Food: September Restaurant Week Menus Announced
Coupon cutters and cheap dates, now is your moment in the sun. Austin's Fall 2010 Restaurant Week is just around the corner. Restaurant Week (really, two half weeks; September 19th - 22nd and 26th - 29th) provides frugal Austinites the opportunity to sample the extraordinary culinary scene blossoming throughout town at prices much closer to ordinary. Lunches run $10 - $15, while dinners go for $25 - $35. These aren't Tamale House prices, but you’re getting a three course meal, and there are definitely deals to be found.
For more casual fare, start the week off at Austin’s favorite hot dog hang Frank, where it’s hard to go wrong on an appetizer (they all include the word “waffle”) before ordering the popular Jackalope (antelope and rabbit sausage) or spicy Slaw Dog and a dessert ($25 for two). Max’s Wine Dive caters to the sophisticated redneck in you with its Max ‘N Cheese, Southern Fried Chicken, and New Orleans Style Bread Pudding ($25 per person). Wine is not included, unfortunately. And if you’re still not painfully stuffed, sit in the picturesque courtyard of newcomer El Arbol and order grilled beef heart in chili oil, seven ounces of ribeye, and flourless chocolate cake with dulce de leche for only $35.
Moving upscale (without having to move to the Domain,) you can sample the favorite fare of Chef Deegan McClung at the revitalized Jeffery’s on West Lynn. $35 a person will get you sesame-fried oysters on bacon royale (similar to a Royale with cheese?), grilled Texas quail, and beignets for dessert, while $35 at the new uptown favorite Uchiko (Fearless Critic just ranked it best “feel” in the city) can get you an entrée of take nabe (mushrooms over rice with a soft fried egg - delicious!) or karaage (half of a fried chicken), both of which are winners.
But that’s not all! Check back over the next couple of weeks at RestaurantWeekAustin.com as menus are posted for Aquarelle, Botticelli’s, Cipollina, Driskill Grill, Jasper’s, Lamberts, Olivia, Perla’s, TRIO, and dozens more, all three courses for $35 or less (we highly recommend reservations). Tamale House will still be waiting for you when the week is over.
