Austin's Best Family-Friendly Dining 2008

The outdoor bar over Lake Austin is the place to be at this popular beach-themed restaurant.

Reviews:

• “Best family friendly place? Are you kidding me?”
• “Great experience”
• “Worst Dining Experience of my Life”
• “Only worthwhile if you can sit outside”
• “Mediocre food, stink factor”

Tips: Upon arrival, put your name on the list at the door and get a beeper to let you know when your table’s ready. Pass the time at the patio bar.

Hula Hut

Lively neighborhood restaurant serves up Mexican and Tex-Mex with the authentic colorful feel of a traditional border cafe.

Reviews:

• “bad customer service, do not cater to parties over 4 people & all must be there at the same time, before seated.”
• “My favorite restaurant”
• “Margaritaville”
• “Poor Customer Service/Descent Food”
• “Great food, drinks and atmosphere”

Tips: Reservations are accepted every day except Fridays.

Rio Grande Tex Mex

Texas-sized fish, chicken and steak barbecue platters served to hungry locals in a cabin-in-the-woods setting.

Reviews:

• “Not so much…”
• “It was alright…good to go to now and then …sure!”
• “Excellent sandwich bread”
• “seating is awful”
• “GOOD FOOD – needs organization”

Tips: Sit outside and check out the view of Hill Country or watch the sunset.

The County Line On The Hill or email The County Line On The Hill

A destination grocery store and cafe that’s popular with tourists and locals, young and old.

Reviews:

• “Not as good at is used to be.”
• “A Great Place I Ill Never Get Tired Of”
• “good place for all”
• “Too much hype”
• “Wedding Flowers”

Tips: The cafe presents free, live music Friday and Sunday nights. Arrive early during fall and winter for limited, enclosed-patio seating.

Central Market

Get cozy with friends and family and enjoy an Italian feast at this loved-by-locals restaurant.

Reviews:

• “Worst dining service experience ever.”
• “Fun”
• “Don’t Order Take Out!”
• “Terrible management, mediocre food, good server”
• “Fun Place, Great Food”

Tips: If you have a large party, reserve the circular “Pope’s Table.” Special occasion? Request the kitchen table, where diner’s can watch all the behind-the-scenes restaurant action.

Buca di Beppo or email Buca di Beppo

A family style Italian grill with traditional pastas, freshly baked 15-layer lasagna and chicken parmigiana.

Reviews:

• “Bad Italian”
• “chec – boy – r – dee is better”
• “TAKE OUT SPAGHETTI”
• “Stouffers makes better lasagne”
• “This Is The Best In Austin”

Tips: To make the meal even tastier, pile your plate high with the unlimited salad and fresh-baked sourdough bread.

Spaghetti Warehouse

This Lamar Boulevard restaurant and bar is a favorite among Austin’s loyal Tex-Mex lovers.

Reviews:

• “Horrible service, horrible wait, and horrible food!!”
• “Service was horrible and the food was close behind it.”
• “Great authentic Tex/Mex”
• “Food was disgusting”
• “TASTELESS MEXICAN FOOD!”

Tips: Though there are three large dining rooms and a huge outdoor patio, expect a long wait on the weekends, when the crowds swell exponentially.

Matt’s El Rancho

Burgers and wood-fired pizzas with pizzazz.

Reviews:

• “Veggie Burgers with Great Toppings”
• “The Joint you hang out after classes”
• “50’s like Diner”
• “yay for diner food done perfectly”
• “Tasty burgers and the best shake ever.”

Tips: Sodas are all-you-can-drink from a self-serve fountain. Shakes are thick and come in a variety of flavors—cookies-and-cream to plain vanilla.

EZ’s Brick Oven and Grill

Good food served at a mellow location surrounded by pecan trees.

