Dillon Burke @FOHNYC

Fareground.

The time has finally arrived, Austin. SXSW is back in all its in-person glory, so it’s time to cash in those work-allotted sick days, drink copious amounts of water in preparation for the inevitable hangovers, break out the comfy walking shoes, and set your event plan. Austin’s spring festival season has begun.

Of course, part of setting your spectacular SXSW plan involves cooking up a scheme for sustenance. A festivalgoer can’t survive on pocketed energy bars and freebie nibbles alone!

Plus, the Austin restaurant industry is ripe for an influx of hungry South By’ers — and can certainly use your patronage after a rough couple of years. In fact, according to the Texas Restaurant Association, this year’s SXSW event will have an estimated $16 million consumer-spending impact on local bars, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses, a staggering economic payoff that, as TRA notes, will have them welcoming festivalgoers with “open arms, menus, and bar tabs.”

“So much of what makes Austin special can be found in our food, our hospitality, and our people. That is why people come year after year,” says Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the TRA.

“This community and these businesses navigated the COVID-19 pandemic with incredible resilience, innovation, and tenacity,” she continues. “Now that SXSW is back with a full in-person lineup March 11-20, Austin restaurants, bars, and venues are ready to welcome back visitors and Austinites alike to celebrate all that we’ve overcome and the innovation that lies ahead.”

Okay, you’re sold, right? You’re ready to support local restaurants, bars, and venues with your dollars during SXSW, and you’re probably already champing at the bit to stuff your face with festival-fueling grub.

We’ve whipped up a few nosh-worthy recommendations for where to eat near the festival happenings — as well as where you can score a scrumptious meal when you want to escape the festival madness.

Stay safe, festival adventurers, tip your restaurant staff, and don’t forget to stay hydrated. Let’s get this fest feast started!

Downtown
If you are truly immersing yourself in the SXSW experience, you’ll be spending a ton of time in and near downtown Austin. And grabbing a bite to eat in the vicinity of your next must-see show is a piece of cake. In fact, most spots serving up great chow are within walking distance, and some are even offering SXSW specials during the fest.

Here are our picks for where to eat and drink downtown:

Tacodeli
Start your festival days off in Austin style by chowing down on tacos at this local institution’s location in the heart of downtown, at 301 Congress Ave. Tacodeli offers an expansive menu of breakfast tacos, and beef, chicken, seafood, and veggie tacos, making it easy to grab a quick bite and get on to the next SXSW show. But with a dog-friendly patio and plenty of seating, it’s also ideal for hanging around for a bit of queso snacking and agua fresca sipping. The downtown location is open until 3 pm daily, so even if you get a late start, your tacos will be waiting.

Fairground
Sometimes festival brain can lead to an inability to satisfactorily feed your cravings. But thanks to this one-stop dining and drinking downtown spot, which features two full-service bars and six eateries, catering to your cravings is easy as pie. Options include dumplings from Little Wu, falafel and hummus from TLV, pizza from The Market, burgers from Henbit, and more than 120 other globally inspired dishes. Every day starting at 5 pm, Drink is offering $4 house cocktails, draft beers, and house wines, and $5 mimosas and Bloody Marys are available during weekend brunch. Fareground’s weekend brunch runs 11 am-5 pm and offers something for everyone. Fareground is located at 111 Congress Ave., inside the One Eleven Congress building.

Kinfolk Lounge & Library
Downtown Austin’s newest cocktail bar — hidden within the historic cellar at Moonshine — offers a nearby escape from the festival. And with only 20 seats and no windows, it really does offer a chance to unplug for a bit. Kinfolk serves a refined list of cocktails, as well as a unique selection of whiskey, scotch, mezcal, tequila, and more. Kinfolk is open Thursday through Saturday 5-10 pm, and is located at 303 Red River St.

The Roosevelt Room
Award-winning mixologists Justin Lavenue, Dennis Gobis, and Matthew Korzelius know all there is to know about crafting specialty cocktails, so it’s no wonder The Roosevelt Room’s 80-drink beverage program consists of a menu covering the essential periods in cocktail history, as well as innovative house creations. The perfectly moody bar also offers a menu of nibbles, charcuterie boards, and desserts to pair with all those fancy cocktails. The Roosevelt Room opens at 3 pm on Sundays, 4 pm every other day, and happy hour runs from opening to 7 pm daily. The bar is located at 307 W. Fifth St.

Hot Tacos
The ladies of popular Mexican eatery Veracruz All Natural are rolling out their Hot Tacos pop-up for SXSW. The Hot Tacos food truck will feature tacos like the vegan al pastor cauliflower and cochinita pibil with consommé, as well as brand-new recipes and new spins on traditional tacos, all with grilled tortillas and flanked by aguas frescas, homemade chips and salsas, and quesadillas. Hot Tacos will be parked at 75 Rainey St. starting Friday, March 11 and running through the entire SXSW festival. It’s open daily 11 am-2 am.

Analog
Switch off from the festival frenzy for a spell at Analog, the bar and eatery located within the new Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District. With an interior bar that flows into a covered outdoor patio, Analog offers dishes inspired by local food trucks, like fried green tomatoes, triple barbecue sliders, and Grown-up Grilled Cheese, along with signature cocktails and local craft beers on tap. Analog diners also have access to the 17th floor rooftop deck, a cool space with lawn games and impressive views of downtown. SXSW’ers should also check out the late-night menu, available from 10 pm-midnight and featuring salted caramel popcorn, dill pickled green beans, shrimp cocktail, rosemary cashews, and salami and brie sandwiches. Analog is located at 301 W. 17th St.

