Austin Texas Originals
Real EstateIt’s the joke around Austin that no one is really born and raised here; it’s just a great place to end. But when it comes to the restaurant business, there are some unmistakable Austin originals. Here’s a sampling of some of the restaurants that keep Austin weird and well-fed.
cabin burgers
The Art Deco architecture of this West Sixth Street restaurant dates back to 1939. Homer Hut Hutson opened Hut’s Hamburgers in 1969 and has been going strong ever since. Hut’s does burgers like Austin does live music: much of it with unusual twists on great basics. Among the 20 different types of burgers are All-American Buddy Holly and Fats Domino.
Hyde Park Bar and Grill
The Big Fork is one of those distinctive and quirky Austin landmarks. University of Texas alumnus Bick Brown opened Hyde Park Bar & Grill in 1982 in a modern pink house on Duval Street. And he really does have a huge fork as part of his name. The restaurant not only showcases high-quality cuisine, but also the work of local artists adorns the walls. The restaurant is prized in particular for its unique French fries and wide range of wines by the glass.
Magnolia Coffee
Magnolia Cafe has the motto “Everybody knows. Everybody goes.” This seems fitting for this restaurant that brings its own whimsical glamor to breakfast food. From the “Sorry, We’re Open” sign to the promise of 24/8 service, Magnolia Cafe is utterly Austin. People line up at the doors throughout the day at both locations for delicious comfort food.
Schlotzsky’s
This small sandwich shop with locations around the world started in Austin. Yes, a chain of restaurants around the world would normally go against the grain that gives Austin its originality, but Schlotzsky’s has been doing something special with sandwiches since 1971. There’s something deliciously unique about sourdough bread oozing with cheese that makes this place worthy of its original Austin listing.
shady grove
Not many restaurants claim to resemble a state park built in the 1940s, but that’s just what you get at Shady Grove on Barton Springs Road. Complete with its cheesy stone building and literal Airstream trailer camp, Shady Grove does its part to keep Austin weird. There’s actually more seating under the shade of pecan trees on the outdoor patio than inside this circa-1992 restaurant.
Shady Grove has it all, from fabulous food to live music. There’s the weekly Unplugged at the Grove concert series and classics like chili cheese fries that make Shady Grove a place you have to experience to fully appreciate. Unlike other Austin originals that have been replicated elsewhere, there is only one Shady Grove location. Some magic just can’t be duplicated.
by Threadgill
This wholesome home cooking restaurant began as a country music service station in 1933. Only in Austin, and only with the hippies at Threadgill’s inviting to sing along with their country music singers, was Janis Joplin able to hone her style and voice to blur the lines between country and rock. music. And there’s the food. Threadgill’s opened as a restaurant in 1981 and serves Southern cuisine with a healthy Austin twist.