Hey Cupcake!

February 2009

YUM. I don't even like cupcakes, but YUM. The Double Dose, with chocolate bottom and top, was amazing. And they sell cartons of 2% milk. Which I also don't like but was really good call with the cupcakes. Oh and did I mention it's sold out of a trailer?

http://www.heycupcake.com/

1600 South Congress, Austin, TX 78704

Amy's Ice Cream

February 2009

Huge fan. Had Amy's three times over the course of the weekend - at the airport when I landed (Mexican vanilla with cookie dough), at the South Congress shop (some strawberry neopolitan one), and at the airport on my way out (again the Mexican vanilla with cookie dough).

YUM.

Cissi's Market

February 2009

We came across Cissi's when Jo spotted the enormous flourescent letters on top of the building that read WINE BAR. Turns out Cissi's is also a great gourmet market, bar, and cafe, with super nice people. We sat outside on the street with a bottle of wine, but the folks inside looked like they had some pretty amazing meals too. I'd go here a lot if I lived in Austin.

www.cissismarket.com/

1400 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 225-0521

Bess Bistro on Pecan

February 2009

This was our big birthday dinner, at Sandra Bullock's restaurant Bess. I actually don't remember enough about it because the drinks were free flowing, but we had yummy shrimp appetizers with the most amazing sauce that we sopped dry with bread. I had a great rare filet.

www.bessbistro.com/

500 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 477-2377

Lamberts

February 2009

By far my favorite restaurant in Austin. We went down to West 2nd Street for Saturday brunch, and it was amazing.

Started with some of the best bloody mary's we have had (and we drinks lots of bloodys). Appetizers of deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes on a bed of some goodness (amazing), and wild boar spare ribs, followed by a brisket and jalapeno sausage link sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. I mean really, does life get any better?

Super cute place, and their upstairs area has live music at night!

http://www.lambertsaustin.com/

401 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-1500

San Jose Hotel Lounge

February 2009
So maybe this is more bar than restaurant, since they only have small snacks like seasoned edamame and nuts. Super cute outdoor space in "SoCo" neighborhood in Austin. Only beer and wine, but they have some interesting drinks like a cava with bay leaf and some fruit infused champagne.

A little chilly but they have heat lamps for nighttime, which is key.

http://www.sanjosehotel.com/

1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 804-2418

South Congress Cafe

February 2009

Nice and reasonable restaurant in the "SoCo" neighborhood in Austin. We showed up around 9pm and had about a 30 minute wait, but the staff was nice and we perched at their bar area, which is actually pretty big (looked like some were eating there too). Our group of six got a cute corner booth.

We weren't super hungry but were pretty happy with the small plates and appetizers. I had the special beef chili (yum) and a blackened beef dish with horseradish hash. We had several drinks, and wine. Amazingly our final bill was about $22 per person, not bad at all

http://www.southcongresscafe.com/

1600 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 447-3905