Austin Improv

bradisntclever wrote:Another place I really like is Mother's, right across the street from Hyde Park Bar & Grill. They have some excellent vegetarian food. It's usually pretty packed and they have a really neat garden patio thing.

Isn't Mother's still closed due to a fire?

bradisntclever wrote:I second Habana and Veggie Heaven in particular. Another place I really like is Mother's, right across the street from Hyde Park Bar & Grill. They have some excellent vegetarian food. It's usually pretty packed and they have a really neat garden patio thing.

Sadly, the garden patio thing is no more. I think they may be closed for a few months to repair. But I second Mother's as well -- we had our rehearsal dinner in the garden patio.

what is the name of the whole foods resturant? i know "that helps?!?" it's like Rainbow or something. there's one by 15th and another over by the mall. sorry gang but it's been over 6 years since i lived there.

Wow! Thanks so much for these great suggestions! Instead of hogging all of the glory for myself, I'm gonna go the "transparent" route and pass the thread onto my co-workers. That way, they get to see first-hand how supportive the improv community is...

I'll be in town from May 1st to May 4th, and I will be working from 8-6 pm. So, the night time would be the best time for me to visit the great locals. So, I hope to have a beer with you (or that delicious schooner sounding beverage) while I'm in town.

Now I'm gonna throw in one 'mo wrinkle: Recommend me a restaurant where you'd take your dearest friends to get a kickass meal and dining experience. Whle it doesn't have to be veg-only (as long as it had options), I also don't want to maul the pocketbook. Background: I'm a part of a non-profit consultancy, so for this group I get assigned to gigs with other folks to deliver a training (in this case, a 3 day inservice for 45 AmeriCorps/VISTA workers). I'm lucky enough to be assigned on this gig with three people that I hold in the highest respect for their work and as people. (In fact, for three of us, its a reunion since we had worked at the same AmeriCorps nonprofit together for a few years) Anyway, I'd love to take 'em out to a great place to celebrate us getting a chance to work together.

Thanks for taking this challenge on, Austin improv community.

Casa de Luz is ridiculous Austin macrobiotic vegetarian food. If your friends are hardcore, they should check it out. Great atmosphere as well.

Roy Janik wrote:Isn't Mother's still closed due to a fire?

What? Noooooooo. I don't know why I didn't hear about that, but you are right.

Mothers is still closed. I drive by it about 4 times a week.

You can eat at the Whole Foods on 5th and Lamar, which can be fun and has a wide varity of food options.

Magnolia and Chuy's are typical "Austin" places that also have veggie options.

Or, you can screw those co-workerrs, tell them to suck it up and take one for the team one night instead of you always catering to their needs, and go to County Line, Salt Lick, Rudy's, Ruby's, Stubb's, Iron Works, Artz Rib House, or Sholz Beer Garten. They should give in and sacrifice as often as you have to. I know it is contrary to the vegetarian belief system, but the world does not revolve around them.

Aster's is an Ethiopian place that recently opened, right on the southbound access road of I35, just north of Dean Keaton. It's pretty darn tasty, and has plenty of vegetarian stuff. I don't go often enough.

I like Austin Java (co or house - something like that) on Barton Springs. Anything with the peanut sauce is to die for. I think they have veggie stuff as I have eaten there with veggies before and did not hear them complaining. I also like Chille (not Chilies) on Manor Road. It is a bit more expensive, but it is wonderful and they make their drinks extra strong and delicious.

I had an awesome meal at Z'Tejas on west 6th. We had a veggie with us and she was quite impressed with her meal as well (wild mushroom enchiladas). I had a chorizo-stuffed pork tenderloin with a poblano garlic sauce, mashed potatoes, and sauteed green beans with carrots. OH MY GOD YUM!!!

It also has a very cool patio (huge) overlooking the pretty part of 6th street (not the bars and clubs and Leslies). The drinks were very good and they had great guacamole.

Here is link to their website. Check out the menu to see if it woks for you. It doesn't include the prices, but it wasn't overly expensive ($10-20 per person plus alcohol). http://www.ztejas.com

GO THERE!

macarthur31 wrote: Now I'm gonna throw in one 'mo wrinkle: Recommend me a restaurant where you'd take your dearest friends to get a kickass meal and dining experience. Whle it doesn't have to be veg-only (as long as it had options), I also don't want to maul the pocketbook.

Truthfully, I'd echo the suggestions I've given so far. If you go to Casino's, make sure everyone's aware they're there for the delicious food, not the quick service. I've been there on nights when I had to wait over an hour for a cheeseburger, but it was totally worth it. Another good deal is the Super Buffet on Westgate. It's a buffet that covers Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and sometimes a little Thai food.

If you have one night where hitting your wallet hard might be an option, I'd suggest Vespaio's. Amazingly good food there.

Wesley wrote:Or, you can screw those co-workerrs, tell them to suck it up and take one for the team one night instead of you always catering to their needs, and go to County Line, Salt Lick, Rudy's, Ruby's, Stubb's, Iron Works, Artz Rib House, or Sholz Beer Garten. They should give in and sacrifice as often as you have to. I know it is contrary to the vegetarian belief system, but the world does not revolve around them.

You tell'em, Wes! When I was in college, I had vegetarian friends who would order hamburgers from fast food places, but tell them to hold the meat because they were vegetarians. That was an order of silliness and coolness I've always liked. I haven't been to Salt Lick yet, but I want to. In fact, I don't think I've been to any BBQ restaurants since I moved to Austin over a year ago.

majcher wrote:Aster's is an Ethiopian place that recently opened, right on the southbound access road of I35, just north of Dean Keaton. It's pretty darn tasty, and has plenty of vegetarian stuff. I don't go often enough.

I saw an ad in The Chronicle for the recently re-opened Aster's and want to try it given the first chance. I've only had Ehtiopian food once before (in New Orleans about two weeks before Hurricane Katrina) and loved it.

For a lovely dining experience go to Vivo's. It's truly wonderful...and you can see by the menu that it isn't very pricey. It is quite possibly my favorite restaurant in Austin...possibly....

Aden wrote:For a lovely dining experience go to Vivo's. It's truly wonderful...and you can see by the menu that it isn't very pricey. It is quite possibly my favorite restaurant in Austin...possibly....

did you know that ggg has a vivo-club? we are full of vivo-worshippers. i'm glad to have you on board.

Thanks for all of your help with the restaurant recs. We ended up only have enough time for 1 dinner out, and that ended up being... The East Side Cafe. (mmmm...Smoked Salmon Pasta)

Which was quite excellent. Both vegetarians and us omnivores were very pleased with the selection and the meal. Plus, they had Guinness Stout, and two members of my party were ecstatic about that.

We had actually checked out Vivo next door, and would've probably sampled it if it 'twerent so busy. We wanted to be able to have some conversation, and at that time (Thursday night) Vivo seemed very much like the "see and be seen" mode. I hope to check it out when I return someday...