What can I say? Brewer's Table surpassed my expectations on so many levels that I have to recommend them to anyone that wants a great place to eat. It's a beautiful and warm space that just begs people to hang out with friends and enjoy a good meal together.

To begin with ,they have their own lineup of in-house brews that are amazing. Coming from someone who is admittedly more into cocktails than beers, the ones that I tried are wonderfully balanced and beers that I could choose over a cocktail. They also have a selection of local beers that they curate in addition to their own blends, so if you like beer, you need to come here.

The food is immaculate and the menu changes with the seasons. They collaborate with local growers to constantly get fresh ingredients and they use their beer making experience to bring even more to the food. Their love of brewing is echoed in some of their dishes but not to the point of becoming the focal point. It's an inspiration to highlight the food but not meant to be the star of the show.

I'll admit when I first heard of the concept I was a bit skeptical since I've been to so many other restaurants with beer-inspired menus that ended up being little more than beer-battered fish. That is NOT what Brewer's Table is.

Loro is the long-awaited brainchild of two of Austin's most celebrated chefs: Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole. Think of the best barbecue you've ever tasted and throw in amazing Asian influences and you get the stellar food at Loro.

The interior is warm and inviting and the vibe is casual, making it a perfect place to hangout with friends. While I avoid being outside during the hottest parts of the year, sitting outside under the trees is a must.

I personally prefer to go there for lunch because the crowds aren't quite as heavy. In fact if you get there off-peak you'll probably won't have a problem walking in and grabbing a table. BUT... they only serve the brisket plate at dinner so get there early for dinner service so you won't have a wait.

In my opinion, Emmer & Rye is one of the top restaurants in Austin. They Take the concept of farm-to-table to heart and their constantly changing menu is a testament to that commitment. Their interpretations of modern American cuisine are some of the best I've ever had and if you love good food, you owe it to yourself to stop here.

While it's not always necessary, I would recommend getting a reservation in advance. It can get full, especially on the weekends at peak dinner times. It's worth it though. So go ahead and make that reservation.

Here's a big tip for the pro foodies out there: save room for dim sum. When you get there, you'll order your savory courses first and they'll come out as they're ready. But while you're waiting, the dim sum carts will occasionally stop by your table. You don't want to miss these options but if you're not careful you're going to go way overboard. I can say from personal experience that we maybe ordered too much before the dim sum came around. 

That didn't stop us from eating everything though. Definitely not.

I feel fairly confident when I say that Otoko may be my favorite meal that I've had. This Japanese Omakase experience is amazing from start to finish and you can easily see the love that chef Yoshi Okai brings to the food.

This gem is hidden away in the South Congress Hotel and as soon as you walk in, the experience begins. Get there early and enjoy some cocktails at the neighboring Watertrade, one of my favorite cocktail bars I've been to. Don't go too crazy with the stellar drinks, though, because the food deserves your rapt attention.

When you're taken to the 12-seat dining area, take in the beautiful and pristine area. The team there is meticulous in their preparation and everything is finely tuned to create great dishes in every course.

This is the best sushi that I've ever experienced and you'd be hard pressed to find better. Plus, if you're a fan of uni, then you're going to love it here.

You do need to get tickets very far in advance and this isn't an inexpensive meal by any stretch of imagination. But if you're looking for something special, this is it. And don't pass by the sake pairing. The omakase sushi dinners are on Wednesday while the traditional Kaiseki dinners are Thursday through Saturday.

As an added tip, on the first Thursday of each month they mix things up a bit. You can order food at Watertrade from the rest of the team for a fraction of the price and the quality is just as good. I'm honestly shocked I'm sharing this information because I don't want it to get too busy, but we're all friends here. Go for it.

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the fact Manana is within walking distance doesn't give it a distinct advantage when it comes to listing my favorite spots. The good news is that their coffee and pastries more than justify their place here.

Manana makes a mean cup of coffee and their lattes are always crafted perfectly. They also make their syrups in house so you won't find any of that sticky sweet, chemical after-taste you get at so many other shops. But there's so much more.

To begin with, you can get beer or wine by the glass with some local beers on draft. And yes, there's more.

Their pastry program is easily one of the best in town. James Beard semi-finalist Amanda Rockman is the head pastry chef and her background in French pastries shines through proudly. As much as I love the coffee, I can rarely pass a seasonal macaron or the amazing basque cake. (It must be eaten heated up. It's worth the 5 minute wait.)

On top of it all they have house made paletas and ice cream. And while I reluctantly admit that the ice cream may be a little expensive, it's some amazing ice cream. Splurge. If you really want to splurge, get yourself their version of an affogato with a house-made paleta and some espresso.

