2011 was a banner year for David Bull and his Congress Austin concept. Less than three months after opening, the restaurant vaulted from hot newcomer to king of the mountain status after receiving the Austin American-Stateman's first five-star review in several years. The crowds arrived, and more praise followed. Texas Monthly named it the "best place to eat right now." Celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel, Rachael Ray, and Billy Gibbons were spotted catching late-night meals. The New York Times and Wine Spectator both suggested that tourists make it a point to stop by. And so it went. Aside from a few benefit dinners and food festival events, Chef Bull and his ace team mostly spent the year with their noses to the grindstone, tweaking the Congress, Second, and Bar Congress menus and working to meet the huge number of covers that came in. more ›

Over the holiday break, there was quite a bit of restaurant news as the year-end prompted several local and chain restaurants to shutter or revamp their concepts. We recap some of the biggest changes below: - Rosedale's La Sombra Bar & Grill has closed, and will be replaced by the Italian concept Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar on January 16th. La Sombra owners Eddie Bernal and Cameron Lockley decided to change the spot to better fit the neighborhood's needs. Chef Julio Cesar-Florez will remain with the group, and will be assisted by culinary consultant Susie Modiano on the menu transition. more ›

Two interesting bits of news from fine dining favorite The Carillon today: first and foremost, the restaurant has hired former Congress pastry chef Plinio Sandalio to oversee their pastry program. In addition to being nominated for a James Beard Award, Sandalio also has pastry chef experience at restaurants such as Rickshaw, Noe, Soma, and Gravitas. Like his former boss David Bull and his new one Josh Watkins, he's also competed on Iron Chef America. more ›

Less than a year ago, parkside chef Shawn Cirkiel told us that he was reluctant to open a third restaurant, saying: "This is enough for now. I'm stressed enough as it is." It seems that Cirkiel has a high tolerance for stress, then, as he dished to Addie Broyles in yesterday's Statesman about plans to open an Italian restaurant in the former El Arbol space in Spring 2012. more ›

The time has finally come: Bravo's Top Chef: Texas kicks off tonight with an episode filmed in San Antonio. The big news for Austin may be less that some shows were filmed here and more that two Austinites are among the 29 chefs in the competition. Both Paul Qui of Uchiko and East Side King and Andrew Curren of 24 Diner appear in the initial episode - but that's as much as we know at present. If you'd like to celebrate the show launch, both chefs' restaurants have viewing parties scheduled for this evening. more ›

Most of Austin's attention at the moment is focused on relief efforts for the thousands of residents who've been affected by the recent Central Texas fires, and rightfully so. But there's another charitable event happening this Monday and Tuesday, September 12 and 13, and all you have to do to take part is eat. AIDS Services of Austin is working with more than 68 restaurants in the Austin area to raise money for HIV prevention outreach and care services through its annual Dining for Life event. more ›

After a gestation period of nearly two years, David Bull's triple threat of Congress, Bar Congress, and Second opened in the final days of 2010 to near universal acclaim. Since then, the formal space Congress has found itself the recipient of the Austin American-Statesman's only current five-star review, and the forward-thinking Bar Congress has been spotted on the pages of Imbibe and Esquire, among others.

Leading the charge on the beverage side of the Congress project are beverage director June Rodil (who we'll speak with later this week) and bar manager Adam Bryan. Bryan relocated from Portland several years ago, and worked with Lambert's and East Side Show Room before taking the reins at Bar Congress late last year. We recently discussed the bar's six-month anniversary, the challenges of craft cocktail creation, and...coconuts. more ›

On Monday, East Austin's neighborhood bar and restaurant Contigo hosted Madison, WI spirit producer Death's Door for an evening of nose-to-tail pork dishes paired with a half-dozen craft cocktails showcasing Death's Door white whiskey, vodka, and gin. Even the pork was spirited: the animal was raised on spent mash from Death's Door at a Wisconsin pig farm, and the meat was flown in to Contigo especially for the event. A sizable crowd took in the warm evening and sampled everything from Brown Sugar Bacon Macaroons to a Porchetta (a pork loin/pork belly combo) with rosemary, lemon, garlic and fennel. more ›

Some people crave chocolate. Others crave ice cream or fried chicken. Us? We crave burgers. All the time. Good thing P. Terry’s has recently opened a fourth restaurant at S. Congress and Ben White to satisfy the burger cravings of South Austinites. more ›

