Fall just got a little more exciting with the return of Austin Restaurant Weeks! From Friday, October 1 to Sunday, October 10, diners can enjoy prix fixes ranging from $20 lunches to $50 dinners, Tito’s® Handmade Vodka signature cocktails, and offers at specialty food shops. Over 50 participating restaurants have pledged to donate a portion of the price of each meal, beer, or cocktail back to Central Texas Food Bank. Hunger is a serious issue here in Central Texas, where 1 in 7 of our neighbors can’t be sure where their next meal will come from. It’s easy to lend a hand by putting your dining dollars to work!
We know it can be a bit overwhelming to narrow down your options, but not to fret! You’ve got to start somewhere, so how about the below?
For those that consider ice cream a love language, a Cool Combo from Amy’s Ice Creams is calling your name, and $1 from every one sold goes back to ARW. If there’s a sweet tooth, there must be a savory one, too, so satisfy both at Sweet Paris Creperie and Cafe. When you order Allison’s Parfait Crepe, Truffled Caprese Crepe, and/or Lemon & Sugar Crepe, a shiny quarter ($0.25) of each is donated. Black Star Co-op has an Oktoberfest menu that boasts German favorites like bratwurst, veganwurst, spaetzle, and schnitzel. Wash it all down with their Oktoberfest beer and then prost! yourself since 10% of the proceeds help fight hunger in Central Texas.
Avocado can’t be basic when it’s paired with chocolate cake! Get this genius combo at 1886 Cafe & Bakery inside The Driskill. If you’re looking to keep it healthy but hearty, Kale Me Crazy is offering a wrap (vegans, they have you covered!), salad, and a snack. Take a leisurely drive out to gorgeous Dripping Springs, and you’ll be handsomely rewarded with a bountiful feast that starts with brisket queso or a cold dip trio from Alice’s Restaurant at Treaty Oak Distillery, so you know whatever follows will be just as indulgent!
Watermelon salad and Sriracha Ranch tots got your tongue? Hotel Vegas Concession Stand is your destination for this late afternoon delight. Descend into Devil May Care’s seductive lounge for three courses (ending with baklava) that showcase their robust Mediterranean-inspired dishes. For a taste of farm-to-table Italian, grab a coveted reservation at L’Oca d’Oro. We don’t envy having to choose between the second course of Paprika Fusilli or Cavatelli al Pomodoro.
Olive & June’s sophisticated tree house (helloooo 200-year old Oak!) is an al fresco aficionado’s dream come true. Add in a pan-seared branzino and you’ve got yourself a perfect night out. Indecisive diners, fret not! The-four course set menu at Foreign & Domestic puts the chef in the driver’s seat. You just concentrate on savoring every moment of it. Quick-do you know what the ALC in ALC Steaks stands for? Austin Land & Cattle. If the idea of a juicy, meaty R-C Ranch 12 oz “7 Bone” Wagyu Chuck Steak is intriguing, this steakhouse only needs to know one thing—medium or medium rare?
When they go low, we go high. Well, with the Briarpatch cocktail (Tito’s® Handmade Vodka, thyme, citrus, blackberry, sea salt), you can do both, as this specialty cocktail is available on the ground floor of The Line Hotel at Arlo Grey by Kristen Kish and their rooftop bar, P6. Beer more your poison? Order a choose-your-own flight at 4th Tap Brewing Co-op, and $2 of that purchase will support the Central Texas Food Bank. If wine makes you feel mighty fine, then the option of Becker Reserve Viognier or Becker Prairie Rotie Red at Salt Traders will instantly turn you into a giddy do-gooder.
Now go forth and dine, dear diner! Check out the full list of participating businesses and offerings in this Yelp Collection or on the Austin Restaurant Weeks website and make your reservations now for Friday, Oct. 1 – Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021.
