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City Cast Austin

The latest on the hottest places to eat, drink, socialize, and talk about in Austin.

Kelsey Bradshaw

Going out to eat in Austin can be daunting. Everything seems to be more expensive than ever and you likely have to pay for parking on top of your meal.

 to find out where Austinites can find a decent meal for $20 or less.

Montoya absolutely delivered and we’ve got all his recommendations for you:

For a first date, you may not want to spend your whole paycheck. You just met this person!

“I like going for something that's a little bit more approachable on a first date,” Montoya explained.

He recommends bringing your potential love connection to 

 on East Sixth Street. The bar’s "ArModelo" drink, which is a Modelo with lime juice and Tabasco, is $3.75, Montoya said. After you grab a beer, which Montoya says is perfect for kissing because it leaves the lips a little numb, take your date to 

Austinites always have someone visiting. Impress your friends and family with the happy hour at 

. The restaurant’s happy hour runs 3-5:30 p.m. every day and includes $10 burgers, $12 tuna tartare, and half-off wine bottles.

Montoya recommends getting the happy hour martinis, which are $10, for a complete meal.

“You get a really nice burger and a really nice drink for $20 total per person,” Montoya said.

Perhaps you’ve clicked on this story while you’re in town for work. If that’s the case, and your boss is only giving you $20 to eat, Montoya recommends trying 

 that runs Tuesdays through Saturdays 5-6:30 p.m. You can get a burger and fries for $12 and pair it with a half-off cocktail, glass of wine, or beer.

“I went and got the double cheeseburger with fries and three beers for $20,” Montoya said.

An Expert Dishes on Where To Find $20 Meals in Austin

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Austin. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Austin Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Gather round, Garfields. I come bearing lasagna news.

, a New Jersey-style Italian restaurant, opened in Hyde Park 

 in the small building formerly occupied by Wok 'N Express.

I finally made my way to the counter-service spot last week and it was everything a girl who misses her hometown Italian spot could hope for. The portions are huge, the prices are not terrible, and the decor is so homey and fun. Oh, and they have the biggest piece of lasagna I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

The end piece lasagna is $24 and is what dreams are made of if you also prefer a crispy corner piece of any casserole or brownie pan. It’s crunchy in the right places, made with bolognese, and the layers are so soft they can barely stay in one place. And, the dish is served in a pool of arrabbiata tomato sauce that is a true highlight. It’ll give you something to write home about, that’s for sure. I highly recommend sharing this with a friend so you have room for other delights.

Take the calamari curly fries ($15). Thin pieces of fried calamari are mixed in with a mountain of curly fries that has horseradish mayo slathered on top. Eat a fry and a piece of calamari at the same time for best results.

Adding corn in unexpected places is one of the best things a restaurant can do. Ricotta dumplings ($18) are served in a bowl with just enough alfredo and corn sauce. The dumplings are small in size but dense enough for a real bite. Consider this a light dish before your lasagna arrives.

Umarell made me want to return as soon as possible by doing one thing: delivering food to tables. Every time a new dish passed by in the hands of a waiter, I turned into a 

. My eyes got wide and I’d ask my fellow diners what they ordered. Based on this alone, I’ll be ordering the gigantic chicken parm sandwich, chicken francese pasta, and the tiramisu next time I visit.

Hyde Park Now Home to a Huge Piece of Lasagna You Need To Try

Ruvani de Silva

Something very special is coming to Central Texas this weekend. Zwanze Day, a biennial, global celebration of the traditional Belgian gueuze and lambic beer styles put on by Belgium's Cantillon Brewing, is taking over Johnson City.

Zwanze Day, which is on Saturday, is at once a little nod to the importance of Belgian gueuze and lambic beers, and also a bit of fun. “Zwanze” is the local Brussels term for sarcastic humor. Cantillon is releasing a special experimental beer that playfully riffs on their classic styles, limiting its availability to a small selection of hand-picked locations worldwide where the beers will be tapped at the same time (2 p.m. for us) for maximum dramatic effect.

 is one of the participating locations for the 17th annual Zwanze Day. The event runs noon to midnight and 

. The day will include a vinyl DJ, themed cocktails, food pop-ups, and other treats.

Nestled into a beautifully restored 19th century building just off Johnson City square, Nice N Easy is the brainchild of couples Garret Crowell and Adrienne Ballou and Matt and Margot Piper, who met through previous roles at Jester King Brewery. The bar opened in 2021 after two years of renovations.

The team took great care in creating a drinking space with a “desert-adjacent” aesthetic, highlighting original details like handmade terra cotta architectural brick from D’Hanis Brick & Tile Company in San Antonio and thin brick from Texas-based Elgin Butler. Bullet holes from the building’s rough-and-ready history remain visible.

