Recently opened hot spots that will undoubtedly become your new favorites.
Photos and text by Silvana Di Ravenna
We Austinites are spoiled, at least when it comes to food options. With so many restaurants and coffee shops to choose from, it’s hard to keep track of the spots worth tasting (and visiting).
Recently, we came across three new additions that stand out due to the quality of their food and drink, their excellent service and their convenient locations, more than enough reasons to add them to your must-try food list!
Our first new favorite is aRoma Italian Kitchen & Bar, a lovely Italian bistro located in South Austin (next to Austin icon the Broken Spoke). As soon as you step inside, you feel welcomed by the elegant yet warm atmosphere and the delicious aromas that emanate from their Neapolitan pizzas and homemade pastas. The menu is delicious and varied. You can choose from an extensive variety of plates that range from simple yet delicate and flavorful salads, to hearty, can’t-get-enough pizzas. These Italian staples are made with real San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella cheese from West Texas cows. It’s a perfect Euro-Texan combination to satisfy even the hardest-to-please palates.
But let’s not forget about aRoma’s handcrafted cocktails and impressive wine list, which are worth a visit on their own. We especially recommend their Nonino Sour, a fun cocktail twist on Peruvian drink Pisco Sour.
Their happy hour is Monday to Friday, 4 to 7 p.m., with half-priced pizza and $1 off wine. It’s incredibly hard to resist, if you ask us.
3403 S. Lamar Blvd., 512.900.8670, aromaitalian.com
If all you want and crave is a satisfying and rich sandwich but are tired of the mediocre and repetitive options out there, the recently opened Snarf’s Sandwiches will save the day with what can only be described as the perfectly made sandwich.
Toasted, scrumptious and packed with mouth-watering ingredients, these oven-toasted subs are not for culinary wimps. The more-than-generous portions include hand-sliced meats and cheeses and Snarf’s own blend of giardiniera peppers, which can be bought in their conveniently located shop near the University of Texas campus.
The superbly crusted-outside-and-soft-inside bread is a creation of owner Jimmy Seidel, who came up with the perfect recipe after some trial and error.
Our favorite sub is the Italian, a salami, pepperoni and mortadella concoction that will leave you in sandwich heaven, guaranteed.
Snarf’s also offers gluten-free bread, fresh salads with homemade dressings and soups. Kid-sized subs and vegetarian options are also available.
2901 Medical Arts St., suite 100, 512.687.2600, eatsnarfs.com
Good quality coffee is hard to find. Good quality coffee and beer with a charming, laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff to match is even harder. But Radio Coffee & Beer manages to have all this and then some.
The newly opened coffee and beer establishment, the brainchild of talented local musician and coffee connoisseur Jack Wilson, is the equivalent of an unassuming and relaxing oasis that also happens to serve coffee, beer and super tasty food (and play occasional live music).
Inside, the cozy cabin-like house feels truly inviting. It’s a perfect spot to catch up with friends, finish reading your favorite novel, or who knows, start writing your own, all while savoring their high-quality Stumptown coffee, local craft beers and the many food options from local favorites such as East Side Pies and Texas French Bread. Outside, the greenhouse structure, which is beautifully lit at night, feels like reason enough to pay them a deserved visit. So if you’ve been looking for a neighborhood destination with an authentic old-Austin feel, bring your dog, your kids or your best friends and experience Radio Coffee & Beer for yourself. We know you’ll be back.
4208 Manchaca Road, 512.394.7844, radiocoffeeandbeer.com
COMING SOON!
Dang Bánh Mì, the newest Vietnamese restaurant in Austin opens July 21, and features traditional bánh mì from a 100-year-old Vietnamese family recipe. Owner Dave Paul has been working on Dang’s concept for more than 10 years, perfecting every aspect of their delectable menu.
Must-try dishes include the char-siu chicken banh mi with homemade pâté, mint, cilantro, cucumber, white onion, lime, pickled-in-house papaya and carrots, a fried egg and fresh baked bread; and the Vietnamese bún with rice vermicelli noodles, diced cucumber, sprouts, green onions, mint, basil, cilantro, fried shallots, roasted peanuts, romaine and pickled-in-house papaya and carrots.
Finally, the Asian food scene is coming out in a big way in Austin.
9070 Research Blvd., suite 303, 512.454.3264, dangbanhmi.com