While Austin has plenty of affection for our local celebrity chefs like Tyson Cole and David Bull, to many, Fort Worth's Tim Love is the face of Texas cuisine. As a victor over Morimoto on Iron Chef America, a contestant on Top Chef Masters, and a judge on pretty much any food show you'd care to name, Love has gained a wide audience for both his haute-cowboy cooking and his no-nonsense demeanor. Love's metaphorical plate is full at present, at he helms his flagship Lonesome Dove in both Fort Worth and three Love Shack burger shops in North Texas. He's also in the planning stages on both a global taco restaurant concept and a new upscale restaurant right here in Austin. We recently spoke to Love about grilling, expansion, his role at the ACL Festival, and his progress on an Austin opening. more ›

Ahhh. Life on the ranch. After a hard day's work, it's every cowboy’s job to get right on down to the business of relaxation. For example, popping open a cold one and lounging outside under a cool Texas evening breeze. And delighting in the comfort of a fresh, lovingly prepared meal right from your own backyard while chit-chatting with your favorite friends. The folks from Contigo Ranch in South Texas want to bring the taste and culture of ranch living to urban confines of East Austin with their new restaurant endeavor, Contigo, opening May 7. more ›

It’s back! Austin Restaurant Week, that epic semi-annual event we all know and love, starts next week and is better than ever. Organizers are ramping it up with new additions like brunch, wine pairings, gluten-free options, the first annual Austin Restaurant Awards, and charitable donations to both Capital Area Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. More than 75 A-list restaurants are participating to please the most discerning palettes at hard to beat prices, with prix fixe three-course dinners ($25-$35), lunches ($10-$15), and brunches ($15-$20). more ›

You know how your significant other told you they don't really care if you do anything for Valentine's Day? It probably wouldn't hurt to plan something anyway. Even with February 14 less than a week away, Austin still has lots of dinner options for you and your special someone. (Reservations are recommended except where noted.) more ›

In late 2007, CIA-trained chef Shawn Cirkiel did something a little crazy - he opened an upscale restaurant on East 6th Street - then a culinary Siberia of downtown. Three years later, with parkside a fixture of downtown's upscale dining scene, Cirkiel is branching out...about half a block out. His new restaurant, the backspace, is styled after a casual Italian neighborhood bar, and serves Italian wine and beer, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, salads, cheese plates, and antipasto. We recently sat down with Chef Cirkiel during a quiet moment at parkside to discuss the new restaurant, Austin's evolving food scene, and the local culinary community. more ›

Austinites who have procrastinated planning a Thanksgiving meal or who don't care to spend hours basting, stuffing, mashing, and baking have something to be thankful for -- a veritable cornucopia of Turkey Day restaurant options. There are far too many restaurant and take-away offerings this Thanksgiving to list them all, but here are some of our favorites: more ›

Around 7am, the Austin Fire Department was called to a blaze at 9th Street and Congress at the site of the ultra-upmarket Restaurant Jezebel on Congress Avenue. No one was injured in the fire, though due to the timing, firefighters had to force entry to the property to respond. KXAN is reporting that the blaze did roughly $150,000 of damage to the Downtown restaurant, which is known mostly for upscale modern fusion dishes, a unique service style (a server only approaches your table when you summon them), and an incredibly expensive European wine list not for the faint of heart or wallet. more ›

The Austin Business Journal broke the news this afternoon that Katz's, the longtime New York-style deli in the West 6th district, is being evicted due to non-payment of rent and filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday. Deli owner Marc Katz originally owned the building where the deli is based, but sold it in 2006 and leased back the space from the current owners. The building sale was part of a previous bankruptcy filing from 2004.

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Everyone loves a good deal, but the problem is you usually have to hunt and haggle for them. Who has the time for that? We have too many episodes of Glee and Modern Family to watch on our DVR to be chasin’ down all those deals! Wouldn’t it be nice if the deals came to you, and you could pick and choose the ones you wanted? Well, guess what - that’s no longer some crazy idea the voices in your head came up with. It’s reality, friends. We’re going to tell you about four online companies that offer the best deals in town - up to 90% off in some cases - on everything from food to services to activities and more. more ›

Foreign and Domestic, a new restaurant concept by chefs/owners Ned and Jodi Elliott, opens on May 20 in the North Loop area, just a few blocks west of local favorites Room Service Vintage and The Parlor. The location was an old skate shop, but now boasts an inviting-yet-industrial vibe that perfectly fits the high-quality, quirky dishes. more ›

