Showing posts with label austin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label austin. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Open for Thanksgiving 2025



This blog post was inspired by my in-laws. They are new parents who are moving into their first home this week, and they mentioned how they wanted to lay low for the holiday and order Thanksgiving "in" this year . That got me brainstorming which restaurants to recommend, and I have to happily say that compared to my research from years past, the number of restaurants open/pre-order options for Thanksgiving is outstanding compared to what it was!

So whether you're tired or bad at cooking, don't want to mess with hosting responsibilities, or just want to chill like my in-laws - whatever the reason - Austin is a great place to recruit the level of help you need.

There is a common trend: BBQ restaurants/pits will usually have an order-ahead option for smoked meats, including whole turkeys; Steakhouses will usually have a dine-in option, with reservations required or highly recommended; and, cafes have dine-in options and same-day call-ahead orders. Grocery stores will be open limited hours, so you can always grab pre-made meals. And of course, Jack-in-the-Box has always been a cult classic over the years b/c it's open 24/7. 

Order Ahead (like right now!) 
**Usually need 48-72 hours advance notice**

Dine-in (Reservations required/recommended) 

  • Jack-in-the-box: 24/7
  • HEB Simple Meals: 6am-12pm
  • Central Market: 8am-2pm
  • Whole Foods: 7am-1pm
  • The Capital Grille

Desserts 

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Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Start Your Day at Day Maker




Day Maker lives up to its name — this vibrant half day cafe is proving to be a hard hitter in Austin's brunch scene.  You won't have to wait until the weekend to try it either. Day Maker serves up tasty breakfast, brunch, and lunch seven days a week.

Brought to you by the team behind Jack Allen's and Salt Traders, this cafe brings serious local culinary chops. The all-star team is composed of owners Jack Gilmore and Tom Kamm, supported by Executive Chef Forrest Briwa, an Austin native that has honed his chops at both Jack Allen's and Salt Traders, Chief Culinary Officer Chris Ten Eyck with years of experience at Jack Allen's, Salt Traders, and Z'Tejas, and Beverage Director David Toby.

Day Maker took over the old IHOP next to Salt Traders and completely transformed the space. It’s now a fun, bright cafe with playful colors, vibrant murals by Team TRUTH, and a welcoming vibe from the staff. There’s a full-service cocktail bar for brunch-goers and a walk-up coffee counter for quick hits — perfect for post-run fuel or grabbing something before heading to Zilker Park.






Executive Chef Forrest Briwa has created an expansive menu, with something for every mood — from classic breakfast favorites to inventive Southern and Cajun twists on brunch staples. Whether you're craving Steak and Eggs, Huevos Rancheros, or something sweet, they’ve got you covered. The coffee and espresso? Delicious. They also serve fresh juices, mocktails, and mimosas, wine, beer, and cocktails for those looking to start their day with a little buzz.


Our waitress was wonderful, and was sure to be mindful of any food allergies or restrictions. Her personal recommendations were the Chorizo Benny, a southern twist on the classic Eggs Benedict, Chicken & Waffles, the Smashburger, and the Bread Pudding French Toast. 

Ultimately, we ended up trying the Breakfast Fried Rice, the Classic Benny, the Lone Star Diner Hash, and the Hangover Enchilada. The Breakfast Fried Rice was savory with the bacon lardons giving it that breakfast feel. The Classic Benny was perfectly prepared, and the onion jam elevated it above just basic. The Lone Star Diner Hash was hearty and we kicked it up with their in-house hot sauce. The Hangover Enchilada was huge and filling, perfect for nursing any hangover wounds. We also shared decadent sweets from the starters menu: the Bread Pudding French Toast and the Maple Bacon Fritters, both which were easily the highlight of the meal. The Bread Pudding French Toast was topped with a rich vanilla mascarpone that was so rich and delicious. And the fritters popped and melted in your mouth, reminding me of something I would eat at the State Fair.

From L to R: 1. Hangover Enchilada
2. The Classic Benny
3. Breakfast Fried Rice
4. Lone Star Diner Hash

We washed it down with some espressos, breakfast shots, and boozy coffee. I have to say their bacon stands out - it is thick, crispy, and not oily and just oh so yummy. In fact, everything was very tasty!


From L to R: 1. Cappuccino, Breakfast Shots and Still a Cowboy
2. Bread Pudding French Toast
3. Maple Bacon Fritters
4. Morning Wood Old Fashioned

Final Verdict: Whether you're brunching after Barton Springs or grabbing a midweek bite, Day Maker is a bright, welcoming spot that delivers great food and good vibes — every single day of the week.

Day Maker Half Day Cafe
1101 S Mopac
Open 7am-3pm, 7 days a week
@daymakeratx


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Friday, September 19, 2025

TropiCafé 🌴

You know I love a good local coffee shop, so when I heard TropiCafé was opening, I had to check it out. 😎

Local Austin Coffee Shop

This cute botanical trailer is a unique coffee shop with a tropical inspired menu. The shining stars are their Signature Drinks - an array of espresso, matcha, and chai drinks. Each signature is based on a tropical flavor (pineapple, banana, guava - to name a few) topped with a delicious and decadent cold foam - move over Soft Top! The tropical flavors might seem like an unusual pairing with their caffeinated counterpart, but the combination really works.

