Best Happy Hour + My Taco List 🍸
Oct. 3, 2024
Hi Y'all!
It's concert season and, you know that here in Austin, it seems like there is a jammin' band you can't miss every night, Leon Bridges' surprise shows at Continental Club, plus ACL Festival weekend 1 is here. Don't miss the new Taco Mafia-curated taco area called La Pachanga Eatery with Con Todo, Discada, Veracruz All Natural at the fest, and see my list of favorite Austin tacos I just put out here. This week, I'm also talking about a new favorite burger, the Native American exhibit at The Blanton, and that new weird Sign Bar that you should probably see on the east side.
~AR
SEAFOOD REC
Bill's Oyster
Bill’s is a pretty tiny restaurant downtown that has a straight shot dining room, bar in the center, and blurred mirrors on the wall as its form of art. I came here with 7 friends for dinner before Chromeo at ACL Live, and it was a short walk from the venue, so I’ll now be using this as a top place to eat before a show downtown. If you’re with as big of a group as I was, the fare is pretty light as it is a raw bar. The Tuna Tartare tasted Asian-inspired, especially with the wonton chips and perhaps some sort of soy or shoyu, and was so good I almost ordered another for myself — well, I actually did, but canceled it when I found out we were getting dessert, ha! The chef recommended the burger, which made me laugh because it’s the only thing that’s not seafood, but I now know why! It’s soft, comforting, made with short rib and brisket, and the squishy bun fits cozily in your hand, plus the salty fries are addictive and thin. With the amount of negronis we drank, I probably should’ve had my own burger because splitting raw bar food with that many people just wasn’t enough. The Caesar tasted the way it should, and I would skip the Crab Cocktail and just get double Tuna Tartare. Next time, I want to try the King Crab Lettuce Wrap. The Stuffed French Toast for dessert was really decadent and moist, but I’d rather have it for brunch and see an offering here of sorbet or ice cream instead. Overall, the small menu is great for raw bar fans, with a fierce burger on top, so if you’re looking for seafood and you want to be downtown, this is the local spot to hit. Also, the team at Bill's just announced a new restaurant, Teddy's, opening soon!
REVISIT REC
Jeffrey's Happy Hour
The best locally-owned steakhouse we have, Jeffrey’s first opened in 1975, and MML took over in 2013, keeping it a classic Clarksville institution with many of the same waiters who stuck around. When looking for the best spot to celebrate an engagement or birthday, I think Jeffrey’s tends to be the most common pick, whether it’s a famous local chef or your next-door neighbor. The service is truly special and so in tune with everything you need — it almost feels like theater with the incredible set design, silk uniforms, lighting, and entertainment. Yes, it is expensive, but don’t forget about Monday night happy hour when all bar food and wine by the glass is 25% off, and half-off bottles of wine on Sundays. I actually prefer to sit in the cozy bar as I’m in awe of the blue velvet booths, and the bar menu is almost better than the regular menu for me! I always order the Hamachi Carpaccio with summer melon, and the Sweet Corn Tortellini makes me think they could open a whole pasta spot. The Bar Steak is a pretty good deal at $42, with a perfect Pommes Purée and greens. I’m not even a big potato fan, unless it’s fries, but I have to get the Pommes Purée and Creamed Spinach every time. I’ve enjoyed the burger in the past, and the new Crab and Sesame Beignets were better than I expected with a good chunk of crab, although I missed the crab and avocado bites. People love the 11 martinis on the menu, from Mexican to Vesper, and it’s always fun when it’s dessert time and they ask you to allow 20 minutes for the chocolate souffle — I mean, how could you not order that after that speech? The meal is pretty rich so you might not even need dessert, unless you’re also dying to see that Baked Alaska on fire 😮. From conversations I’ve had with chefs and industry people, this is a top contender for who will get a Michelin star in Austin and even on a Monday night, I feel really special and jazzed to be here by the way they treat me and how much I love the food.
MUSEUM REC
The Blanton
This museum is such a love letter to art in Austin, where we don’t have THAT many museums to go to, and I always feel like I’m an inch taller after I leave from learning about new points of view and feeling cultured. The Blanton has their permanent collection, but the new Native American exhibition, on display through January, was really awesome. I noticed a few groups learning about art history from teachers throughout different exhibits in the museum, so now I’m intrigued to try those! Avery and I accidentally chose to go on college move-in day at UT so parking took nearly an hour as 18-year-olds and their parents filled campus up with their moving supplies, but other than that, it’s a peaceful place with so much greenery and an outdoor space to enjoy and exhale. I would love to just sit outside and work here, have a meeting, or draw with the pastels I bought in the gift shop here years ago. Of course, the Ellsworth Kelly structure is a sight to behold, and it’s inspired by churches to be a place of contemplation, which makes sense because it does feel kind of holy inside with the calm energy and the lightly neon colored stained glass shining in each direction. People forget about The Blanton because they think Austin isn’t a museum town (and by people, I mean me) — and it isn’t — but it’s a place I’d like to visit more to get that high from being surrounded by art like I do in other major cities.
