Austin’s restaurant scene features some of the best barbecue, chicken-fried steak, and Margaritas in the South, but also much more, said Jon Paul Buchmeyer in Bon Appétit. It’s particularly a draw for the “eco-minded” eater: Several eateries in Texas’ music-loving capital have embraced “local organic produce and all-natural Texas meats.”
Wink Restaurant
What this “intimate” establishment lacks in size it makes up for in service. The menu changes frequently, depending on availability from local purveyors, but typical options range from a salad of B5 Farms’ heirloom tomatoes to a Texas Hill Country quail that’s “roasted to perfection.” 1014 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite E, (512) 482-8868, Winkrestaurant.com
The Mighty Cone
Cone-shaped dishes are the focus here. Grass-fed venison comes in a “cone-shaped tortilla” with mango-jalapeño slaw. The vegetarian-friendly “almond- and sesame seed–encrusted avocado cone,” spiked with chili flakes, is equally good. 1600 S. Congress Ave., (512) 383-9609, Mightycone.com
Whole Foods Market
The 80,000-square-foot flagship store of this chain is the place to stop for all the “latest culinary shopping trends.” Sign up for a cooking lesson with a local chef or plan a picnic at nearby Lady Bird Lake, bringing along “fresh Texas peaches, local Pure Luck Farm goat cheese, and Flat Creek Estate’s ‘Super Texan’ Sangiovese.” 525 N. Lamar Blvd., (512) 476-1206, Wholefoodsmarket.com
