Austin Chronicle's 2008 Readers Poll
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| Favorites 1. Uchi 2. Cibo 3. Wink 4. Vespaio Ristorante 5. Fonda San Miguel 6. Mars Restaurant and Bar 7. Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill 8. Eastside Cafe 9. Lamberts 10. Fino Restaurant, Patio & Bar 11. Austin Java 12. The Belmont 13. Botticelli's 14. Sazón 15. Trudy's 16. Chinatown 17. Imperia 18. Chuy's 19. The Salt Lick 20. Castle Hill Cafe 21. The Clay Pit 22. Maudie's 23. Chez Zee 24. Home Slice Pizza 25. Enoteca Vespaio 26. Parkside 27. Eddie V's Edgewater Grille 28. Z'Tejas 29. Asti Trattoria 30. Ranch 616 31. Mirabelle Restaurant 32. Hula Hut 33. Manuels 34. 219 West 35. Chez Nous |
| Appetizer Fino Restaurant, Patio & Bar Runners-up Saba Blue Water Cafe, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill Honorable Mention 219 West, Uchi, Mars Restaurant and Bar, Z'Tejas |
| Barbecue The Salt Lick Runners-up Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Que, County Line on the Hill Honorable Mention Lamberts, Ruby's BBQ, Artz Rib House |
| Hamburger Hut's Hamburgers Runners-up Casino el Camino, P. Terry's Burger Stand Honorable Mention Top Notch Restaurant, Sandy's Frozen Custard & Root Beer, Dan's Hamburgers, Phil's Icehouse |
| Steak Sullivan's Steakhouse Runner-up III Forks Honorable Mention Lamberts, Austin Land & Cattle Co., Eddie V's Edgewater Grille, Ruth's Chris Steak House |
| Comfort Food Hoover's Cooking Runner-up Threadgill's Honorable Mention Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Pluckers Wing Bar, Dot's Place, Shady Grove |
| Chicken-Fried Steak Threadgill's Runner-up Hoover's Cooking Honorable Mention Hill's Cafe, The Broken Spoke, Shady Grove |
| Chile-Pepper Dish Chuy's Runner-up El Chile Cafe y Cantina Honorable Mention Fonda San Miguel, Sazón, Polvos |
| French Fries Hyde Park Bar & Grill Runners-up Phil's Icehouse, P. Terry's Burger Stand Honorable Mention Opal Divine's, Enoteca Vespaio |
| Hot Dog Dog Almighty Runner-up The Best Wurst Honorable Mention Lucky Dog, Shady Grove, Sonic, Doggie Styles, Doggie Style Hotdogs |
| Chips and Hot Sauce Chuy's Runner-up El Chile Cafe y Cantina Honorable Mention Hula Hut, Trudy's, Polvos |
| Taco TIE: Taco Shack, Tacodeli Runner-up Torchy's Tacos Honorable Mention El Chilito Tacos y Cafe, Maria's Taco Xpress, Changos Taqueria |
| Soup The Soup Peddler Runners-up Central Market, Whole Foods Market Honorable Mention Eastside Cafe, Austin Java, Cafe Mundi |
| Salad/Dressing Baby Greens Runner-up Leaf Honorable Mention Eastside Cafe, Mother's Cafe & Garden, Houston's |
| Seafood Dish Eddie V's Edgewater Grille Runners-up Uchi, Truluck's Honorable Mention Quality Seafood Market, Imperia, Gumbo's Louisiana Style Cafe |
| Pub Grub The Dog & Duck Pub Runners-up Fadó, Pluckers Wing Bar Honorable Mention The Tavern, Opal Divine's, Crown & Anchor Pub |
| Bagels Einstein Bros. Bagels Runner-up Panera Bread Honorable Mention Whole Foods Market, Austin Java, Hot Jumbo Bagel |
| Sushi Uchi Runner-up Musashino Sushi Dokoro Honorable Mention Kenichi, Kyoto, Maiko, Maru Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar |
| Tofu Dish Veggie Heaven Runner-up Mr. Natural Honorable Mention Mother's Cafe & Garden, The Steeping Room |
| Dim Sum TIE: Tien Hong, Chinatown Runner-up Imperia Honorable Mention T&S Seafood Restaurant, Marco Polo Restaurant, Jade Leaves Teahouse |
