Best Dinner Places to Eat in Lake Austin

"Designed to feel more like a Hill Country ranch than a restaurant, Contigo is just north of much of Austin's action, drawing families on the weekends with kids who love to run around its outdoor space. The steaks and burgers are well worth going out of your way for, as are the cocktails, which are mostly seasonal. You'll feel like a real Austinite here, surrounded by locals from the neighborhood at one of the family-style tables and chatting up the staff that seems to know every anecdote about what's served here and where it comes from."

"Contigo is a choice location just outside of downtown for amazing, well, everything. The completely outdoor rustic eating area is true to Texas and very rancho-chic. The food offerings are farm to table and as such, vary often based on ingredient availability."

"Situated on Anchor Lane just by the Southwest Greenway, the first thing diners notice about Contigo is the fantastic open front and huge outdoor dining area. This is because the ow..."

"1501 S 1st St. | Elizabeth Street Cafe is what one might consider an elevated “Austin-y” experience when it comes to Vietnamese cuisine offerings. The price point is a bit high, but the jovial atmosphere and their creative menu will make you a repeat customer, especially if you enjoy patio dining, inventive craft cocktails, and beautiful dishes that will make an excellent addition to your social media feed. Photo Credit – Elizabeth Street Cafe Facebook"

"While, yes, Vietnamese dishes dominate the menu at this south Austin favorite, breakfast is all about French fare. People can choose from an array of croissants, stuffed French crêpes, beignets and jam, and the house-baked brioche French toast. The restaurant also features daily French macarons available all day long."

"This charming South Austin spot offers French pastries for the morning commute and Vietnamese classics (like noodles and bánh mì) for lunch and dinner. Try the popular bánh cuôn."

"Slices are the easiest and cheapest way to try the New York-style pizza. Bypass the wait for the restaurant and head to the next-door takeout spot that also happens to feature some way-casual dine-in seating."

"At Home Slice, you can get large slices of piping hot New York-style pizza for $4 or less. If you don’t want to wait for a table, grab a to-go slice at More Home Slice and eat it on the curb."

"Get outside, responsibly, and don't forget to get your fill of fresh air. If you've got pizza on the mind, we're open from 11 a.m."

"In recent years, thanks, in large part, to the folks at Peached Tortilla, Austin has become the land of the baroque milkshake, piled high with an absurd abundance of toppings. But this summer, we’re going back to the basics, a classic chocolate malted from Nau’s Enfield Drug, where they’ve been jerkin' soda since 1951. Sit at the counter and pretend you’re an extra in Grease."

"The cafe will be offering two Stay-At-Home Valentine’s Day menus by Chef Kirsten Blessing for pick up or delivery Sunday, Feb. 14th. Order for pick up via goodfoood@34thstreetcafe.com or call 512.415.1752. Orders must be received by Noon, Feb. 10th."

"A local neighborhood over 25 years that has earned its wings!. Neighborhood vibe, eclectic, great food and great service. Lunch is served daily from 11am to 3 pm with counter service."

"at this relaxed dining joint, making 34th Street great even for late starters. This restaurant aims to keep food simple and fresh, and to prove th..."

"Tenten is a new spot downtown that opened just before the entire world changed. And while their dining room has reopened, they’re also doing takeout, with a full menu of sashimi, nigiri, rolls, and even a seven-piece omakase if you want to sit back and let the chef decide. There are also cocktail kits, sake, beer, and wine available."

"501 W Sixth St | Grab some friends and head downtown for an evening of fresh sushi and sashimi, tasty shareable bites and Japanese-inspired cocktails at Austin’s hippest new spot in town. Want to impress your clients?. Make sure and check out the $225 24oz."

"The patio of downtown’s modern Mexican restaurant Comedor is actually a courtyard nestled between the sleek restaurant and the neighboring building. Dig into dishes like the yellowfin tuna in a spicy Texas citrus and watermelon aguachile, and the IG-worthy bone marrow tacos with a Comedor margarita. Available for dine-in, reservations and takeout: toasttab.com/comedor-online"

"Comedor is like that new kid at school who instantly becomes way more popular than you ever will be - but you can't even resent them because they are, in fact, amazing."

