March 8, 20241 yr Gimme your go-tos. I'm taking the girlfriend to see an IMAX at the Bullock and want to eat somewhere before or after. Trying to get her a good sampling of US/Texas food. Not interested in asian/sushi.
March 8, 20241 yr You could try Ranch 616. I haven't been there in awhile, so I can't really vouch any more, but we used to love it. It's a short drive from the Bullock but parking is probably doable. Ranch 616
March 8, 20241 yr Feeling good, Louis? Louie. 106, 107…whatever it takes. as to OP question, it‘S not a glamorous scene, but if you just wanna park once during SXSW; the Carrillon across the street from the Bullock is phenomenal for dinner and I think they still offer a tasting/prix fixe menu and obviously a la carte.
March 8, 20241 yr 14 hours ago, rage-a-holic said: Gimme your go-tos. I'm taking the girlfriend to see an IMAX at the Bullock and want to eat somewhere before or after. Trying to get her a good sampling of US/Texas food. Not interested in asian/sushi. I feel like if you’re going to the Bullock it’s a lot easier to go east-west than head downtown (plus trying to park). I’d go to someplace like Salty Sow on Manor or stalk @HenryJames at Sour Duck. Maybe Dai Due. Hotel Ella is also close for something fancier.
March 8, 20241 yr 55 minutes ago, LCHorn said: I feel like if you’re going to the Bullock it’s a lot easier to go east-west than head downtown (plus trying to park). I’d go to someplace like Salty Sow on Manor or stalk @HenryJames at Sour Duck. Maybe Dai Due. Hotel Ella is also close for something fancier. 100% this. Whenever we have anything in that area (e.g., Friends of LBJ Library event) we either go East Austin or Hopfields.
July 25, 20241 yr I know of no great place to put this: without planning it, we ended up downtown last night at dinner time, so we decided to drop into 24 Diner (6th & Lamar). We've eaten there plenty, but it's been a year or more. Man, that place needs a reboot. Torn booth upholstery, dirty menus, almost empty at 7 PM. I had some biscuits and gravy that weren't great (the fried eggs were fine), and my wife got the roast chicken which she said was decent or better, but her veggie sides were a mess. Beer choices sucked. Time for a new concept.
July 25, 20241 yr 1 hour ago, jimmyjazz said: I know of no great place to put this: without planning it, we ended up downtown last night at dinner time, so we decided to drop into 24 Diner (6th & Lamar). We've eaten there plenty, but it's been a year or more. Man, that place needs a reboot. Torn booth upholstery, dirty menus, almost empty at 7 PM. I had some biscuits and gravy that weren't great (the fried eggs were fine), and my wife got the roast chicken which she said was decent or better, but her veggie sides were a mess. Beer choices sucked. Time for a new concept. Isn’t that property slated to be torn down for a tower? Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re hanging on with below market rent while the owner is finalizing the plans for redevelopment.
July 25, 20241 yr 12 minutes ago, royiv said: Isn’t that property slated to be torn down for a tower? Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re hanging on with below market rent while the owner is finalizing the plans for redevelopment. Not sure. Rings a bell, was Waterloo Records offered a spot in that space once it's built? At any rate, I think 24 Diner's days are done without some serious rethinking of concept and execution.
July 25, 20241 yr 10 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said: Not sure. Rings a bell, was Waterloo Records offered a spot in that space once it's built? At any rate, I think 24 Diner's days are done without some serious rethinking of concept and execution. Yeah, I recall Waterloo was looking for a temporary spot to move to until they could move back in once the new development is completed. It’s been a minute since I’ve heard anything about it, but the pace of new projects in Austin has slowed quite a bit this year.
July 26, 20241 yr 23 hours ago, jimmyjazz said: I know of no great place to put this: without planning it, we ended up downtown last night at dinner time, so we decided to drop into 24 Diner (6th & Lamar). We've eaten there plenty, but it's been a year or more. Man, that place needs a reboot. Torn booth upholstery, dirty menus, almost empty at 7 PM. I had some biscuits and gravy that weren't great (the fried eggs were fine), and my wife got the roast chicken which she said was decent or better, but her veggie sides were a mess. Beer choices sucked. Time for a new concept. I've never liked that place. I've been a few times because my wife used to love their veggie burger, and if we're hungry after record shopping at Waterloo it's pretty convenient. But I always pushed to go to Counter Cafe back when it was open a few doors down.
July 26, 20241 yr 15 minutes ago, irishtexan said: I've never liked that place. I've been a few times because my wife used to love their veggie burger, and if we're hungry after record shopping at Waterloo it's pretty convenient. But I always pushed to go to Counter Cafe back when it was open a few doors down. I'll be honest, more often than not it's the 2 AM joint we go to after a night out. It works for that -- especially the various potato hash dishes. Same niche Katz's used to serve, but obviously a completely different menu.
July 29, 20241 yr 1 hour ago, stc said: you haven't done that in a while. post covid they close at 11pm. Yeah, it's been a while for sure. Might want to change the name of the place, right?
July 29, 20241 yr We flew in a few months ago and landed around 9:30. Everyone was hungry and we didn’t want fast food so settled on Magnolia only to learn they close at 10 now. I would guess 90% of my visits there since HS in the 90’s were well after 10pm. Seems wrong for them to close early.