In a town like Austin it's really hard to pick one restaurant someone should go to for Mexican food. There are so many great options and they all have things they do really well. If I had to pick one, though, I would pick Suerte.

Suerte's food feels like an elevation of dishes that I love. Their tacos are amazing and make sure you ask about the daily taquito because it's usually something special.

They also make their masa in house so your tortillas are unlike what you'll find in most other places. 

I've never had anything I haven't liked there but a few things stick in my mind. For one, the chicken tamal stands out to me. The recado negro gives the masa it's dark color and adds extra flavor that just shines. Honestly the more I think about the menu the more I want to recommend so you should just go in and pick what sounds good to you. You won't be disappointed.

Don't forget to try some of their cocktails as well. Their bar program is amazing. All of their drinks come out well-balanced and full of unique flavor combinations that make me want to spend all day there trying the drinks. For the record, I haven't. But I've thought about it. My favorites so far have been the Rosalinda and the Don Dario.

Odd Duck started off as a trailer run by Bryce Gilmore. It didn't take long for it to take off and gain a great reputation for amazing local food. 2 years after it opened, Odd Duck closed as Gilmore opened his first brick and mortar with Barley Swine. I was devastated. No more duck egg and grits for lunch?

Fortunately I didn't have to wait too long because two years after that, Odd Duck reopened in its own brick and mortar space and sister restaurant to Barley Swine. So while the amazing Barley Swine has moved farther north in town, Odd Duck has stayed close and has become a regular for me.

There are really two experiences you can chose from at Odd Duck. For dinner you'll be diving into an amazing and every changing sharing menu that you and your friends can all experience together. Lunch is a little more traditional with larger portions to carry you through the day.

I personally love to go there for lunch, partly because the crowds aren't quite as busy. I know that I can usually walk right in and get some amazing food without any hassle.

Their menu is constantly changing but the usually have one of the best burgers in town. Be warned: it's huge. You might need a friend. Truth be told, most of their sandwiches are huge. All of them are worth it. 

If you want something lighter then you should check out their daily soup. It's usually unexpected but always good. Get some grilled bread on the side and you're good to go.

Don't leave without trying a drink from the amazing bar team there. They were finalists for the 2018 Official Drink of Austin competition and with good reason. If you're a whiskey fan and lucky enough to see BAM on the menu, pick that up for a lesson in solera aged goodness. 

This is some of the best ramen that you're going to have. I know some people will point to some very famous places in New York City that are said to have great ramen. I've been there and I have to say that I think Ramen Tatsu-Ya is better.

I'll admit that when the ramen craze started years ago that I was a little skeptical. I, like many people I know, experienced ramen through the lens of those $1 packets of dried ramen and spices that got me through college. Once I dove into what REAL ramen is like, I understood the craze.

Now the craze has become a virtual institution and at the head of the pack is Ramen Tatsu-Ya. 

The star of the show here really is the Tonkatsu Original. That rich and hearty bone broth is the perfect complement to the noodles. If you like miso then definitely try the Mi-So-Hot and the Mi-So-Not. They still have the pork bone broth but they mix it up with miso. 

Keep in mind that even though they have 2 locations in Austin, this place can definitely get a line forming. Get their early or off-peak so you don't have to wait. Even if you do have to wait, it's worth it to have this amazing ramen.

The food hall trend has hit Austin in a big way with Fareground sitting right in the middle of downtown. With concepts from some of the best restaurants in Austin, this is definitely a place to check out with the whole family, especially if you can't agree on what to eat. 

The space here is spacious and gorgeous. The inside is warm and inviting and the outside is perfect for hanging out on a nice evening with friends. There's also a huge grassy hill that is just begging to be rolled down. No judgement here if it's not the kids rolling down the hill, because I've wanted to myself a few times.

There's a full bar in the center where you can get you choice of beverage and it's surrounded by all of the great restaurant concepts. I don't have time to go over all of them here but I do want to point out a couple that stand out to me. 

First off is Henbit, from the same people that brought you Emmer & Rye. They've brought that same sensibility to smaller venue and the results are great. Their menu is constantly changing but I do love their pork sandwich. If you're not drinking the alcohol then try some of the shrubs here as well.

The Dai Due Taqueria is another high point for me. The ultimate locavores have taken their brick and mortar concept and turned it into something unique for Fareground. Their tacos are amazing and the best ones are the ones that feature local game, like the wild boar pastor. 

I could seriously keep going about the great things you can get at Antonelli's Cheese Shop or Easy Tiger but it really is best to just go in and give it a try yourself. Bring friends and family to because this place is made for hanging out.