FOOD TRUCK REC
Shirley’s Trini Cuisine
I first met chef/owner Janelle a couple years ago and was so inspired by her story of being a single mom who started Shirley’s Trini Cuisine and built it from the ground up from no entrepreneurship in restaurants after creating a successful career as a consultant and a banker. Her mom always pushed her to cook, and just a few years ago, Janelle opened her first food truck, called Shirley’s. Trinidadian and Caribbean food in general is pretty under-represented in Austin, so it’s great to see someone who has deep roots in Trinidad bring her culture to us through her food and make a mark for her community and to share with all of us. I was most excited for the Goat Roti Wrap, which is like a giant burrito, but I liked the Jerk Chicken the most because I could literally pull the tender meat off the bone with a measly plastic fork! It was just the right amount of spice and the best version of this dish I’ve had in Austin. I also really enjoyed the Vegan Bowl wumpkin, chickpeas, and spinach as something nourishing I’d love to eat for lunch and for those vegetarians out there.
NEW-ISH BAR REC
Sign Bar
A nostalgic place that feels like an ode to dearly departed businesses in town, Sign Bar reminds me of the scene from “Big” with Tom Hanks at the ferris wheel and that genie game because it just feels like you’re in an amusement park, Everywhere you look, there’s a new sign with a memory that rushes over you that you might not have ever thought of again, and I was told the owner got permission from the previous businesses to use these signs in case you were wondering. It’s a fun concept and something I had never seen before, which I always respect, although it’s not a destination I would seek out on a regular basis since it’s so far east from me. I did enjoy seeing something new in a different part of town and taking in signs from Abel’s on the Lake, ACL, Doc’s, Easy Tiger, and other local favorites. Make sure you eat at the Laotian spot next door, Lao’d Bar — don’t miss the Ribeye Steak and Chicken Skewers!
PR + MARKETING
Gati's 4th Birthday + Fall Festival
We celebrated Gati’s 4th birthday this weekend with a new fall menu full of pumpkin desserts and beverages, a market, gift bags with local brands to the first 75 guests, and we even had a line wrapped around the parking lot before the event started! Chef Jam and Thai Fresh and Gati are my longest-standing clients, and we always love working with her to bring her big ideas to life and involve the creative community here. Gati’s new menu items that you can enjoy now are: the Pumpkin Affogato with Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream, Apple Cinnamon Latte, Dirty Espresso with Cream, and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin. Thanks to CultureMap, Tribeza, @365ThingsAustin, @AustinChronicle, and @EmilyLovesATX for sharing the celebration!
MUSIC VENUE REC
Hotel Vegas
I usually go to Hotel Vegas about once a year for an outdoor concert, and this summer, I went for Matthew Logan Vasquez, who puts on a really great rock show and who I’ve followed for the last couple years now. Outside, you can order from several bars with all kinds of drinks, and even frozen margaritas, so you have plenty of space and options. This is a spot to see a show up close outside, and then go inside the Volstead Lounge for a dance-y experience, where you bet I used my new Melody Dancefit skills. The DJ inside was amazing on a Saturday night and made me feel like I was back in college!
PODCAST REC
Sprung on Food Podcast
I was very flattered when New Yorker and pastry chef, Katherine Sprung, invited me to be on her podcast, “Sprung on Food,” and you guessed it, she asked me what my favorite chocolate chip cookie is and I went ALL IN. She has interviewed NYC chefs and bloggers like Erica Kwee of The Pancake Princess and Kerry Fitzmaurice of Pure Grit BBQ, plus comedians, artists, and other inspiring entrepreneurs. We had a really fun conversation about the differences between the Austin and New York food scenes and all the changes in the food and hospitality industry in recent years and my career path in the PR world. We also dove deep into some viral foods, like the chocolate chip cookie croissant and chocolate muffin from the Olympic Village. I loved talking to someone in my industry who loves dessert as much as I do, and who I could jive back and forth with throughout our interview. My episode came out this week so take a listen and let me know what you think!