Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
a thoroughly modern take on down-home cooking, including plenty of choices in the non-
pork category.
Once you step inside, the modern farmhouse atmosphere makes you forget it's housed
inside a dowdy cinderblock building. We especially love the patio when the weather al-
lows.
El Chile
MAP
TEX-MEX
$$
( 512-457-9900;
www.elchilecafe.com
;
1809 Manor Rd; lunch $8-11, dinner mains $11-15; 11am-9pm Sun-
Mon, to 10pm Tue-Sat)
Let the comfy red chairs on the patio scoop you up for half-price appet-
izers at happy hour. Grab a spicy, orange-infused Chilango Margarita, or stay for enchila-
das and other
especialidades
.
TOP OF CHAPTER
5
Greater Austin
Reservations are essential at the top-end places.
Magnolia Cafe
( 512-478-8645;
www.themagnoliacafe.com
; 2304 Lake Austin Blvd; mains $5-11; 24hr)
In Westlake, op-
posite Deep Eddy Cabaret, this casual, all-night cafe serves American and Tex-Mex stand-
bys such as
migas,
enchiladas, pancakes and potato scrambles. It gets absurdly crowded
on weekends.
CAFE
$
INDIAN
$
Whip In
( 512-442-5337;
www.whipin.com
;
1950 S I-35; mains $6-13; 11am-3pm & 6-10pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat
& Sun)
It started as a convenience store on a frontage road. Then the beer and Indian food
started to take over. Now it's half Indian restaurant and half beer store, with a few grocer-
ies still hanging around to keep it confusing. Would we mention it if the food (breakfast
naan and 'panaani' sandwiches) wasn't awesome? We would not.
Salt Lick Bar-B-Que
BARBECUE
$$
