Relish Austin

By Scott

August 6, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

It won’t be too hard to beat “Dirty Dobbs” at Mizzou.

By Corey Fields

August 6, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

Anyone been to O’s Campus Cafe (www.oscampuscafe.com/)? I saw it on Food Network’s Best of: Campus Hot Spots; looked good on TV, and it’s on campus.

By Prentiss Riddle

August 6, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this

My theory: it takes time to develop tastebuds and undergraduates don’t have them yet. Grad students are starting to acquire sophisticated palates but they have no money. Hence the sad state of food on the Drag: restaurants, restaurants everywhere but not a bite to eat.

Fortunately there are exceptions, mostly Asian. Thai Noodle is at a sweet spot for quality, price and service. I also like Madame Mam’s and am a complete sucker for the Peppercorn Chicken at Coco’s.

Kerbey Lane is respectably flying the flag of Austin post-hippie diner cuisine, and Chipotle is the “Don’t Be Evil” Google-equivalent of fast food, same as everywhere. At the north end of the Drag I have a weak spot for Meaters Mondays at Conan’s Pizza, and I think Texas Burger still serves the best cheap burger in town (although I can’t decide whether their secret sauce is MSG or the bug spray I once caught them applying to the counter).

Beyond that, the pickings are pretty slim.

By brad

August 6, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this

Milto’s is the best for Italian/Greek because it’s fast, affordable, and ridiculously tasty in relation to those first two adjectives. Austin’s Pizza is good thin crust pizza and Mellow Mushroom has the best crust (although Hungry Howie’s is dang close, maybe even tied). For a campus-exclusive spot, though, hit up Slices and Ices and Niki’s in Dobie Mall; both offer delicious NY-style pies. Dirty Martin’s has good old-fashioned greasy burgers and fries, but Players is always a favorite, too. Cain and Abel’s and Crown and Anchor are best for drinking and eating gatherings. Cuatros is best for watching a big game while drinking and eating. I don’t really eat at the local Asian places, but I’ve heard excellent things about Madam Ma’am and Ming’s Cafe.

By rae

August 6, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this

Ruby’s with a ‘b’ for BBQ!

By julie

August 7, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this

Posse is pretty good for cheap, greasy food. It’s close enough to campus to be feasible to walk to from the physics building… which is like the most important part of campus eating. Also, as silly as it sounds, Double Daves has a stand on 24th right outside of the physics building and it’s not too bad, considering you can get a feast for about 4 bucks.

By stevear

August 7, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

This is easy. Madam Mam’s on Dean Keeton and Guadalupe or Thai Noodle House a little further up and behind the 7-11; by far, these are the best places to grub. The spicy pickle has decent sandwiches.

By Jenny

August 7, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

O’s is extremely overpriced and not that great for what you get in my opinion. As a vegetarian, I like Veggie Heaven, Sao Paulo’s, Which Wich for subs, Kerbey Lane when doing breakfast meetings or dining with my kid, Madam Mam’s, Clay Pit is definitely walkable and has a cheap lunch buffet, and the new Mediterranean place where Pita whatever used to be by the Dobie is pretty good too. Crown and Anchor and Dog and Duck are good for beer and darts and cheap greasy bar food if that’s what you’re looking for. Crown and Anchor has the better veggie options.

By Robert

August 9, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

Madam Mam’s is amazing and cheap (what every Longhorn is looking for) but Cuatro’s is by far the best. Great food, amazing prices, full bar, dozens of tvs, dog friendly. It’s awesome.

By Jette Kernion

August 12, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

I’d recommend We Fuse (formerly Fuse Box) on the first floor of Dobie Mall. They are usually only open for lunch, but have some very nice bento-style lunches that feature fresh food and — unlike lots of places near campus — actual vegetables.

I work near the Texas Union and it’s difficult to find good healthy lunches in easy walking distance; I don’t need them to be cheap, I just prefer them to be nearby and not feature a lot of fried greasy stuff. Thai Noodle is great but the walk is a little long for me for lunchtime take-out. (Prentiss, I’m hoping to try Coco’s soon when I have time to eat lunch there — they say they don’t do take-out.)