| Bowl of Pho Kim Phung Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant Runners-up Pho Saigon, Pho Tai Son Honorable Mention Pho Hoang, Mekong River, Triumph Cafe |
| American Breakfast Kerbey Lane Cafe Runners-up Magnolia Cafe, Austin Java Honorable Mention Austin Diner, IHOP, Chez Zee, Counter Cafe |
| Mexican Breakfast Las Manitas Avenue Cafe Runner-up Juan in a Million Honorable Mention Taco Shack, Trudy's |
| Sandwich ThunderCloud Subs Runners-up Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Whole Foods Market Honorable Mention Little Deli, FoodHeads, The Kitchen Door |
| Bread Whole Foods Market Runner-up Texas French Bread Honorable Mention Upper Crust Bakery, Panera Bread, Central Market |
| Desserts Tčo Espresso, Gelato & Bella Vita Runner-up Chez Zee Honorable Mention The Cheesecake Factory, Whole Foods Market, Amy's Ice Creams |
| Ice Cream Amy's Ice Creams Runners-up Marble Slab Creamery, Ben & Jerry's Honorable Mention Baskin-Robbins, Tčo Espresso, Gelato & Bella Vita, Cold Stone Creamery |
| Gelato Tčo Espresso, Gelato & Bella Vita Runners-up Whole Foods Market, Central Market Honorable Mention Dolce Vita Gelato & Espresso Bar, Mandola's Italian Market |
| Local Chocolate Miles of Chocolate Runners-up Tempt Chocolate, Whole Foods Market Honorable Mention Viva Chocolato!, Lammes Candies |
| Coffee Austin Java Runners-up Starbucks Coffee, Jo's Hot Coffee, Little City Honorable Mention Pacha, Caffé Medici, Kick Butt Coffee |
| Pizza TIE: Home Slice Pizza, Austin's Pizza Runners-up Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza, East Side Pies Honorable Mention Rounders Pizzeria, Brick Oven Restaurant, Conans Pizza |
| Enchiladas Chuy's Runners-up El Chile Cafe y Cantina, Maudie's Honorable Mention Enchiladas y Mas Tex-Mex Restaurant, Trudy's, Sazón |
| Vegetables Eastside Cafe Runners-up Threadgill's, Mother's Cafe & Garden Honorable Mention Hoover's Cooking, Casa de Luz, Mr. Natural |
| Chicken Dish Pluckers Wing Bar Runners-up Parkside, Sazón, Trudy's Honorable Mention Z'Tejas, Botticelli's, Hoover's Cooking |
| Wild-Game Dish Hudson's on the Bend Runner-up Ranch 616 Honorable Mention Mesa Ranch, Mirabelle Restaurant |
| Bargain Dish Migas at Tamale House Runners-up Bahn Mi at Tâm Deli & Cafe, Tacos at Chuco's Tacos Honorable Mention Oysters on the Half Shell at Quality Seafood Market, Pizza at Austin's Pizza |
| Veggie Burger P. Terry's Burger Stand Runners-up Hut's Hamburgers, Mother's Cafe & Garden Honorable Mention Crown & Anchor Pub, Shady Grove, Waterloo Ice House |
| Vegetarian Dish Mother's Cafe & Garden Runners-up Veggie Heaven, Mr. Natural Honorable Mention Casa de Luz, The Clay Pit, Sunflower Restaurant |
| Mexican (Not Tex-Mex) Fonda San Miguel Runners-up Sazón, Polvos Honorable Mention Curra's Grill, El Chile Cafe y Cantina, Manuels |
| Tex-Mex Chuy's Runners-up Maudie's, Trudy's Honorable Mention Matt's El Rancho, Vivo |
| Taqueria Torchy's Tacos Runner-up Taqueria Arandas Honorable Mention Taco Shack, Maria's Taco Xpress, El Chilito Tacos y Cafe |
| Italian Vespaio Ristorante Runner-up Mandola's Italian Market Honorable Mention Cibo, La Traviata Italian Bistro, Romeo's, Asti Trattoria |
| Cajun/Creole Gumbo's Louisiana Style Cafe Runner-up Evangeline Cafe Honorable Mention Ms. B's Authentic Creole Restaurant, The Boiling Pot, Cypress Grill, Shoal Creek Saloon |
| Middle Eastern Phoenicia Bakery & Deli Runner-up Marakesh Cafe & Grill Honorable Mention Ararat, Alborz Persian Cuisine |
