The Good List

For my first review post, I'm going to start by giving a brief yet effusive rundown of some of my favorite restaurants around Austin. Eventually, I intend to post full reviews of most of them, but I want to give y'all a taste of what I like and you know, my tastes.

1. The Clay Pit
The Clay Pit is the restaurant I usually choose for my family birthday dinner - my default "special occasion" restaurant. The food is just amazing. Clay Pit brings Indian cuisine to a whole new level of sophistication and elegance. I usually start with the vegetable samosas, savory turnovers filled with potatoes, peas, nuts, and raisins, and one of their fun cocktails (like the mango pina colada). Although they have a wide array of delicious vegetarian dishes, I almost always return to the Kashmiri Kofta Korma, potato and paneer balls covered in a rich cashew and almond cream sauce. I can pretty much forget about having room left for dessert after such a meal, yet I always leave feeling satisfied.

2. Austin Java Company
I get a variety of entrees at Austin Java Company, but I never go without a cup of their Spicy African Peanut Soup. It is tomato and cream based, topped with chopped peanuts, and has just enough of a spicy kick. I've never had a soup quite like it, and I have never been able to successfully reproduce it in my own kitchen, which keeps me coming back. Austin Java also has a variety of tasty vegetarian pastas and sandwiches. Their Veggie Sandwich is simple yet so delicious with swiss cheese, avocado, greens, and sprouts on barbari bread. Weirdly enough, I go to Austin Java mostly for their food, but their frozen, blended Javaccino is super yummy.

3. East Side Cafe
Another of my "special occasion" restaurants, East Side Cafe is particularly cool because they grow many of their own vegetables in an on-site garden. Their Baked Brie with Apple Chutney is a divine starter for my meal, which usually consists of either their Artichoke Manicotti or their Wild Mushroom Crepes. They offer half-portions, which I usually choose so I can taste as many of their rich dishes as possible.

4. Veggie Heaven
The ambiance is certainly lacking sophistication, but it lends an endearing quality to this all-vegetarian pan-Asian hotspot. I recommend the amusingly-named Protein 2000, crispy protein nuggets and broccoli topped with brown sauce, to Veggie Heaven novices. I have expanded beyond the Protein 2000 to their other dishes, such as the Basil Tofu, although I often return to good old Protein 2000. The steam bun, filled with mushrooms and soy protein, is also worth trying as an appetizer, although the food usually comes out all at once.

5. Chipotle
You probably haven't heard of this little burrito joint; it's mostly for those of us in-the-know. Kidding aside, you may be put off by my inclusion of a chain in this short list. However, the truth is I eat at Chipotle more often than just about anywhere else. The food is cheap, tasty, and fresh, and I just have to get behind a national chain that uses and promotes natural, locally-grown produce and meat. You can get a filling meal for less than $6 (even less if you are willing to settle for just rice and beans), which is always a plus for a student.

6. Hyde Park Grill
I can't tell you how happy I was when they opened a second Hyde Park Grill down south in the Wesgate shopping center. Their menu represents a lot of different genres, including American-style, Thai, and Italian, to name a few. I usually get the Eggplant with Fettuccine, crispy breaded eggplant patties topped with spicy chipotle marinara and pesto on a bed of fettuccine. Unlike eggplant parmigana, which is usually smothered in mozzarella, their eggplant is lightly sprinkled with shredded parmesan, which allows you to really appreciate the eggplant and sauces.

That's all for now. This list is ongoing, so stay tuned for more of my favorites.