nota bene: I’ve expanded this post with input from a friend
As a once and always-in-spirit denizen of Austin, Texas, I’m often asked where to eat there. Below is a list of what I just sent to my friend Jonathan Tasini who will be there next week for a bloggers’ meeting:
Comment with your ideas and I’ll keep this post updated. Check back for updates.
First take note: Sixth Street is mostly fun for tourists and Frat Boys, not for food and music aficianados
If you want to wander, head to South Congress a few blocks below the river
Some of my favorite restaurants:
Guero’s — Fun place on hip South Congress Street, a Bill Clinton fave for Tex Mex
(If you go to Guero’s for dinner also check out the Continental Club across the street for music
El Sol Y La Luna — Unpretentious small Tex-Mex, Central American restaurant on South Congress, good for lunch. I love this place
The Shady Grove: on the grounds of an old trailer park on Barton Springs Road; pick a table outside, hang out, very Austin, a good place to go with friends; hippie, cowboy and some Mexican food:
Changos — Grab some fabulous fish tacos on the go (I never miss this on a trip)
Fonda San Miguel — Fancy Mexican; a beautiful restaurant though a little snooty; this is gourmet Mex not Tex Mex
Cisco’s: on the east (read black and Hispanic) side of town, open only for breakfast and lunch, the most authentic place on this list; if you haven’t gotten them elsewhere for breakfast, get the migas
Jeffrey’s impress your date — High end fusion / nouvel cuisine;
The Salt Lick Head out of town for world-famous BBQ:
The Oasis out on Lake Travis — For the fabulous view, not necessarily the food; worth the trip to get a sense of the Hill Country
Other restaurants recommended by my buddy Beth Myler:
Uchi-sushi on s. lamar
Mars-now on s. congress
Vespaio-great italian, good bar on s. congress
home slice pizza-s. congress
boticelli‘s-italian w/beer garden on s. congress
“Can you tell I spend a lot of time on S. Congress???” asks Beth
Las Manitas-downtown [also one of my favorites, where all the leftie politicos go for brunch or lunch – but I heard it may be going out of business]
ZTejas-W. 6th
Galaxy Cafe-cheap and healthy West Lynn+11th
Zocalo-healthy mexican-next to Jeffreys on West Lynn
Chez Nous-downtown, french
My favorite shopping:
gonepublic: philosophy, politics, & public life 
Veggie Heaven across the street from the Dobie at UT. Cheap but the food is really quite good. Try the honey lemonande!
My sister, whose palate was trained during graduate school in Montreal, eats at the East Side Cafe whenever she can afford it. On trips back home, I make a point of shopping and then eating at Central Market on Lamar–convenient to so many places and Texas-sized portions of memorable gelato!