Nice N Easy’s emphasis on slow, relaxed quality has built up a steady following of locals, visitors, and savvy Austinites happy to make the trip out of town for their expertly curated drinks list, including Matt Piper’s bewitching bespoke cocktails and beers and wines from Crowell’s Yokefellow Beer and Ballou’s Lightsome Wines. As a true barperson’s bar exuding unfussed quality, Nice N Easy is a natural fit for Zwanze Day, one of the most famous and highly curated events in international beer.

As the last lambic brewery in Brussels and dating back to 1900, Cantillon take their role as lambic-gueuze ambassadors seriously with their own museum and guided tours and tastings to preserve the historic culture of Belgian spontaneously fermented and blended beers.

At Nice N Easy, the news that they were chosen as the only Texas venue included in the project is still sinking in.

“It honestly seemed a bit like a pipe dream until Cantillon officially announced 

 and we happily saw Nice N Easy listed in alphabetical order,” said co-owner Matt Piper.

Nice N Easy’s selection also reflects their collective ethos and combined experience, with the owners having been involved in hosting previous Zwanze Day events at Jester King and Crowell and Ballou gaining advice and inspiration from Cantillon’s Jean Van Roy while developing Jester King’s original Spon series, the Texas Hill Country’s version of spontaneous beer, back in the early 2010s.

“Hosting Zwanze Day was always a cool idea in the back of our minds, but we never realistically thought that dream would come to fruition. What a privilege,” Matt Piper said.

This year’s list of 70 venues across 22 countries reads like a who’s who of craft beer cool:

Wellington, New Zealand’s Garage Project Wild Workshop

Nice N Easy’s inclusion in Zwanze Day puts the little Hill Country bar on a very exclusive map, and for those who haven’t visited yet, offers a very exciting opportunity to take part in one heck of a party.

“We’re most excited about the camaraderie and enthusiasm of the event as a whole, especially since the beer industry seems to be experiencing a tough go of it right now. Beer is all about community and carving out time to enjoy it with friends. Zwanze Day facilitates this by bringing people together in a quirky way,” Matt Piper said.

Where To Celebrate Zwanze Day Just an Hour Outside of Austin

Hamburgers are the perfect food. They work in every season, are a divine mix of veggies, sauces, cheese, and bread, and are just plain fun to eat.

. To keep your burger habit going, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite deals in town:

Do you ever dream about a burger? No? That just means you haven’t yet tried 

the smashburgesa at Bar Toti, off of Manor Road

. The burger comes with two wagyu beef patties, American cheese, griddled ham, chipotle mayo, and escabeche relish. It’s so comforting to eat and just $8 during happy hour, which runs all day on Monday and 5-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

. On Wednesdays starting at 5 p.m., you can get a burger, fries, and a mini Spaghett or cosmopolitan for $15. The pickles on the burger have a great crunch to them, and you’ll have a blast with the tiny drink glass they bring out for you!

, you already know I’m a fan of the cheeseburger and shoestring fries at Clark’s Oyster Bar in Clarksville. The burger, which is 

, is perfectly juicy and half off during happy hour, Monday through Friday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sour Duck Market in East Austin has some of the best burgers around — they come with pimento cheese and are on challah buns. During the restaurant’s 

, you can get a single-patty burger for $6 or a double patty for $9. Finish off your meal with a $3 soft serve sundae.

Much can be said about downtown Austin’s dining options. Too few exist, many are too expensive, and who can find a parking spot? But if you happen to find yourself downtown, pop into Bill’s Oyster for its daily 

 The burger, which is usually $21, is $10 during happy hour and bottles of wine are 50% off.

Lots of local restaurants have great burger deals!

The Best Burger Deals in Austin

Passover starts tomorrow, y’all, and if you’re behind on prep like this writer is, this is the perfect guide for you:

, has lots of flourless options for Passover, including: Coconut macaroons, caramel matzo, flourless chocolate cake, flourless chocolate cupcakes, and a Passover dessert box. The treats are available April 1-9 and 

Pick up Matzo Ball Soup and Brisket at Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen

Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen, 5811 Manor Road, has everything you need for a Passover celebration. Matzo ball soup, brisket, egg salad, 

 for pick-up or dining in. You can also get the $84 family style meal which includes: 1.5 pounds of barbecue, three pints of sides, house pickles, and six slices of bread. I’m sure you could skip the bread if you want!

If you don’t feel like cooking this year, Whole Foods 

. A vat of matzo ball soup, or 52 ounces, will run you just $14.99. The chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons, which are $10.99, look incredible.