Reviews:

• “Fun Place!”
• “Bad service, below average food”
• “Still #1 in our belly!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
• “Overrated, Past it’s prime”
• “Best Chili Cheese Fries Anywhere”

Tips: For 20 weeks starting in April, go Thursday nights for the “Unplugged at the Grove” concert series featuring performances by favorite local musicians. Past performers include Shawn Colvin and Asleep at the Wheel.

Shady Grove

A 24-hour eatery serving quirky versions of classic diner dishes alongside inventive vegetarian fare.

Reviews:

• “New Location, Horrible as ever”
• “The best anything you want, any time you want because, they’re open 24 hrs. a day 7 days a week!”
• “This place smells”
• “Mediocre service”
• “Doesn’t live up to the hype, but it was ok.”

Kerbey Lane Cafe

Burgers, wings, fries, shakes and rings that’ll take you back to a time when nobody cared about fat grams.

Reviews:

• “BEST BURGERS & SHAKES in town”
• “Great little “locally owned” burger joint"
• “Tasty, tasty”
• “YUM!”

Tips: This old-school dive also delivers.

Hill-Bert’s Burgers

Hearty portions of traditional Italian favorites served at an affordable price.

Reviews:

• “Mediocre, over priced Italian food”
• “Fantastic food, Great experience!”
• “Come Eat at the Trough”
• “TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!”
• “Soooooo much fun, and soooo good!”

Tips: Cannoli Joe’s also is open on Sunday’s from 11am to 9pm.

Cannoli Joe’s or email Cannoli Joe’s

A family-oriented cafe serving fast, delicious grilled and fried foods the kids will love.

Reviews:

• “Average”
• “Great Burgers, Great Service”
• “Great Burger!”
• “New look, same food”
• “Wally’s Bangs!”

Wally’s Burger Express

Traditional East Coast pizza pie invades this hip SoCo neighborhood.

Reviews:

• “GREAT EXPERIENCE!! Great food & fast service!!”
• “Pizza is so-so”
• “Very good pizza, may be the best in town but not close to the best I’ve ever had”
• “The White Pizza!!”
• “The Real Deal Pizza”

Tips: Whole pies are only served until 11pm weeknights, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and until 10pm on Sundays.

Home Slice Pizza

Reviews:

• “Darned good greasy burger!”
• “Bad Burger Experience. Get the chili.”
• “Korean Burger?”
• “good no frills burger place”
• “Not sure where these reviews are coming from.”

Burger Tex

Brazilian steakhouse fills guests with savory meat options and delectable side items.

Reviews:

• “if you enjoy churrascarias, you have to try this place”
• “Meat paradise”
• “Great Customer Service "
• “> then an 8oz filet mignon steak within 2 hours of eating time”
• “They will try to charge you 26% gratuity!!!!!!”

Tips: While weekday lunches tend to be filled by business and adult diners, families and larger parties are common on weekends.

Estancia Churrascaria or email Estancia Churrascaria

Casual, dependable Italian featuring thin, crispy New York-style pizzas and fresh homemade pasta.

Reviews:

• “Closed on Memorial Day?”
• “Great Lunch!”
• “My Cloak of invisibility”
• “SMALL Pizzeria – BIG on Taste!”
• “Totally tops pizza parlor”

Tips: Try one of the tasty $5.50 weekday lunch specials from 11am to 2pm. For dinner, have the two-for-one $7.95 veggie pizza special.

Frank & Angie’s Pizzeria

Reviews:

• “I’ve discovered the Hamburger Mecca!!”
• “Family FUN!”
• “One of the best burgers in town…”
• “YUMMY”
• “Great food!”

Phil’s Ice House

Seafood and more seafood abounds at this family-oriented fish house.

Reviews:

• “THE GREATEST SOULFOOD AROUND…”
• “Great comfort food”
• “Great Fried Green Maters”
• “I’ll definitely try this place again.”
• “WOW! WHAT A FIND!!!”

Tips: Catering options range from a large pickup order to a reception for 2000.

Cherry Creek Catfish Co. or email Cherry Creek Catfish Co.