Banana Cold Brew with Banana Cold Foam

My favorite is the Caramel Banana Latte, a banana cold brew with salted caramel cold foam. The cold foam is to-die-for. I’m drooling just typing about it. My husband’s favorite also happens to be the house favorite - the Guava Pie Latte, a Guava cold brew with cream cheese cold foam.

For the not-so-adventurous, they also serve up traditional coffee. Topo refreshers and a few sweet treats round out the menu. They also have seasonal menus, and their Fall one just dropped. I can't to try the Coco-Lantern, a coconut pumpkin spiced latte. If you check them out, let me know what you think in the comments - and be sure to get a photo opp with the banana phone!

Location: 2801 S-I35 (@arthubatx parking lot)
Hours: Wed-Sat 10am-3pm
Follow on IG: @tropicafeatx

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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Vital Farms: The Blue Egg

Tanner and I went to the Barton Creek Farmers Market yesterday, and we found BLUE eggs. I was just mesmerized by the color, but the owner of Vital Farms informed us that the eggs were richer in flavor, and b/c they were pasture-eggs, they were higher in nutrients. We needed eggs anyway, so we picked up a dozen and couldn't wait to try them for breakfast the following morning.


Why are they blue?
Chicken eggs vary in color depending on the hen, typically ranging from bright white to shades of brown and even blue, green, and recently reported purple (found in South Asia)
Source: Wikipedia
The Verdict
The first thing I noticed when I cracked the beautiful blue shell was the dark yellow color of the yolk. According to Vital Farms, they raise their chickens in environments where they might eat wild flowers, herbs, onions and even garlic. This kind of diet causes the yolks to be more pronounced in color and more flavorful. The second thing I noticed was the lack of sulfur I usually smelled when cooking other eggs. I could get used to this. Now for the moment of truth - did they actually taste better? I stuck my fork in a piece of egg white and held it to my mouth. After chewing for a few seconds, I noticed the difference in taste. The lack of sulfur made the egg white taste so delicious (almost like custard). I wanted more. I scooped up the runny yolk and noticed how rich and flavorful it was. I got halfway through my plate, and realized I felt so full. This was unusual, as I was usually still hungry after my egg breakfasts on the weekdays. So, all in all, this was definitely a superior egg. After doing more research, I think that the blue color has nothing to do with the better taste, smell, higher nutrients and fuller feeling. I think all of that can be attributed to the way the chickens are raised (pasture eggs).

There is one catch (isn't there always). The price. At $6/dozen, these are NOT the most affordable eggs. They had regular brown eggs for $5/dozen, and as I said, through my research I don't think the color has any difference in taste. Still, Tanner and I go through 98 eggs (!) in one week, so this doesn't QUITE fit into our budget yet. :) (That would be $45 a week on eggs instead of $15). I'm not sure if they're THAT good. It's definitely a nice treat from time to time, though.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010

Franklin Barbecue: Come Early, Leave Full

Posted by Guest Blogger: Korn on the Koby

I must’ve driven past this place a hundred times during college and never even knew it existed. My co-worker, Jen, so gratefully told me about Franklin BBQ, and I knew I had to try it. After reading the Franklin Barbecue reviews on Yelp, I began foaming at the mouth. Espresso barbecue sauce? Check. Inexpensive? Check. Accepts credit cards? Check mate. I planned to go with my friend Nick, but he felt under the weather leaving me in quite the predicament: I could go by myself or I could wait another day to go. After envisioning how the brisket and pork ribs would taste, the decision was easy. I would go by myself…and go the following day, too.

Come Early

Franklin BBQ is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. But make sure you go early! All of the reviews on Yelp said to, and I’m saying to as well. The line forms fast and is by no means quick. I arrived at 10:55 am on a gloomy day and was luckily the first person in line. However, by the time I had left, the line was already 12 people deep.

Leave Full

Come with a large appetite and prepare to leave full – this plate will fill you up. I got the 2 meat plate: fatty brisket and pork ribs. You could see the brisket glistening – it was a glorious sight. Both the brisket and pork ribs were downright tasty. I tried a sample pork rib while I was waiting to pay, and right then and there I knew I had made an awesome decision. And their espresso barbecue sauce complemented the meat oh so perfectly. The plate also came with my choice of 2 sides. Compared to the barbecue, the sides were just okay. I got the potato salad and cole slaw, but they also have beans as an option. I was completely full when I finished my plate. Any more food would’ve been too much.

2nd Round

My second experience with Franklin Barbecue was just as tasty as the first. However, Franklin won the battle the second time, and I had to throw in the towel and take home leftovers. :)
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