The H-E-B grocery store at 7015 Village Center Drive near the Jewish Community Center in 

Passover destination if you plan on cooking everything yourself this year! They usually have lots of matzo, and other Kosher-for-Passover finds like matzo meal, matzo ball soup mix, horseradish, gefilte fish, and coconut macaroons.

I don’t know about y’all, but the minute Passover ends, I want a bagel. People who keep Passover don’t eat leavened bread during the 

If you still haven’t found your bagel spot in Austin, here’s a few to try:

A photo of Malcolm in his matzo bandana to go:

Your Guide to Passover 2026 in Austin

, and if you’re looking to go out to celebrate, we’ve got you covered:

Aba Austin along South Congress Avenue is offering up 

. The brunch includes spring frittatas with lump crab.

Both Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille locations, at the Domain and downtown, have a couple of Easter specials on the menu. 

Preorders are open for a $149 to-go family Easter meal

 that includes a ham, soup or salad, whipped potatoes, and green beans. You could also visit the restaurant on April 5 for the same meal at $49 per person.

Starting at 3 p.m. on Easter Sunday, Zanzibar is offering a Hoppy Hour that includes $20 sangria pitches, $10 rum punch, and $2 off draft beer. A bunny petting zoo will also be available at the downtown bar. 

You can get two gallons of freshly brewed tea for $12 from HTeaO, which has locations in Austin, Round Rock, Kyle, and more, April 2-4 for Easter. More than 20 tea flavors are available and no preorders are required.

If you’re looking for dessert, try Abby Jane Bakeshop in Dripping Springs. 

 until April 1 for the bakery’s hot cross buns, carrot cake, and lamb cake.

Where To Eat on Easter 2026 in Austin

. Lucky for us, Austin has lots of good steak deals to try:

On Tuesday nights, Bar Peached in Clarksville offers 

 while supplies last. And to wash it down, there’s a $7 rotating rosé offered on Tuesday nights, too!

One of Austin’s best barbecue spots does steak, too. Thank goodness! 

 after 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays at Leroy and Lewis Barbecue in Garrison Park.

As if you needed another reason to visit Nickel City in East Austin, the bar has steak nights on the second and fourth Thursday of every month. The deal, which starts at 6 p.m., is great: 

, you get a steak, crinkle cut fries, and an old fashioned or boilermaker drink.

Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile in Govalle is the place to be on Thursday nights. Steak frites, chicken fried steak, martinis, and wine bottles 

Pop into Hillside Farmacy in East Austin on Sunday evenings for the 

. The deal is available starting at 5 p.m. and includes fries and chimichurri sauce. Reservations are recommended.

Austin has a lot of great steak you can find on the cheap!

The Best Steak Deals in Austin

Picking a place to eat in Austin is always a bit of a challenge — too many good restaurants exist! It’s even harder near attractions like the Moody Center.

Here’s a list of five great places to try before you pop into the arena for a concert, sports game, or whatever else they’re cooking up over there:

If Posse East has no fans, I’ve died. I love this dive bar so much and it’s my number one recommendation for a quick bite before a show. Located just 1.1 miles away from the Moody Center, Posse East is a nice spot to grab a burger, cheese fries, a beer, or nachos. Pro tip: If you don’t mind a walk, Posse East has lots of street parking you can nab before walking to the arena.

Looking for something a little fancier? Try Salty Sow. The restaurant is less than a mile (0.8 miles) away from the Moody Center and has a heavenly menu made up of Southern comfort food including biscuits, fried chicken, cheese grits, and more. Fun fact: Former first lady Michelle Obama 

Ah, an Austin classic. Scholz Garten has been around since 1866 and is just half a mile away from the Moody Center. Grab a big pretzel and German bratwurst to fuel up for your night out. Please report back on which pretzel condiment you liked best: Bier cheese, garlic butter, or Dusseldorf mustard.

If you close your eyes and point at the Patrizi’s menu, you’ll end up with something delicious no matter what. The pasta food truck is located inside The VORTEX on Manor Road, just 1.3 miles from the Moody Center. The cacio e pepe (add pancetta) is worth the trip alone.

This spot is the farthest away from the Moody Center (a whole 2 miles) on this list. But you’ll be glad you made the trek. KG BBQ, which is headed by Pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh, offers Texas barbecue with Egyptian and Middle Eastern twists. 

the barbecue joint is open until 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

Lots of great restaurants are near the Moody Center!

Where To Eat Before a Show at the Moody Center

Austin’s dining scene has been off to a busy start in 2026. Here’s what’s new:

Cocktail bar Sweet Sensi Lounge opened a block south of Paramount Theatre 

. The bar’s menu includes CBD products, brownie flights, and tacos.