East Austin
If you have a hankering to get out of downtown for a bite, nearby East Austin offers lots of tasty spots to sink your teeth into. Some closer-in east side locales are within walking distance, although it’s also easy to catch a pedicab or ride your bike if you want to give your trotters a rest.

Here are our picks for where to eat and drink in East Austin:

Easy Tiger
This beloved local bakery, restaurant, and bar will likely be your east side go-to during SXSW (and you may even spot some fest celebs among the throngs of Easy Tiger groupies). Stop by before panels and must-see events for a reprieve with freshly baked pastries and coffee — or grab them and go. You won’t regret hanging out on the huge lawn while devouring giant sandwiches made with house-baked bread, and you can even check in on your social pages with the free Wi-Fi. While Easy Tiger is an excellent spot to break bread with buddies, it’s also ideal for enjoying a few craft beers and ridiculously good hot pretzels after checking out a show. Easy Tiger East is located at 1501 E. Seventh St., and is open Monday through Thursday 7 am-10 pm, Friday 7 am-11 pm, Saturday 8 am-11 pm, and Sunday 8 am-9 pm.

Old Thousand
Keep the festival’s hip-hop vibes dropping with a post-show visit to this East Austin joint where “dope” Chinese food meets Texas flair. Old Thousand’s menu features an eclectic blend of flavors and ingredients, with the eatery specializing in modern interpretations of classic American-Chinese recipes, including brisket fried rice, Xiao mian, and General Tso’s Chicken. The menu is vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, so it’s a great option for your whole party, and the fun environment makes for an ideal festival pit stop. Old Thousand is located at 1000 E. 11th St. and is open Tuesday through Thursday 5-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 5-11 pm, and Sunday noon-10 pm.

Revelry Kitchen + Bar
The spacious patio, excellent food and drink menu, and party vibes make Revelry the perfect destination for — um, yeah — some SXSW revelry. The weekday happy hour, which runs all night on Mondays and 4-7 pm Tuesday through Friday, includes $5 appetizers, $2 off house cocktails, and $1 off local beers. For bites, gobble up the crispy chicken sandwich (made with spiced buttermilk battered chicken, slaw, sriracha mayo, and house pickles) or and the hefty RK Burger made with Angus beef. Revelry is located at 1410 E. Sixth St. and is open Monday through Thursday 4 pm-midnight, and Friday and Saturday 4 pm-2 am.

Off the beaten path
While the immediate festival surroundings offer plenty of restaurants and bars to feed your party-exhausted face, sometimes you want to take a break from the madness and sink into the serenity of a spot off the well-trodden SXSW path. Austin has more than its fair share of delightful eateries scattered throughout the city, so you can’t go wrong no matter where you’re headed.

Here are our picks for where to eat and drink off the beaten path:

Vinaigrette
This lovely little salad bistro has just the nourishment you need to shake off all the fried grub and booze you’ve likely been consuming during the fest. Vinaigrette’s farm-to-table offerings also include soups, sandwiches, and some super yummy snacks and sides that are ideal for al fresco noshing on restaurant’s serene, oak-tree-shaded patio. But just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean you can’t imbibe a bit, so check out Vinaigrette’s craft cocktails and curated wine selection, as well as tinctures and tonics that nourish both mind and body. Vinaigrette is located at 2201 College Ave., just off South Congress Avenue. It’s open every day 11 am-9 pm.

Yard Bar and Fat City
Give your dogs a rest from all that walking while giving your four-legged friends a chance to burn off some energy at North Austin’s Yard Bar, an outdoor bar and dog park that serves handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, local beers, and wine. The off-leash dog park area includes tables and chairs for folks to lounge at while your pups enjoy a fun, safe space that also has agility and play equipment. While you’re there, get your hands on a fat stack from Fat City, which shares a space with Yard Bar. This slider joint, a concept from the culinary virtuosos at The Peached Tortilla, has a family-friendly and nostalgia-focused menu of sliders, chicken tenders, crinkle fries, and more. Yard Bar and Fat City are located at 6700 Burnet Rd. Yard Bar is open daily 11 am-10 pm. Fat City is open Monday through Thursday 4-9 pm and Friday and Saturday noon-9 pm.

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge
Delight your senses with the elegant yet playful fare at this charming Hyde Park neighborhood eatery, which features a French antique-inspired aesthetic and unique food and beverage offerings that will leave you feeling wined, dined, and dazzled. Along with its regular dinner menu, Honey Moon’s happy hour, offered Tuesday through Friday 4-5:30 pm, is the best reason to hang out on the vast, plush patio for a while. On Wednesdays, grab half-priced bottles of wine and $2 oysters all night. The restaurant’s newly launched Sunday brunch service, which runs 10:30 am-3:30 pm, is also an Austin standout, with highlights like biscuits and foie gras gravy, caviar service, Seoul hot chicken biscuits, and stuffed shokupan French toast. Honey Moon Spirit Lounge is located at 624 W. 34th St. It’s open Tuesday through Thursday 4-10 pm, and Friday and Saturday 4-11 pm.

Fareground.

Photo by Dillon Burke @FOHNYC

Fareground.

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