If you’re spending a few days in Austin or you’re planning your next date night, you might want to check out my list of 5 outstanding places for patio dining near the Capitol.
One of the very best, most wonderful and amazing things about the Texas Hill Country is the ease with which we enjoy dining outside. Morning, noon and night for almost three-fourths of the year, people eat on the patio, on a balcony or on a blanket at a park.
People say that’s because of the bats.
The bats eat the flies. At least that’s what they told me when I clandestinely, quietly asked, “Where are all the flies?” I didn’t want those little lovers of all things horse-hide to hear me mention their absence, for fear they would suddenly appear.
I mean, here’s the thing. We did bring a flyswatter on the moving truck, and I vividly remember what it looks like. After all, it had lived atop my refrigerator for like 15 years or so. But I literally don’t know what happened to it. Maybe I threw it away or gave it to charity. Either way, I haven’t missed it. Haven’t.Even.Needed.It.
Frankly, I just realized that I had flat forgotten about the yellow-square-shaped-plastic-mesh thing with its long wire handle until I started writing this blog post!
Speaking of the blog post … let’s get back to that, shall we?
Some of you are probably begging me right about now to stop before I jinx the whole no-fly-zone thing by drawing so much attention to it, for crying out loud.
Bob’s Steak and Chop House Upper Level Patio at 301 Lavaca Street
301 Lavaca Street
There are so many greats, but Bob’s rooftop patio is my favorite place for outside dining in downtown Austin. Because of its inconspicuous exterior, you could walk right past this acclaimed restaurant without even noticing it. So keep the address in your head and look for Bob’s on the corner of Lavaca and 3rd. I think you’ll love it.
Happy hour choices are fantastic (steak skewers), but the full menu is also available. I love the view, the service, the music, the misting fans, on many occasions, Bob’s special carrot, and on rare occasions, the bread pudding. Yum! To make a reservation, click here.
Caroline at 612 Congress Avenue
Just a little over a stone’s throw from the Capitol Building, on the corner of 6th and Congress, is a place of which I will never tire. You can certainly dine here at night, but if you can enjoy brunch in this outdoor space, my friends, it will be all the better. Chicken and waffles maybe?
Corner Restaurant at 112 E. 2nd Street
According to the people who know, there are 124,800 people working in downtown Austin. According to me and my coworkers, they should, each and every one, take the opportunity to enjoy a chopped salad outside at the Corner at least once in their taunting-traffic lives. Yep, once the server brings out that cylinder of salad-y goodness, flips it over into your big white bowl, you will have immediately forgotten all about the cars all backed up on I-35. And Mopac. Well, ok, maybe just the ones on I-35. 
Gloria’s Latin Cuisine at 300 W. 6th Street
(Photo courtesy yelp.com)
Three Things I Love About Living in Austin - Austin Over Fifty
September 16, 2018 at 2:24 pm[…] you know. I NEVER tire of the view of the Capitol Building, the coffee on Congress Avenue, or the restaurants within walking distance on this historic […]
What We Did Last Weekend in Austin - Austin Over Fifty
March 28, 2018 at 4:58 pm[…] Bass Concert Hall, she invited me to take his ticket. I walked a few blocks from our apartment to Caroline, where Jana and I met for dinner before the play. We celebrated her birthday with matching plates […]