Noodles * Bánh Mì * Boulangerie

1501 S. First Street

Austin, TX

elizabethstreetcafe.com

I ate here three out of my five days in Austin, and loved every meal! This adorable cafe features a blend of French and Vietnamese cuisine and the service is as good as their delectable dishes…

This is the perfect breakfast you didn’t know to crave until you saw this photo and now, if you’re like me, you won’t be able to get it out of your mind. (Sorry.) It was incredibly good, and such a leap from the standard brunch menu! The soft steam buns with rich pork belly and fresh crunch of cucumber, sweet and spicy with the sauces, are amazing on their own let alone paired with perfectly poached eggs. I might steer clear of breakfast reviews for a bit, biased now.

This is from their lunch menu and it’s another jaw dropping dish. Their coconut and rice batter gives the crepes a really crispy texture and interesting flavor, the best I’ve had. The filling is incredibly flavorful and well balanced. They recommend eating it in the lettuce cups they serve alongside it and I’ll second that!A friend and I enjoyed a few other dishes that I don’t have pictures of as well, everything impressed. It’s one of those restaurants you wish you could pack up and take home with you! Until next time…

 

306 E. 53rd St.

Austin, TX

fndaustin.com

This place was a recommendation from a local bartender after I listed off the spots I wanted to try. He nailed it.

Guy Fieri visited with “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” which I find a bit strange because it doesn’t really feel like any of the three “D”s but it is definitely feature-worthy.

Do not skip out on the popovers if you dine here. It’s what they’re known for and they are fantastic. Plus, gruyere! Is there a finer cheese?

I’m a sucker for shrimp and grits, almost always order it if it’s on the menu. Also, squid ink fettucini so my friend and I had to order both and split them (a common occurrence when dining with me). Both were great but the wild boar ragout was outstanding.

Here’s my issue with pie: I’m not wild about the crust. I spent three years working in bakeries, more baking at home perfecting my pastry dough recipes, so I know what’s good and bad but I’ve come to terms with the fact that I just don’t really like it either way. I love Dutch Apple Pie though – the topping, the filling, the ice cream on top. All the best parts are layered here in an adorable little jar. Perfect!This place is pretty far from downtown so I would not recommend taking a cab here on a Friday or Saturday night. They’ll never come back for you! We had a three and a half hour wait. Literally. Still, it was worth it and I’ll definitely go back!