Uchiko - Japanese Farmhouse Dining and Sushi Restaurant

4200 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 916-4808

http://www.uchiaustin.com/uchiko


Location: Central

If you are a lover of sushi and Japanese food, you can't miss a chance to dine at Uchiko. Chef/Owner Tyson Cole has consistently been rated one of the top chefs in the USA and Executive Chef Paul Qui won season 9 of Top Chef!

The service is impeccable, the food and wine are divine and you'll leave totally happy and satisfied and thinking about when you can come back :-) Save up like I did because its not cheap, but its completely worth the experience. 

There is a daily specials menu and an everyday menu. The crunchy tuna and shag makimono (sushi rolls) are a celebration in your mouth. The prawn special with persimmon and mushrooms are complimented by a broth poured on at the table. The individual sushi or sashimi are lovely as well...the loup de mer and hotate were great. The fillaboa albarino and loosen bros riesling were a wonderful compliment to the food. To top it all, desserts are a piece of art and the tobacco cream was fabulous. 

Edamame

Shag Roll

Crunchy Tuna Roll

Prawn

Tobacco Cream Dessert

  It doesn't get better than this!

Thai Fresh

I've been buying Thai Fresh groceries for many years now, but last week for the first time I went in for lunch. The aroma of Thai food fills up the place! The menu offers many of the Thai staples but also has some unique Chef's favorites. The chicken and rice was a simple dish but the ginger-soy-lime sauce made it wonderful. The pad thai was simply delicious....I couldn't stop eating. The leftovers were great the next day! 

Thai Fresh also offers groceries and cooking classes. I have bought their garee (yellow) curry and panang curry pastes before. They can be used to make a really easy and yummy dinner that will make several servings and the leftovers are more delicious than the original meal. They also make a killer chicken and waffles as part of Sunday brunch, which they serve all day starting at 10 am.

Chicken and Rice with Ginger-Soy-Lime Sauce

Thai Groceries

Pad Thai with Chicken

What I love about Thai Fresh is they are a family-owned business that makes the most delicious Thai food. They use locally sourced meats and vegetables.

Trailer Tuesdays at The Long Center

Get your trailer food fix at The Long Center! Starting on July 31 and on until November, food trucks will line up at the Long Center on the last Tuesday of each month in the evening. There will be music to go with the yummy food offerings.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/retail/2012/07/food-trucks-to-gather-at-long-center.html

See you there!

Olive & June

3411 Glenview Ave

Austin TX 78703

(512) 467-9898

http://oliveandjune-austin.com/

Location: Central    

         

This newly opened Italian restaurant in the heart of Austin is fabulous! Although it is on the expensive side, it’s a great place for celebrating any occasion or just for a night out with the girls! They have a daily happy hour from 5 to 7 pm, when antipasti (appetizers) and all drinks (except wines) are half price. 

Our waiter Tommy was very knowledgeable of the entire menu and explained the way the menu is laid out, and made excellent suggestions for food and wine pairings. The menu offers interesting and varied choices and gives you the opportunity to try out many items. The piccolo piatti (small plates) have single servings of yummy goodness such as fried ravioli, crostini, suppli (a fried dumpling made of corn risotto and mozzarella), testaroli (rolled up crepe covered with basil pesto and pine nuts) and many more. The antipasti are delicious too….we tried the pork meatballs, which come with a spicy tomato sauce.

Small plates sampler

The heirloom salad is offered as a special and is refreshing. It has arugula, heirloom tomatoes, and pecorino Romano shavings laid on a bed of cucumber strings, with a touch of balsamic dressing. For the main course, you can choose from several pasta dishes or entrees. The bucatini amatriciana is a delicious combination of al dente bucatini pasta covered in a spicy tomato sauce with crunchy bacon pieces and calabrese chili. The brine comes through in every bite of the pork chop, which is tender and lovely. Side dishes are available and what to pick is up to you (the entrees do not come with sides).

Bucatini Amatriciana

Heirloom Salad and Paradise Martini

Pork Chop

 Olive & June also has an extensive wine and drinks menu. The paradise martini is offered as a special and is only $5 during happy hour. This place is definitely worth exploring!

Man Pasand Grocery - Indian Grocery Store

3601 West William Cannon Drive #750

Austin, TX 78749
(512) 892-9600

http://manpasandgrocery.com/

Location: South

This is a wonderful addition to South Austin! This is your one-stop shop for all things Indian – groceries, snacks, movies, frozen foods, veggies, spices and snacks. The staff is very helpful and will even take suggestions for products that they don’t currently stock. They have fresh samosas for $1.00 each, chapattis (Indian bread) that come in fresh every day and also a weekly shipment of fresh vegetables. The pre-made spice mixes are a good resource for those starting out with Indian cooking, instead of buying all the spices you need individually. These packets carry recipes on them, so that makes it easy! Shaan brand is my personal favorite.

They carry a variety of Indian snacks – the biscuits and banana chips are my personal favorite! The cost of these snacks makes it affordable to explore and find out what you like and don’t like. The shelves are well stocked and the store is clean. This was the only Indian grocery store in South Austin for a while, but now faces stiff competition from Gandhi Bazaar, which opened a second location down south recently.

Hoover's Cooking - Southern, good home cookin'

2002 Manor Road

Austin TX 78722

(512) 479-5006

www.hooverscooking.com/

Location: East

This east side gem will satisfy your cravings for southern cookin’ with a Cajun flare! I’ve only been there for lunch but based on my experience, I imagine dinner is fabulous as well. Lunch selections include sandwiches like the New Orleans Muffaletta, catfish po’boy and the chicken salad sandwich which has a spicy twist to it. Or you can go for the larger portions of entrees like ribs, or meatloaf which comes with your choice of 3 sides. They’ll also bring out warm and yummy corn bread with lunch. In addition, Hoover’s features daily specials and a host of delectable desserts, which are worth saving room for! Definitely go to Hoover’s when you’re hungry :-) 

Daily Specials

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Fried Okra, Corn Bread