The downtown branches of El Chile and El Chilito are seeing some changes this week. The restaurant at 918 Congress Ave., which originally opened as an El Chilito, then became an El Chile this summer, is back to serving breakfast tacos as El Chilito. The spot at 1025 Barton Springs Road, which had recently been an El Chilito, will be El Chile (effective tomorrow, January 15). Confused yet? more ›

Now you can show off your knowledge of "Hunting, Fishing and Drinking: The Three Dude Groups" or "Top 40 Songs Butchered by David Hasslehoff" every weeknight in Austin. Geeks Who Drink hosts live pub quizzes at 60 locations throughout Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. This month, they're expanding the lineup to run Monday through Friday in Austin and adding a night in San Marcos as well. more ›

It's finally starting to cool off in Central Texas, and we're craving comfort food. One very satisfying place to start is at Moonshine Bar & Grill on Red River, where the green chile macaroni is about as good as it gets. Served with grilled chicken, corn relish and green chile cream, this dish offers all the warmth of a winter dinner from mom, but adds that kick that makes it unforgettable. We recommend this dish with a side of the corn dog shrimp, which are exactly what they sound like (and it's amazing), served with a side of honey mustard and blueberry swirl. more ›

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Torchy's can be found alongside Shuggie's Burgers & Seafood in the South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery, where picnic tables line a gravel parking lot. At night, the place glows with holiday lights, making it a perfect spot for midnight grub after a rock show, or a quick dinner before heading to a movie. more ›

The concept of "local food treated well" in restaurants certainly isn't new; Alice Waters pioneered it with Chez Panisse in the 1970s. But the trend has picked up a lot of steam in recent years, with the increasing focus on locally-grown organic food. The latest Austin entrant in this genre is Olivia, which arrives under the guidance of executive chef and owner James Holmes and chef de cuisine Morgan Angelone, formerly of Asti. Joining the ranks of Uchi and Wink, Olivia is a welcome new part of Austin's increasingly cosmopolitan dining scene. more ›

Back in August of 2007, we found a hot real estate listing for Emo's Lounge, and today we have a resolution. Our friends at the Statesman are reporting that Emo's Lounge will soon be the home of El Sol y La Luna, a popular SoCo restaurant. more ›

Logo from Edible AustinEdible Austin’s first annual Eat Local Week celebration runs from Saturday December 8th through Saturday December 15th. While you’re nourishing body and soul with locally-grown and handmade foods from an extensive list of participating restaurants and markets, a portion of proceeds will go to Urban Roots, a program which teaches sustainable agriculture fundamentals to East Austin youth. 15-20 participants aged 14-18 will be awarded a paid internship to grow food on an... more ›

Flyer courtesy Downtown Austin Alliance Holiday Sing-Along, Tree Lighting and Congress Ave. StrollSaturday, December 1Texas State Capitol (1100 Congress Ave)6-9pm[info]The annual Holiday Sing-Along, Capitol Tree Lighting and Congress Avenue Stroll takes place tomorrow evening. Here's the schedule of events, courtesy the good people at the Downtown Austin Alliance: The evening starts at 6:00 p.m. when crowds gather on the south steps of the Capitol to sing the songs of the season during John Aielli's Holiday... more ›

Image from www.gordonramsay.comWe ran across this post on Craigslist, and have to admit we love the idea of surly superchef Gordon Ramsay kicking ass in some of our not-so-favorite Austin restaurants. According to the (highly excited and haphazardly capitalized) post: FOx TV’s KITCHEN NIGHTMARES IS CASTING in Austin ! Acclaimed Chef , Culinary Expert & Award Winning Restaurateur GORDON RAMSAY IS LOOKING TO HELP RESUSCITATE & FIX YOUR RESTAURANT ISSUES! IF YOUR RESTAURANT IS HAVING... more ›

Original menu image courtesy the Frisco Shop With the Brentwood Tavern and the Travis County Farmer's Market both closing last month, the Allandale culinary scene is certainly undergoing some transition. The Austin Business Journal and the Statesman's Dale Rice report that the Frisco Shop (North Central Austin's haven of pie and artery-clogging comfort food) has found a new home and will not close its doors after learning last year that its location would soon house... more ›