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Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Your A-List: Best Place for a Cheap Lunch
Going to Sullivans for steak sandwiches and a bottle of wine is certainly a nice way to while away the day. But, let’s face it, not everybody has that kind of time or money. Often, we find ourselves eating quickly and on the cheap when it comes to lunch, and when it comes to getting a good cheap lunch, Freebirds is tops in your book, with 31 percent of the vote.
The small chain, with restaurants in seven Texas cities and one in Oklahoma (psh posh), opened its Texas operation in 1990 in College Station, but Austinites have not held the ignominious distinction against the restaurant, as proven by the massive lunch and dinner lines at the restaurants here in Austin. With burritos ranging from the almost snack-size to the seriously oversized, Freebirds can accommodate any appetite, and with the recent addition of their steak and chicken salads, are attempting to prove that one can dine on Tex-Mex while still watching their caloric intake.
Beyond the food, Freebirds, which outdistanced Austin landmark Thundercloud in the polling, has built a local reputation for strong customer service, as each customer who reaches the burrito-making assembly line is greeted and told they will be served shortly. A cynic may call it a contrived corporate mandate, but I have heard from many people that said simple recognition helps get their experience off on the right food. So take that, cynics.
Others receiving votes:
- Thundercloud, 25 percent
- Zen, 8 percent
- Maria’s Taco Express, 6 percent
- Hut’s Hamburgers, 6 percent
- El Meson, 3 percent
- Lulu B’s, 3 percent
- Tam Deli, 3 percent
- Artz Rib House, 3 percent
- Green Mesquite BBQ, 3 percent
- Fire Bowl Cafe, 2 percent
- Billy’s on Burnett, 2 percent
- Iron Works, 2 percent
- Hai-Ky, 1 percent
- Buffet Palace, 1 percent
Write-ins: 10th Street Tacos, 620 Cafe, Cafe Java, Enoteca Vespaio, Galaxy Cafe, Little Deli in Crestview, Maru, Tamale House, Tino’s Greek Café
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Your A-List: Best Place to Smooch
Located in West Austin, Bonnell offers an exquisite view of Lake Austin and homes with prices that put them out of my (and probably your) price range. And, when the beauty of the lake and its homes overwhelms (or bores) you, and you want to rest before enjoying the surrounding trails, turn to that special someone and get to kissin, ya exhibitionists.
Bonnell also seems like a pretty cool place to shoot a music video, as evidenced by this one of local talent Bill Callahan playing “Nothing Rises to Meet Me.”
No. 6 Bill Callahan - “Nothing Rises To Meet Me” from Retread Sessions on Vimeo.
Others receiving votes:
- Eeyore’s Birthday, 12 percent
- Town Lake, 11 percent
- Barton Springs, 9 percent
- Zilker Park, 7 percent
- Botanical Gardens, 6 percent
- UT football game, 6 percent
- 360 Bridge, 5 percent
- Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 5 percent
- Capitol grounds, 4 percent
Image from Larry Kolvoord/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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