The August Hit List: Small Victory, Paperboy, Odd Duck, and More

After more than a year of takeout-only operations, one of Downtown Austin’s best speakeasy-style cocktail bars is open again, its cool and dimly-lit interior providing refuge from the sweltering Texas sun. But if the cocktails are the draw, the excellent wine list and rotating charcuterie selections are what turn the first-timers into regulars. The space is small — part of what we love about it — so make sure to grab a Resy ahead of time to secure a spot, then celebrate your big victory.

Over in Bouldin Creek, 1417 is a casual New American restaurant from the folks behind Hopfields. By day, there’s coffee, pastries, and a variety of breakfast and lunch bites. At dinner, the menu gets a little more robust, where you can get everything from salt and pepper frog legs to red curry mussels. Most importantly — spanning both menus is the 1417 burger, complete with melted raclette, that you won’t want to miss.

Call 754-213-1394 for reservations.

Brunch season is fully upon us now, and there are few places in Austin better equipped to handle those needs than Paperboy. Snag a table on the rooftop patio, or hunker down inside with some A/C. Either way, you’ll likely be ordering one of their signature breakfast sandwiches, like the b.e.c. – complete with thick-sliced bacon, pimiento cheese, and a sunny-side up egg. And if you’re not in the mood for breakfast, they also happen to make one of our favorite cheeseburgers in town.

In a repurposed Victorian-style house on East Riverside, Ani’s Day & Night is an easy place to spend the whole day — or night — sipping on coffee, cocktails, beer, and wine. The patio is large and dog-friendly (the perfect Austin combination) and there’s usually a food truck open to help fill in the gaps between sips. Be sure to ask about the furniture: a lot of it is original, with a rich history dating back to the 1930s.

No reservations.

Odd Duck is one of Austin’s most famous food trailer-turned-restaurant success stories, and with great reason. The restaurant — now over eight years old — rarely goes a day without a crowd, and consistently tracks as one of the best in the city. The menu changes constantly, but always focuses on local, seasonal ingredients. Combine that with some great talent in the kitchen and a beautiful space, and it’s not hard to see why Odd Duck is so loved.

This small neighborhood cafe in East Austin’s Chestnut neighborhood had a quiet opening in mid-July, but won’t be staying quiet for much longer. Maybe it’s the beautiful patio set under sweeping strings of lights and the shade of trees, or maybe it’s the expertly-crafted food and low-intervention wine menu — either way, the hype is quickly growing. The menu changes often based on what’s in season, but if you’re lucky enough to show up and see the beef tartare listed, you’ll want to jump on it quickly.

No reservations.

Sure, Garage might be one of the least-secret speakeasies in town, but that doesn’t stop it from being an excellent spot to grab a great cocktail downtown. The location, set in — you guessed it — a parking garage, is inherently cool and makes for a welcome escape from the dizzying bustle of the world outside. It’s easy to lose track of time here, but with cocktails made with such a high level of expertise, you won’t really mind.

Sazan had a quiet opening just over a year ago, but officially celebrated their grand opening in Highland just a few short weeks ago. The ramen menu here is tight and focused, offering paitan broth — a base made from heavily-boiled pork and chicken bones — with the option to add spice or black garlic oil. There’s also a single vegan option that just might be some of the best vegan ramen in town. And they’ve partnered up with neighboring dumpling restaurant Steamie’s, so you can get some excellent pork or vegan dumplings to snack on while you impatiently wait for your food to arrive.

Call 512-432-5474 for reservations.

Bringing New Zealand-style ice cream to Austin by way of Portland (this is their second location) Zed’s is another new opening in the Chestnut neighborhood. But what is New Zealand-style ice cream? Think a creamy vanilla base, blended with fresh fruit. The end result is a rich and refreshing cold dessert that’s equipped to handle even the worst that a Texas summer can throw at it. Try one of the classic fruit flavors, or go with one of their special creations, like the strawberry paleta — complete with chamoy syrup and tajin.

No reservations.

Housemade pasta? Check. Hand-tossed pizza? They’ve got it. Combine some great Italian food with a picturesque location on Barton Springs Road and it’s easy to see why folks keep coming back to Juliet. The menu features a variety of classic and contemporary Italian dishes, so whether you’re in the mood for a 17-layer lasagna or a grilled salmon wedge salad, you’ll be leaving satisfied.