December 16, 20241 yr Ate at OKO on East 6th. on Friday. Had the hamachi, lumpia , adobo chicken & pork belly, a glass noodle dish with a pork topping and grilled shrimp (daily special), and Filipino lime pie. We sat at the bar (scorpion bowl!); it was a really good experience and the food was great (Lumpia was under-seasoned). Would def recommend. Now, who can share their Filipino grandma's adobo recipe?
April 29Apr 29 Boa Steak (a California chain, how on brand for Downtown Austin). Decent, not worth the $300 price tag for two with house wine. Cool location and atmosphere tho. https://www.boasteak.com/ Edited April 29Apr 29 by Vegas64
September 18Sep 18 What does the Surly Nation say about Red Ash? I have a business dinner there tomorrow night. The octopus appetizer is speaking to me.
September 18Sep 18 We’re fans. Bruschetta with steak trimmings is great as well. The pasta with the blue crab is very good.
September 18Sep 18 Red Ash is really, really good, but – and this might be my age showing – it’s so loud that it’s hard to carry on a conversation with a party greater than two. I mean, louder than most restaurants in Austin.
October 2Oct 2 I'm looking for a private banquet room for 40 high schoolers close to Zach Theater for a fancy-ish protocol type dinner before a show. I was hoping for Juliet's. but we won't come close to their minimum spend to get the whole room. Any other ideas?
October 2Oct 2 33 minutes ago, harpercollins said: I'm looking for a private banquet room for 40 high schoolers close to Zach Theater for a fancy-ish protocol type dinner before a show. I was hoping for Juliet's. but we won't come close to their minimum spend to get the whole room. Any other ideas? Bob's and Red Ash both have upstairs areas that might be good for that.
October 2Oct 2 On 4/28/2025 at 8:54 PM, Vegas64 said: Boa Steak (a California chain, how on brand for Downtown Austin). Decent, not worth the $300 price tag for two with house wine. Cool location and atmosphere tho. https://www.boasteak.com/ It's overpriced for sure.
October 2Oct 2 5 hours ago, harpercollins said: I'm looking for a private banquet room for 40 high schoolers close to Zach Theater for a fancy-ish protocol type dinner before a show. I was hoping for Juliet's. but we won't come close to their minimum spend to get the whole room. Any other ideas? You’re going to have a difficult time finding a place where you can meet the minimum with 40 high schoolers unless you plan on buying them alcohol. You might have better luck talking to one of the nicer hotels downtown and using their banquet facilities. My mother used to host protocol dinners for this age group and the minimum was a challenge. She ended up using Austin Country Club most of the time, but that’s not very helpful for a dinner before a show at Zach Scott. Out of curiosity, what night of the week is it? You’ll have better luck mid-week attempting to negotiate with a nice restaurant than you will on a Friday or Saturday night when they can fill their faculties with people buying high margin booze.
October 2Oct 2 1 hour ago, Cousin Strawberry said: It's overpriced for sure. Walking distance from the Omni was a selling point tbh.
October 2Oct 2 Just now, Vegas64 said: Walking distance from the Omni was a selling point tbh. We had a guys night and it was selected by a friend. Food was OK. One of our group ordered the wine. Ii had no idea that he was ordering $300-$400 bottles of wine. It was a fucking beating.
October 2Oct 2 9 minutes ago, Cousin Strawberry said: One of our group ordered the wine. Ii had no idea that he was ordering $300-$400 bottles of wine. It was a fucking beating. That’s such a dick move. Dude deserves a kick to the nuts for that.
October 2Oct 2 10 minutes ago, Cousin Strawberry said: We had a guys night and it was selected by a friend. Food was OK. One of our group ordered the wine. Ii had no idea that he was ordering $300-$400 bottles of wine. It was a fucking beating. Plus the steak was like...Ruths Chris good, I guess? Definitely not high end steakhouse good.
October 3Oct 3 You’re going to have a difficult time finding a place where you can meet the minimum with 40 high schoolers unless you plan on buying them alcohol. You might have better luck talking to one of the nicer hotels downtown and using their banquet facilities. My mother used to host protocol dinners for this age group and the minimum was a challenge. She ended up using Austin Country Club most of the time, but that’s not very helpful for a dinner before a show at Zach Scott. Out of curiosity, what night of the week is it? You’ll have better luck mid-week attempting to negotiate with a nice restaurant than you will on a Friday or Saturday night when they can fill their faculties with people buying high margin booze.We’re doing Saturday matinee in February—so I was hoping for 1130am. I can have it catered at the theatre but it was pricier than I expected. $1500 (could just pay the minimum at Juliet’s for that).
October 3Oct 3 1 hour ago, harpercollins said: We’re doing Saturday matinee in February—so I was hoping for 1130am. I can have it catered at the theatre but it was pricier than I expected. $1500 (could just pay the minimum at Juliet’s for that). Matinee helps a ton. Honestly, I don’t think you’re going to do a whole lot better than $1500 for 40 attendees. That’s a pretty good deal.
October 4Oct 4 Matinee helps a ton. Honestly, I don’t think you’re going to do a whole lot better than $1500 for 40 attendees. That’s a pretty good deal.So if I’m going to spend $50pp, which has the better feel? Renting out Juliet’s or catering at the Zach?
October 4Oct 4 9 hours ago, harpercollins said: So if I’m going to spend $50pp, which has the better feel? Renting out Juliet’s or catering at the Zach? I would go with a restaurant 10 out of 10 times. The food will be fresher and I think it will be a little more “real world” for your protocol goals.
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