Planning a lunch date this Saturday with my husband (with out the kids!!) and am seeking someplace with a really fun atmosphere with good drinks and food. We have tried a lot of high end places in town but looking for casual and fun for this meal, possibly with a patio though not essential. We'll be hanging around town lake that morning to give an idea for location (have car but don't want a long drive) and totally open on type of food. Thanks so much guys!
Maybe consider Trace at the W. They have a nice patio area and also open up the big glass doors on the east side of the restaurant. They have a bar right there, but don't know how good drinks are. Also right across from the city hall parking garage.
In the same area, one of my favorites, is La Condessa. Lots of energy with a sidewalk cafe. I like their food too.
Some ideas:
epicerie - not downtown, but fabulous, casual & Austin-y
Lucky's Puccias - lacking on atmosphere, but more affordable
Zax - yay patio!
Jo's Coffee
Blue Dahlia
Swift's Attic
East Side Kings brick & mortar on S. Lamar - again, not downtown, but casual and Austin-y
Clay Pit - maybe a little lacking on the "fun" side but their lunch buffet is yummy and super affordable
Hopdoddy
Leaf
Shady Grove
alcomar! We felt like having some good drinks and fresh lighter fare bc of the heat. So we got fresh gulf oysters, snapper ceviche, grilled calamari and shared a soft shell crab torta. Oysters were great; calamari good. Ceviche very disappointing considering price (hardly any snapper, what was there was overcooked), accompanying plantain chips stale. Torta good but a little Greasy. They provided complimentary chips (stale) with really good salsa. So it was a mixed experience but we enjoyed our drinks and relaxed vin at lunch time.
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