I have been assigned the momentous task of sharing some of Austin’s best restaurants with you all. This is at once a delightful and an impossible task. Austin does food well and I love talking about it–so much so that I hardly know where to begin. The town holds strong to its belief in small/locally owned businesses and because of this you will find a plethora of home-grown and lovingly run restaurants that serve up unique and fabulous food. Some of the ubiquitous chains do exist (Chili’s, Applebee’s, etc.), but, you need never visit them and most Austinites don’t. We do have some of our very own original chains, like Thundercloud Subs and Amy’s Ice Cream and several really big chains have originated out of Austin–Whole Foods and Schlotskey’s come to mind.

Austin is located in the center of Texas. Because of this, it is influenced by many different cuisines: Southwestern flare from the west, down home Southern cooking from the east, interior Mexican and TexMex from the south. And, of course, being in Texas–you get a lot of great BBQ. Rather than go through a list of restaurants, several feet long, as I was originally inclined to do–I thought I would make it easier on everyone and just pick one restaurant from each of the above categories. This by no means reflects the wide variety and sheer number of quality restaurants in Austin–but, it does share some highlights, not to be missed, in a town known for its food. So here they are:

Southern food: Hyde Park Bar and Grill. This restaurant resides in an old charming house in Hyde Park–a lovely and laid back neighborhood in north/central Austin. There is a rotating display of local artwork on the walls and a great bar. You can order fried catfish and cornbread or rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes. They are famous for their hand-cut peppered fries with a “top secret” dipping sauce. They also make my very favorite dessert in the world–Won Kim’s Peach Pudding. This is a soft cake with fresh peaches that is served warm and covered in Devonshire cream. Heavenly! If that doesn’t appeal to you, you can always walk next door and get gelato and an espresso at La Dolce Vita.

Southwestern: Castle Hill Cafe. Their menu encompasses a wide range of cuisine, but, has a decidedly southwestern flare. I love to choose from their extensive list of tasty salads. They have one with green chile, corn relish, and homemade blue corn empanadas. Not your typical salad! They also have an extensive wine list, with many Texas wines. I have spotted many of Austin’s local celebrities dining there–including our ex-governor, Ann Richards.

Interior Mexican: Fonda San Miguel. This place is truly exceptional. There is a beautiful plant-filled atrium with tucked away couches that make you feel as if you are in the jungles of Mexico. It even has a large talking parrot! The dining room has the feel of an old Mexican hacienda with dark intricately carved chairs and saltillo tile floors. They serve excellent margaritas and focus on slow-cooked moles and other sauces, tender meats and seafood, and smoky chile rellenos. Try their cajete for dessert (caramel made with goat’s milk) that is served with vanilla ice cream and crepes.

TexMex: Matt’s El Rancho. I can’t say it has the very best Mexican food in Austin–it would be impossible to pick just one. But, it is up there, and the atmosphere makes up for the rest. Many Austin families have made Matt’s their Sunday dinner tradition. Matt, the owner, was a Mexican boxer and several generations of his family have run the restaurant. The fajitas, brisket tacos, and homemade tortillas here are a gustatory delight. Plus, you have mariachi bands, large open rooms with bright colors, and a back patio with a large fountain. The fountain is a huge hit with the kids as is the face painting, which is sometimes available. Kids can be entertained while you wait for your table–there usually is a bit of a wait here.

BBQ: House Park. Texas has its own unique version of BBQ, focusing on delicious smoked meats and signature sauces. Every establishment has their own, slightly different sauce. Most people find their favorites and stick to them. My personal favorite (besides the Salt Lick, which is a ways out of town) is House Park. It is a little smoky dive, several miles from downtown and is only opened from 11-2, on weekdays. But, it is worth making the effort to get to for lunch. There is a sign out front that says, “Need no teef to eat my beef”. As disgusting as this may sound…the meat truly is, falling off the bone, tender. The smokers out back are running ’round the clock and you can taste this quality in the beef. While waiting on your food (and you don’t wait long)–take a look at all the local news clippings and pictures littering the walls. They go back a long time and give you a brief glimpse into the Austin of “yester year”….or just grab a newspaper and catch up on current news, like the chinese earthquake or the new Blackberry Bold. It will all seem very far away in this little dive.

Phewww. I did it. It was a hard task–I have left so many good places out. But, it’s a place to start. One thing you can count on–if you visit Austin, Texas, you will leave fat, full, and happy!

What are some of your favorite local restaurants?

From guest blogger, Marsha Takeda-Morrison, of Sweatpantsmom.

My husband and I have never been known as ‘plan ahead’ kind of people. We’re usually the ones who breeze into town without hotel reservations and then try to explain to our kids that we’ll have to keep driving for another two hours because who knew there’d be a Tupperware convention hogging all the rooms?

So Valentine’s Day has always posed a problem – without reservations and some stealth planning skills you’re likely to be stuck spending the night in a truck stop off Highway 5. (I realize that may scream romance to some of you, but try and keep that to yourselves.)

Which is why we love the W Hotel. Reservations are recommended, but, its location in a residential area on the edge of Westwood Village means it isn’t as crowded as some other high-profile L.A. hotels. Still, it’s hip enough to attract the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Reese Witherspoon and Britney Spears, who, coincidentally was recently hospitalized at the UCLA Medical Center psych ward which is a short walk from the W. File that under ‘Fascinating Travel Trivia.’

Getting away for a romantic, kid-free weekend is rare, and I like the experience to be as adult as possible; no child-latches on the toilet and nothing resembling a chicken nugget on the room service menu. The W fits the bill – it’s sleek and modern, and the rooms definitely not kid-friendly; glass tables with sharp edges and even condoms for sale in the mini-bar. That’s right – I like my hotels begging for a visit from Child Protective Services.

The W has one of the most stylish bars in the city, Whiskey Blue which is owned by Rande Gerber (Mr. Cindy Crawford!) On our last visit my husband and I lounged here, sipping martinis and snacking on calamari in the late afternoon. When we returned from dinner the place was packed – it’s a big late-night hangout for the Hollywood scene. But we pushed right past the bouncers by flashing our room key – you don’t have to be Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie if you’ve got that little piece of plastic with the magnetic strip.

Although the W also boasts a first-class restaurant, there are three excellent establishments within walking distance: The Palamino, Napa Valley Grille and my favorite sushi bar, Tengu. Order the drink made with mint, cucumber and vodka and it’ll be your favorite place, too.

Breakfast at the W is served poolside and is incredible, but if you’re willing to drive for fifteen minutes you’ll arrive at one of the most popular breakfast spots in the city: Broadway Deli on the Third Street Promenade. I swear they have French Toast the size of a doormat. And excellent coffee, which for me is the perfect ending to a romantic weekend.

The best part? With Valentine’s Day only forty-eight hours away I still see plenty of rooms available on the W online site. But better hurry, before the Tupperware convention gets here.

What is your favorite last-minute Valentine’s plan? We promise if you share we won’t all try to make reservations!