Thursday, November 7, 2013

Austin/Round Rock Festivities

Started making this for a friend visiting town and wanted to share because I think it's a pretty good tour guide!
So I know you had said you hadn't decided where you wanted to go so here's a few of my suggestions by location:
ROUND ROCK
Restaurants:
1. Chuys $
 http://chuys.com/
Seriously some of the best Tex-Mex in town! Be sure to ask for the free jalapeno ranch dip if you go (you gotta know to ask ;)
2. Tokyo Steakhouse $$$ 
http://www.tokyosteakhouseaustin.com/round-rock/#/home/
This place is AMAZING! You'll spend about $40 per person, but they cook the food in front of you and do tricks...just wonderful!
3. Fortune Garden $
http://fortunegardenrr.com/
If you're looking for good Chinese/Vietnamese food, this is the place! Really reasonable prices and large plates of food. If you like lemonade, it's fresh squeezed here...mmm mmm good.
4. Olive Garden $$
http://www.olivegarden.com/Menu/
I know it's a chain restaurant and you probably have one in Lincoln, but we frequent the one in Round Rock so much we know all the waitstaff's names...it's just good! P.S. A side order of Chicken Parmesan is $4! You have to ask specifically for that one too.
Good for breakfast tacos, lunch tacos, dinner tacos...coolest hand wash station!
6. Torchy's Tacos $
It's Texas, everyone's always trying to come out with new tacos. Well these are some of the best. My fav from here is the fried avocado taco, it's delicious!
7. Taco Shack $
http://tacoshack.com/
Again, another staple in the Austin area for yummy tacos. This place closes early though (I think 2pm) so don't make any plans for dinner here.
8. The Famous Round Rock Donuts
http://www.roundrockdonuts.com/
You're gonna have to sneak these back on the plane with you. You'll WANT to smuggle them back. Seriously, BEST combination of flour, sugar and water in the entire world. I'm not biased or anything :P

Places to See:
1. The Round Rock
http://static.logbookexplorer.com/photos/RoundRock5-large.jpg
There literally is a rock that the city is named after, since we've had some rain it should be pretty nice right now. It's right in the center of town and there's several places you can just park and walk around, great for taking pictures and any stranger you see will be glad to take your picture :)
2. Round Rock Outlet Mall/IKEA
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=73
In the mood to spend more money?...this is the place to be. This entire shopping center (Outlets on North side of FM 1431, IKEA on South side) is filled with so many places to shop, eat, and just look around. This would be a good place to hang out around Saturday before the wedding because it's less than 10 minutes from the venue.

NORTH AUSTIN
(I make a distinction because though Downtown Austin is cooler, there's WAY less traffic in north Austin)
Restaurants:
Really if you're gonna spend time in N. Austin at all, your best bet would be to go to the shopping center called The Domain...
 http://www.simon.com/mall/the-domain
Here are some of the restaurants you'll find in this specific location:
1. Maggiano's $$$
http://www.maggianos.com/EN/Austin_Austin_TX/Pages/LocationLanding.aspx
Such delicious Italian Food! It is a little on the pricey side, but totally worth it for what you get. For every dinner entree you order, you get one to take home (and it doesn't have to be the same entree either). Great ambient setting and classy feel, dress pretty!
2. The Daily Grill $$
http://dailygrill.com/locations/daily-grill-austin-texas
Just staple American food. Shrimp, chicken, steak, pasta, good bread...one of my fav side dishes is the baked carrots in some syrupy sauce oh my that's good!
3. Gloria's $$
http://www.gloriasrestaurants.com/
Beautiful restaurant! Great margarita's and classy Mexican Food (there is a difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican ;)
4. California Pizza Kitchen $
http://www.cpk.com/
For something a little more casual, this place has a nice little pizzeria feel. I always get the mac and cheese (it's a HUGE bowl) and just to do me over,,, the fried mac & cheese bites are delish (also the cheapest food on the menu lol)
Places to See:
Really there's just shopping...lots of shopping!
Between the quiet of Round Rock and the busyness of Austin, the city just built shopping center after shopping center for those people sick of waiting in traffic lol.
1. The Domain
 http://www.simon.com/mall/the-domain
2. The Arboretum
http://www.simon.com/mall/the-arboretum
3. Gateway Shopping Center
http://www.simon.com/mall/gateway-shopping-center

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN
Restaurants:
1. Hula Hut $$
http://www.hulahut.com/#menu
Same owners as Chuy's in Round Rock, but WAAY better atmosphere. It's set on one of the lakes in Austin with indoor/outdoor seating. Would be beautiful for a sunset dinner (Friday). Parking is kinda tricky though. Your best bet is to valet ($6 I think) or just park across the street and walk, it's just a crosswalk away.
2. Cantina Laredo $$
http://www.cantinalaredo.com/
This would be best for a Sunday morning brunch. These have decently priced mimosas and a great assortment of food. The portions are a little more health conscious than most Mexican food places so eat to your heart's content! If you like guacamole be sure to order the table-side guac. They make it right in front of you! You may want to set a 3 basket of chips limit or you'll have NO room for anything else! Delicious desserts as well...one of my personal favorites hands down!
3.Austin Land and Cattle Company $$$
http://alcsteaks.com/
Oh lord, if you like steak you have to make a dinner reservation here! BEST steaks of my life!
Very large portions, very subdued atmosphere. No loud music, usually candlelit setting. No words of mine would do justice. Just try it! I promise you won't regret it.
4. Central Market $
http://www.centralmarket.com/in-store.aspx?store=austin_lamar
So this is both a place to eat at and a place to see. It's grocery shopping on a heavenly level. All sorts of cool things to check out there (besides foodstuffs) and a great cafe area to pick up whatever your heart desires...great selection and very reasonable price wise!
5. HEB $
Ok, so I just realized if you've never been to Texas...you've never been to HEB!!!!! The newest one actually just opened up in Round Rock (near the Outlet Mall & IKEA) but it's Austin, where you are never more than 10 minutes from a local HEB. The best grocery store chain around. I always go in and make meals out of the samples and delis in there.
They have a couple locations as well. If you go, order the Kerbey Queso and don't order the lamb enchiladas. I did, not sure why I thought that would be a good idea :-/
Delicious teas and coffee, vegan and gluten free options. I had soy chorizo! Not sure how one makes soy chorizo, but it was definitely delicious!
Places to See:
Who doesn't love old buildings where history is being made every day?! Beautiful view as you drive down Congress Ave. I recommend parking in a garage near 15th & Congress (to avoid frustration) and either walk or use the city transportation options...horse-drawn carriages, bicycle-drawn carriages, Longhorn-drawn carriages...ok just kidding about the longhorn one lol but you get the picture.
Amongst the million or so people living in Austin, this beautiful scenery is preserved and well maintained. In the summer months I'd recommend kayaking (rentals) but in the fall month simply walking through the trails and open greenery has the ability to soothe the soul. Take a kite, take a picnic, prepare to be relaxed. This may just convince you to stay in Austin forever :D
3.Bob Bullock Museum
http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/
For a little bit of fun with history, check out this place. They even have an IMAX theater that's always running cool films, even recent releases sometimes! It is mostly Texas history, but hey...Texas was almost it's own country once; it deserves a museum to itself!

Well that is only scratching the surface but I hope it gives you some ideas!
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