2 Best Restaurants in Austin, Texas

A tried-and-true destination for homemade Indian cuisine, Clay Pit has developed a devoted following in Austin since 1998. Wash down some of their signature curried mussels with garlic and red wine sauce with one of their sweet lassi drinks. The historic (and maybe haunted) Bertram Building (a favorite on downtown ghost tours) is romantic and stately and just a few blocks from the Capitol, so lunch crowds attract everyone from state workers to tourists. 

This convenience store, café, and neighborhood pub has been a Travis Heights hallmark since the 1980s. A long shotgun bar, boasting 72 taps of local and imported beers, greets diners upon entrance, with a range of daily chalkboard specials advertised above. Diverse curry options (try the butter bourbon chicken) have a cult following. The adjacent market offers a variety of local and organic groceries, including vegan fare and six-packs of specialty brews.