The September Hit List: Gin Bar, Texas French Bread, Distant Relatives, and More

With over 90 bottles of gin to choose among, this East Austin rooftop bar boasts one of the largest collections of the spirit in the state. It’s the perfect spot to don your best suit or dress for a “Mad Men”-fueled evening out with gin martinis. Or simply enjoy the sunset and the breeze while you gaze out over the street with a gin and tonic in hand. However you like to enjoy the spirit, you’ll be able to do it here, with expertly crafted cocktails and light bites to keep you going through your second gin flight of the night.

Fans of “Top Chef” will undoubtedly already be fans of Arlo Grey — Kristen Kish’s downtown restaurant at The Line Hotel. But even those who haven’t spent many evenings watching the culinary showdown have found a place in their hearts for her unique menu, pulling equally from her Midwestern upbringing and her background in French and Italian cuisine. Expect to see dishes like pickled pearl onion hummus right alongside a local wagyu beef carpaccio with pistachios, lemon, and Parmesan. And afterwards, head to the rooftop for excellent cocktails at P6 overlooking Town Lake.

Over in East Austin, Suerte continues to draw crowds from far and wide at just about any hour for their creative takes on Interior Mexican cuisine. The housemade tortillas here are small enough that you can eat a dozen, and so good that you’ll wish you could leave with a blanket made out of them. But assuming that dream doesn’t become a reality, you’ll be able to fill up on them in a variety of forms, from tacos to tostadas. Whatever route you end up going, you don’t want to miss their signature suadero tacos — confit brisket with black magic oil and avocado crudo.

Taking over the former La Matta Italian sandwich shop just off East 6th is Ma’Coco, a Southern California-style Mexican restaurant serving up all the classic West Coast favorites, from California burritos to tuna tostadas. But despite their new footprint in East Austin, the folks behind Ma’Coco are no newcomers to the area — they’ve been operating a restaurant in Bastrop under the same name since late 2018. And even though they recently closed those doors to focus on their Austin outpost, the good news now is that if you’re in the mood for a carne asada burrito stuffed full of fries, you can get it a little closer to home.

From the same group that brought you Jeffrey’s, Lambert’s, Clark’s, and a handful of other now-iconic spots in Austin, comes a new late-night slice shop on West 6th. The pies here are New York style, with large slices and enough substance to soak up some of whatever fueled your long night out. The toppings range from classics like pepperoni and margherita, all the way to the Mosquito Bite — made with Fresno and Calabrese peppers and hot honey — which you’ll definitely want to try if you’re okay with a little spice.

Distant Relatives continues to impress Austinites, with inventive takes on barbecue, citing influence from the African American diaspora in the United States. So you can expect to see Central Texas classics like brisket and ribs, but with slightly different preparations than you might be used to. The variety of sauces here is exciting, with outstanding flavors optimized to bring out the best elements of each cut. Try the beef brisket with smoked mustard butter, or grab a pulled pork sandwich covered in green mango slaw. It’s almost impossible to make a wrong move here.

Texas French Bread has been a staple of the North Campus area of Austin for over 40 years, and they don’t show any signs of slowing. The menu, as you could probably guess, heavily features bread and French cuisine — two things that are difficult not to love. If you’re here in the morning, grab a fresh-baked loaf or a sandwich. In the evenings, pull up a seat and enjoy a glass from their mostly low-intervention wine list and select from the rotating menu of French-inspired dishes.

College students and whoever else lives just north of campus don’t realize how good they have it with Hopfields — a French American gastropub batting equally hard in both the food and beverage divisions. The drink list is excellent and features a variety of local and imported beers — with over 40 rotating drafts and tons of bottles — along with a great selection of wine. And if you’re looking for food — we definitely recommend dinner here — try the Pascal burger with triple-cream cheese, cornichons, and caramelized onions, or enjoy some excellent beef tartare.

Bird Bird Biscuit first opened up in 2018 and became an instant hit, drawing crowds from near and far for their chicken-and-biscuit sandwiches. And sure, there are a few lunch options, but the focus here really is on breakfast (a chicken sandwich follows no rules). Whatever you end up getting, make sure to save room for an order of dough-doughs — they’re the cinnamon-and-sugar biscuit donut holes you didn’t know you needed in your life.

You’ve heard of sushi restaurants with fish flown in from Tokyo, but how about a Greek restaurant with seafood flown in directly from the Mediterranean? Simi Estiatorio is here in downtown Austin to fill that fish-shaped void in your heart, with a menu direct from the source. It’s pricey, but that’s the cost of some luxuries. And if you’re not in the mood for something from the sea, there’s a whole land-based menu with everything from 48-hour herb marinated lamb chops, to a 42-oz. porterhouse steak for two.

Call 512-886-0999 for reservations.