Austin Quick Bites: Food Heads Café

Food Heads Café Location: 616 W. 34th St. Phone: 512-420-8400 Cost: $ ($=Under $10; $$=$11-30, $$$=$31-60, $$$$=$60+, avg cost per person including 1 drink, tax, and tip.) Website: www.foodheads.com The 411: In the never-ending search for the ultimate sandwich, it's more than likely that you'll wind up at Food Heads Café. It’s here at this Central Austin sandwich shop that you'll find standard meat-and-bread sandwiches alongside more creative fare, like spicy apple pork tenderloin sandwiches and roast beef and brie melts. And it’s all good.

Food Heads co-owner Chip Wendt takes pride in offering fresh ingredients at his little café, which is housed inside a 1920s bungalow filled with mix-and-matched tables and chairs. The shop offers a welcoming, breezy wraparound front porch, food magazines to browse through during a solo lunch, and plenty of refills of flavored tea.

Simple, yet delicious touches at Food Heads really set this place apart from other sandwich joints—they make their own condiments, for example, like the poblano mango mayo, blackberry balsamic vinaigrette, and the spicy jalapeño relish and Tabasco slaw found on their signature Gypsy Grove Sandwich. But what always brings us back to Food Heads are the homemade pickles that come with every meal. With the crunchy, thinly-sliced cucumbers in a tangy sweet brine, who needs potato chips?

If you love sandwiches, Food Heads is a good stop to try out—freshly baked bread and interesting grilled meat and vegetable combos add some zip to everyone’s lunchtime standby.

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