Lunch Ideas

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. Expect a line but worth the wait! Vegetarian options are limited to fried okra and fried pickles. The chicken is amazing. http://gusfriedchicken.com/austin-texas-location/ Rainey Street. Just a few blocks away from the JW Marriott, Rainey Street is lined with small boutique eating establishments and myriad food trucks. I cannot personally report on all of them, the Big Fat Greek Food Truck has been voted the best Austin gyro 5 years running and I can see why. Several landmarks include an elaborate bar constructed from stacked shipping containers and an Indian restaurant that started in a garage, aptly named G’raj Mahal. Here’s a link that will come in handy when picking a lunch spot on Rainey Street. https://www.zagat.com/b/where-to-eat-on-rainey-street Gourdoughs. (This food truck will be featured at our Monday evening banquet) Think sandwich meets donut, they settle down and have a family. I will let you peruse the menu on your own. Recommended by a local, I could not exercise enough to justify stopping here for a snack although it was tempting to try! https://gourdoughs.com/airstream-south-first

BBQ Franklin Barbecue. Don’t go here in a hurry; apparently wait times can be up to 2 hours. Routinely ranked the top BBQ in Austin and the country. https://franklinbbq.com/ La Barbecue – This barbecue gives Franklin a run for its money in the BBQ ranking contests. Note: it is only open Wednesday-Sunday 11-6 (or until sold out) so plan accordingly https://www.labarbecue.com/ Lamberts BBQ Downtown. Upscale, downtown. “Fancy barbecue is a polarizing concept, but Lamberts pulls it off very well.” http://www.lambertsaustin.com/

Ironworks BBQ. Nestled between the Convention Center and the Fairmont, this place has been serving up BBQ for 39 years quickly at reasonable prices. It’s a no frills establishment meat, two sides and white bread for about $12. Plan to leave with the lingering aroma of mesquite and hickory if you eat in - not a bad Texas cologne. http://ironworksbbq.com/ Bring some extra Lipitor and try the top 8 BBQ spots as selected by the experts. https://www.thrillist.com/eat/austin/local-bbq-experts-in-austin-picks-for-best-barbecue

Fine Dining and/or Foodie Spots

WARNING: CONSIDER RESERVATIONS BEFORE YOU COME TO AUSTIN. SOME OF THESE PLACES BOOK A WEEK OR MORE IN ADVANCE. DOWNTOWN Counter 3 five VII. Imagine being a judge on Iron Chef watching your meal take shape without the time limitations or judgment. The team of chefs creates and plates your 3,5 or 7 course meal while you watch. The offerings are works of art and whimsy on a plate worthy of framing if they were not so delicious. Don’t miss this one! The restaurant is located right above the Elephant Room so you can head downstairs for jazz after dinner. http://www.counter3fivevii.com/ Emmer and Rye. Locally sourced, heirloom grains milled in-house and whole-animal butchery are the focus at this Rainey Street American eatery, which also boasts a garden and nightly dim sum specials. https://emmerandrye.com/ Bullfight. Spanish inspired, seafood heavy tapas and paellas in a chic, contemporary setting in Hyde Park north of downtown. http://bullfight-austin.com/ Justine’s Brasserie. A hip, cool spot with consistently great French food. Their motto, “when you think you have gone too far, keep going” https://www.justines1937.com/ Le Politique. Bright downtown brasserie, cafe & patisserie serving French fare in contemporary surroundings. https://lepolitiqueaustin.com La Condesa. Contemporary Mexican dishes, a vast tequila selection & happy-hour deals in a sophisticated setting. https://www.lacondesa.com/ Central Standard. Classic American cuisine “done right” https://centralstandardaustin.com/ Jeffrey’s. This high-end steakhouse was previously listed in the top 50 restaurants in the U.S. by Andrew Knowlton in Bon Appetit who recommended the crispy fried Gulf oysters; wedge salad, dry-aged bone-in ribeye. http://www.jeffreysofaustin.com/ SOUTH CONGRESS (SoCo) Uchi. Award-winning Chef Tyson Cole's signature, non-traditional take on Japanese cuisine; think small plates to share also with traditional sushi. Rated the best little sushi house in America in Bon Appetit 2013. Make reservations! Well worth the often 1-2 hour wait if you don’t have a reservation! https://uchiaustin.com/

Perla. “ The best upscale seafood experience you can have in Austin” according to Jordan Haro The Infatuation. http://www.perlasaustin.com/ Sway. A modern fun approach to Thai food and yet true to its roots according to Bon Appetit. The restaurant is loud with communal tables so unless you sit outside don’t plan to talk to the person more than two seats away. Save room for the Thai Tea Affogato for dessert – condensed milk ice cream, black tea tapioca, macadamia crumble and thai tea. https://swaythai.com/ Mattie’s. Nestled in verdant surrounds just off of South Congress, this Austin icon in a restored Victorian home artfully blends historic charm and Southern cuisine as live peacocks roam the grounds. http://www.mattiesaustin.com/ Ramen Tatsu-ya. This storefront ramen shop had a feature article in Bon Appetit. Despite its humble location in a nondescript strip mall 15 minutes from downtown, this place is apparently worth the wait in the perpetual line out the door. http://ramen-tatsuya.com/ NORTH Dai Due. Farm to table fare. According to Andrew Knowlton, “Griffiths has created a place and a cuisine that are uniquely Texan—almost every ingredient, from olive oil to meat to wine, comes from within 200 miles…” Apparently nothing goes to waste. Even the feathers from the chickens are used to tie fishing flies for sale in the butcher shop. http://www.daidue.com/ Foreign and Domestic. An innovative menu in a cool, laid back environment north of the city in Hyde Park. Gruyere and black pepper popovers are one of their signature dishes. http://fndaustin.com/

Late Night

Need to ride a mechanical bull while you’re in Texas? 6th street is lined with pubs and bars too numerous to mention, just a few blocks from the Fairmont with a vibe ranging from New Orleans French Quarter to Roadhouse to Irish Pub.

Music Continental Club. Sample the free live music and wear your dancing shoes from 6:30-9. There’s a small cover charge after 9 PM when the space becomes standing room only. http://continentalclub.com/ Elephant Room. A cellar bar with “the best live jazz in town.” http://www.elephantroom.com/

Antone’s. A large performance venue. Check for schedule of performers and ticket prices. https://www.antonesnightclub.com/

SSR Group Attractions Bats under the Bridge. Why are there bike stands and sculptures of bats all over Austin? The largest urban bat colony in the U.S. lives underneath the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. Roughly 750,000 pregnant female bats return from Mexico to take up residence under the bridge in March. At sunset, a cloud of bats takes flight in unison to feed and can be viewed from the park or by taking a river cruise in season. YETI Store. The Flagship YETI store offers the full range of customizable YETI products, film screenings, porch concerts or a beer at the BARRR on the south side of the Congress Avenue Bridge. www.yeti.com

Other Attractions:

Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. Looking for a little exercise to walk or run off all the good food? The 10 mile long trail runs along the edge of Lady Bird Lake and offers outdoor recreation, a scenic natural environment and some people watching too. Download a map at www.austintexas.gov/department/ann-and-roy-butler-hike-and-bike-trail LBJ Presidential Library. Located on a 30 acre site in the University of Texas at Austin campus. One of 14 presidential libraries, experience the life and times of LBJ during the era of the turbulent 1960’s. www.lbjlibrary.org Bullock Texas State History Museum. See the most significant Texas artifacts spanning 4000 years of history. www.thestoryoftexas.com Long Center for the Performing Arts. Check out their calendar for events at www.thelongcenter.org

Downtown Austin Map

SoCo Map