Austin
CRÊPE CRAZY SS
NEW Crepes | Owned and operated by mem-
bers of the hearing-impaired community, this
simple, airy bistro is the second location of the
Dripping Springs–based crêperie. Both sweet
and savory versions deliver on flavor and size, the
fillings cradled in spongy white-flour crepes. Our
favorites included the prosciutto and arugula
with apricot jam and gooey melted Brie and the
traditional ham and Swiss with tomatoes and a
smear of Dijon mustard (our wish list includes
the gluten-free buckwheat crepe commonly
found in Brittany). For dessert we couldn’t decide
which we liked best: classic butter and lemon
(without the suggested caramel sauce) or rich
Nutella with fresh strawberries and banana. Beer
& wine. 3103 S. Lamar Blvd (512-387-2442).
B & L 7 days. D Mon–Sat.$LAUNDERETTE SSSS
UPDATE Mediterranean | Dining alfresco
when the weather is nice is a must at this
chic-casual East Austin brasserie. We quickly
decided on cocktails before opting for spicy pi-
mento cheese with salty house-made potato
chips and an order of pierogi, which arrived as
little butternut squash–filled pillows of dough
drizzled with an Aleppo chile oil and served with
tangy sauerkraut. Tender spirals of cavatelli
pasta bathed in a smoky tomato sauce was a
treat, as were the black-garlic barbecue ribs with
added heat from sweet chile vinegar. We would
never leave without a selection from the brilliant
dessert menu, our reward this time being hibis-
cus-poached pears and savory aged tomme-style
cheese from Meridian purveyor Revelation
Cheese. Bar. 2115 Holly (512-382-1599). L Mon–
Fri. D 7 days. B Sat & Sun.$$$MALIBU POKE SS
NEW Poke | Haters gonna hate the too-cool
vibe of this breezy, pastel-hued spot serving up
artfully composed bowls of the having-a-moment
poke (rhymes with “okay”). Sure, the place is
trendy, from the frozen rosé machine to the Insta-
gram-friendly plants and macramé. But the bowls
of fresh fish benefit from the guidance of a James
Beard Award nominee, Dallas-based chef Matt
McCallister. His concoction of tuna with a creamy
bonito aioli lifted by the crunch of toasted coconut
was masterful. The seaweed and cauliflower rice
under the bonito was equally inspired, a light treat
for the hot, humid day. We quit rolling our eyes
long enough to order from the self-service screen
but not long enough to try out the facial-recogni-
tion software. Beer & wine. 211 Walter Seaholm Dr
(512-609-8510). L & D 7 days.$RATING SYSTEM
THESE PAGES OFFER A
FREQUENTLY CHANGING
SELECTION DRAWN FROM
OUR EXTENSIVE ONLINE
DINING GUIDE, WHICH
FEATURES FULL REVIEWS OF
HUNDREDS OF RESTAURANTS
ACROSS THE STATE.
Visit http://www.texas monthly.com/
dining-guide/.
OUR REVIEWS ARE WRITTEN
BY CRITICS WHO LIVE IN
THE CITIES AND REGIONS
THEY COVER. THEY REMAIN
ANONYMOUS TO ENSURE THAT
THEY RECEIVE NO SPECIAL
TREATMENT.
The magazine pays for all meals
and accepts no advertising or other
consideration in exchange for a
listing. Comments? Write us at
[email protected]
or Dining Guide, Box 1569, Austin,
Texas 78767.
STARS
SSSSS Superlative
SSSS Excellent
SSS Very good
SS Good
S Hit or miss
PRICE SCALE
Prices represent a typical meal
for one, not including alcohol,
tax, and tip. All listed restaurants
accept credit cards unless
otherwise noted.
$ Less than $15
$$ $15–$30
$$$ $31–$60
$$$$ More than $60
The off erings at Austin
City Taco, in Fort Worth,
include chicken al carbón
and Salt n’ Vinegar fried
shrimp (see page 116).
TEXAS MTEXAS MONTHLYONTHLY 115 115