"August to December, the University of Texas’ indomitable football team, the Texas Longhorns, play at the top level of college football in the United States, in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. In its time, this member of the Big 12 Conference (the country’s strongest athletic colleges) has taken four national titles and another six that are unclaimed. A team with this kind of pedigree has a stadium to match, at this 100,000+ arena, one of the ten largest stadiums in the world."

"They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that even applies to their football games. Before kickoff, you’ll see the world’s largest Texas flag and Big Bertha, the world’s largest bass drum. Don’t expect a mascot clad in polyester to come out and hype the crowd."

"Austin’s Lake Flato–designed library has already become a city cornerstone, thanks to its community feel and incredible design. Here, gravity-defying bridges and staircases connect the building’s six stories, which include reading rooms, an outdoor rooftop lounge, and a fantastic kids’ wing. Rows of kid lit—everything from board and pop-up books to young adult series—rest alongside educational computer games, an activity room for art projects, toys that encourage interactive play, and reading hours in English, Spanish, and other languages."

"This $126 million, 11 year project resulted in “the library of the future” with floating stair cases, a technology petting zoo, multiple meeting spaces, a 6th floor rooftop garden (available for weddings!) with a view of the lake, and a restaurant (coming soon)."

"The library has a super modern Hogwarts vibe with gorgeous architecture. Libraries are great cowering spaces and the views are also great from here. Address: 710 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701, United States"

"Every year up to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats make their home upon a platform beneath the Congress Ave Bridge, forming the largest urban bat colony in North America. It's become an Austin tradition to sit on the grassy banks of Lady Bird Lake and watch the bats swarm out to feed on an estimated 30,000lb (13,500kg) of insects per night. It looks a lot like a fast-moving, black, chittering river. Don't miss this nightly show; best viewing in August."

"However, if you’re into bats, you can also get to Congress Bridge and see thousands of bats fly out at dusk. If you’re feeling like staying close to downtown Austin but still want an adventure, make sure to go check out the Escape Game. The games last an hour, so it’s a perfect activity that won’t take up too much of your day. And with five unique games to choose from, it’s perfect for any group or member of your crew."

"From their tasty but unconventional quinoa porridge to the hearty waffle sandwich packed with cheese, eggs, bacon and, of course, a generous pour of syrup, there’s always something new and delicious to sink your teeth into. With bright and welcoming interiors, it’s easy to understand why so many people love stopping by Forthright for breakfast. Apart from this, their extensive drink and coffee menu and their breakfast menu are full of classics and modern twists on crowd favorites."

"Breakfast at the downtown restaurant is solid, from the breakfast plate with eggs, breakfast potatoes, and toasted sourdough bread; the chicken and waffles; to the avocado toast. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor patio services, pickup orders can be placed online."

"Lanzhou native Chen takes the plump, knife-cut noodles served in his soup and tosses them with stir-fried ground lamb, the meat’s pungent flavor tempered by subtle notes of peppercorn in the savory, chive-studded dish."

"Chen’s Noodle House and sister restaurant, Chen Z, are open with online ordering available for pickup and delivery. They’ve got the full menu of favorites, including their handmade knife-cut noodles and lamb skewers."

"5 out of 5 stars Restaurants Chinese Westgate. This South Austin eatery offers both traditional Szechuan dishes and a lunch menu of exclusively American Chinese. Dig into specialties like mapo tofu, shrimp and snowpeas, mala chicken, dan dan noodles and crispy pig ears."

"Located in South Austin, Sichuan River offers a range of beef, lamb, poultry, pork, and seafood dishes with traditional sides including fried rice and noodles. No visit to a Sichuan restaurant is complete without trying the mapo tofu. In addition to delicious food, this restaurant also offers bubble tea, yogurt drinks, and smoothies."

"Offering some of the most authentic Chinese food in Austin, this restaurant blends high-quality ingredients with traditional recipes for a truly delicious takeout experience. Choose from a wide range of Chinese specialties including fried rice, noodle, and seafood dishes."