 The shop is currently serving pancake syrup lattes.

Ēma, a Mediterranean restaurant serving small plates, opened at the Domain 

Hokkaisan Japanese grocery store downtown opened an Omakase experience in its upstairs dining room at the 

. Omakase is available every other Friday for $69.

 for its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in early December and expanded dining hours in January. Kua curry beef ribs, creamy curry crab, and killer noodles are all on the menu.

 in downtown Austin. The Italian restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and has pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and more on its menu.

Parley is a new bar in East Austin that opened 

High Road DelicaTexan opened in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood 

. Menu items include everything from coffee and a breakfast hot dog to mocktails and sandwiches.

Restaurant François, a French-American restaurant, opened downtown 

Italian bakery Ciccio Bomba opened inside Fareground downtown in November. The bakery is 

VanHorn’s is a steakhouse serving oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster, New York strips, and more at its location downtown. The restaurant opened in November.

Kappo Kappo serves an 11-course tasting menu of French and Japanese dishes. The downtown restaurant 

Located inside the Paseo apartment complex on Rainey Street, Amaya opened 

. The restaurant offers Mediterranean favorites like hummus and falafel.

Konbini opened behind papercut cocktail bar in East Austin in mid-November. The restaurant offers nigiri and crudos, and is open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Iconic coffee shop Jo’s Coffee opened a new location in West Campus this month.

This new cafe is from the teams behind Veracruz All Natural and DEE DEE, and is on a 5-acre site that includes a botanical garden, pavilion, and cafe.

Two Mendocino Farms locations opened in Austin in October – one at 

 Offerings include sandwiches and salads.

Bar Fino is the latest addition to Rainey Street, serving up creative cocktails like a tomato and pineapple margarita. The bar 

. The barbecue joint is run by Simon Madera, the restauranter behind La Holly and Taco Flats.

Flourish is part-wine bar and part-plant shop and had its 

 in October. The shop offers memberships that include discounts on plants.

 and the menu includes lots of pastas, fried blue cheese olives, fried mozzarella, and more.

Grá Mór began cranking our delicious coffee, including blueberry crumble lattes and banana cream cold brew, at the 

Nica on 4th is a craft cocktail bar with live jazz music. The bar opened in 

Hokkaisan Japanese Deli Sushi took over the old Royal Blue Grocery location on Congress Avenue in September. It’s the perfect lunch spot to grab sushi rolls, yummy drinks, and fun candy.

. The restaurant’s menu includes items like jerk chicken, roti wraps, and fried plantains.

Popular coffee shop Cenote reopened on East Seventh Street 

 after leaving its spot on Cesar Chavez Street in 

 in August. You can find matcha, espresso, and tea drinks here.

Austin’s Best New Restaurants and Bars

You have two choices when you walk into the 

 on Guadalupe Street: Go left toward rows of washing machines or go right and find yourself in a coffee oasis.

 is just beyond a line of square, silver washing machines inside the laundromat, which is sandwiched between 35th and 37th streets. You don’t want to miss it, even though with no big signage out front, you just might. Finding BRB Coffee was a fluke — I spotted it on a visit with friends to the 37th Street Christmas Lights and made a mental note to return.

The shop itself is situated on its own row of washers and is surrounded by greenery – plants line every surface and light green tables give ample room for conversation or a day camped out on your laptop. The best part? You can sip coffee while you do your laundry, and the shop will even give you a 10% discount.

BRB Coffee opened in April by brothers Youssef and Rony Shabo. The pair originally approached the laundromat about their smart laundry locker system.

“I bring up my design background and (the laundromat owner) was like, ‘Oh, we need your help bringing this place back to life.’ And I told him, ‘We’re very passionate about coffee,’” Youssef Shabo

The menu started with just baklava, but with encouragement from the laundromat owner to sell Turkish coffee, the business expanded.

The menu now includes classics like lattes, drip coffee, iced tea, matcha lattes, and more. Speciality drinks like Turkish coffee, velvet pistachio coffee, and espresso tonics are also available.

I sipped on my regular iced latte with a splash of vanilla while washing machines quietly whirred against the hissing sound of an espresso machine. The espresso is and tastes strong. It was just what you want: Not too sweet, special enough to spend $5 on, and tasted luxurious. A fresh pistachio baklava on the side didn’t hurt, either.

The shop hosts live music events, and while I visited on a quiet morning where regulars stopped in with their dogs and clacked on their computers, it seems like an ideal, Austin venue. It’s a little weird, a little small, and community focused. Perfect!