The June Hit List: Mattie’s, Tiny Boxwoods, La Barbecue, and More

A visit to Mattie’s is like a little step back in time. Maybe it’s the 19th century Victorian mansion it’s housed in, or maybe it’s the menu made up of timeless Southern classics. Either way, it’s a place to relax, unwind, and enjoy a great meal. When the weather’s nice, try to grab a coveted patio table, where you might even spot a peacock roaming the grounds of the picturesque estate.

Ramen Tatsu-ya has been a hot spot in Austin since they first opened up in 2012, but for a good portion of the last year their restaurants have been a takeout-only operation. Now they’ve shifted things around and flipped the restaurant inside-out, meaning you can now get steaming bowls of tonkotsu ramen on their new patio at the original location on Research Blvd. Even better — now you can grab a table ahead of time and skip the inevitable line.

From the folks that brought you Clark’s, Perla’s, Jeffrey’s, and other Austin favorites, comes a new Italian restaurant downtown. Housed in the former Hut’s Hamburgers, Sammie’s bills itself as a red-sauce joint, meaning you’ll find their takes on spaghetti with meatballs, rigatoni Bolognese, veal Parmigiana, and other Italian-American staples. But before you eat your weight in pasta, make sure to save some room for a round of housemade mozzarella sticks — and Sammie’s martinis, of course.

Call 512-474-2054 to book a table.

El Alma has been a staple in Austin’s dining scene for a while, and now that their dining room is back open, they’re as popular as ever. Grab an order of queso fundido and see just how high you can stretch your cheese, or try some of their great rellenos and street tacos. Either way, you’ll want to do it with a margarita in hand, ideally on their rooftop patio in Bouldin Creek. Snag a table during happy hour, and those margaritas are just $6.

La Barbecue has been a household name in the Austin barbecue scene since they first opened in 2011. Since then, they’ve taken on many forms — initially as a food truck, and later as one-half of a convenience store-and-barbecue restaurant hybrid. And now they’re going strong with their own brick-and-mortar on East Cesar Chavez, just a few blocks from their old home, where you can get all the same classics — brisket, ribs, and sausage — as well as a few new items they’ve introduced to the menu. More info here.

The Houston-born Tiny Boxwoods outpost in Austin continues to be a hit — and with its bright and airy interior set on one of the prettiest patios in Austin, it’s not difficult to see why. Fans of avocado toast will already be well-acquainted, while others will rave about their chocolate chip cookies to no end. The cocktails here lean classic, but with excellent execution — and served in an atmosphere like this, you’ll swear they’re something special.

Qi’s “food-focused and farm-driven” menu of classic Chinese dishes continues to bring crowds downtown from all over the city. Much like their sister restaurant, Lin, the star of the show here is the dim sum — with a healthy combination of classics alongside contemporary counterparts. So don’t be surprised to see staples like shrimp har gaw right next to a scallop and caviar sui mai. Whatever you do, don’t leave without ordering a few too many Shanghai soup dumplings. No regrets.

Swift Pizza is a new addition to East 7th, offering up a menu of Italian-American classics like chicken Parm, caprese salads, and, of course, pizza. You can build your own here, or stick with one of their tried-and-true combinations, including the Jacoby’s Cheeseburger pie, made with beef from the family ranch (they also own Jacoby’s Restaurant). It’s a nostalgia-driven concept, with schoolhouse vibes and playful decor, and more than enough substance to make it a worthwhile visit.

Call 512-422-9776 for reservations and more info.

If you’ve ever driven along East Cesar Chavez with your windows down and taken in a wonderful aroma of grilled Korean barbecue, there’s a decent chance you drove by Oseyo. Either that, or you’ve got a really interesting air freshener, considering the limited options for Korean food on Austin’s East Side. Oseyo continues to draw folks from all around town for their homestyle Korean food, modern decor, and excellent cocktails. And if you’ve been once, you’ll understand why.

Call 512-368-5700 for more info.

1618 opened up on Riverside just a few short months before the world shut down, but now that they’ve had a proper chance to open up a little more, the crowd quickly followed. The menu here holds a lot of Vietnamese influence, but with other dishes pulling inspiration from Thai, Chinese, and Singaporean cuisine, there are plenty of interesting things going on.

Call 512-462-9999 for more info.