| Indian The Clay Pit Runner-up Star of India Honorable Mention Sarovar Indian Cuisine, Swad Indian Vegetarian Restaurant, Taj Palace |
| Chinese Chinatown Runners-up Imperia, Suzi's China Kitchen Honorable Mention Din Ho Chinese BBQ, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Tien Hong |
| Japanese Uchi Runners-up Musashino Sushi Dokoro, Zen Japanese Food Fast Honorable Mention Kenichi, Kyoto, Imperia, Maru Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar, Mikado Ryotei |
| Korean Korea House Runners-up Koreana Grill & Sushi Bar, Koriente Restaurant & Tea House Honorable Mention Korea Garden, Seoul Restaurant & DK Sushi, Imperia |
| Thai Madam Mam's Runner-up Thai Kitchen Honorable Mention Thai Passion, Satay, Thai Tara |
| Vietnamese Sunflower Restaurant Runner-up Kim Phung Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant Honorable Mention Mekong River, Hai Ky, Bamboo Asian Grille |
| Other Oriental/Asian Imperia Runners-up Bamboo Asian Grille, Java Noodles, Uchi Honorable Mention Jade Leaves Teahouse, Pei Wei Asian Diner |
| American Hoover's Cooking Runners-up Threadgill's, Wink Honorable Mention Kerbey Lane Cafe, Hyde Park Bar & Grill, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill |
| Vegetarian Natural Mother's Cafe & Garden Runner-up Mr. Natural Honorable Mention Casa de Luz, Whole Foods Market, Veggie Heaven |
| French Chez Nous Runner-up Aquarelle Restaurant Français Honorable Mention La Madeleine, Flip Happy Crepes, Chez Zee |
| Other Ethnic Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant Runners-up Sampaio's Brazilian Cuisine, Tino's Greek Cafe Honorable Mention Habana, Drakula Romanian Restaurant, Buenos Aires Cafe |
| New Restaurant Imperia Runners-up Parkside, Botticelli's Honorable Mention Primizie, The Steeping Room |
| Chef TIE: Tyson Cole at Uchi, Shawn Cirkiel at Parkside Runners-up Joe Tellus at Imperia Honorable Mention Will Packwood at Cibo, Larry McGuire at Lamberts |
| Service/Waitstaff Imperia Runner-up Uchi Honorable Mention Wink, Mirabelle Restaurant, 219 West |
| Full-Service Bakery Upper Crust Bakery Runner-up Sweetish Hill Cafe & Bakery Honorable Mention Quack's 43rd Street Bakery, Texas French Bread |
| Grocery Central Market Runner-up Whole Foods Market Honorable Mention Wheatsville Co-op, HEB |
| Ethnic Market Phoenicia Bakery & Deli Runner-up Fiesta Honorable Mention Mandola's Italian Market, MT Supermarket |
| Patio/Beer Garden Shady Grove Runner-up Little Woodrow's Honorable Mention Draught House Pub & Brewery, The Ginger Man, Botticelli's |
| Street Food Cupcake at Hey Cupcake! Runner-up Bratwurst at Best Wurst Honorable Mention Arawraps at Ararat, taco at Torchy's Tacos |
| Decor TIE: Uchi, Fonda San Miguel Runner-up Vivo Honorable Mention Imperia, Chez Zee, Mars Restaurant and Bar |
| Romantic Wink Runners-up Romeo's, Uchi Honorable Mention Fino Restaurant, Patio & Bar, Vespaio Ristorante |
| Sunday Brunch Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill Runners-up Chez Zee, Fonda San Miguel Honorable Mention Z'Tejas, South Congress Cafe, Galaxy Cafe, Four Seasons Hotel |
| Fast Food P. Terry's Burger Stand Runners-up Taco Cabana, Zen Japanese Food Fast Honorable Mention Baby Greens, Whataburger, ThunderCloud Subs |
| Takeout Pei Wei Asian Diner Runners-up Zen Japanese Food Fast, Austin's Pizza Honorable Mention Baby Greens, Thai Kitchen, Home Slice Pizza |
| Delivery Austin's Pizza Runner-up The Soup Peddler Honorable Mention Eat Out In, Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza, East Side Pies |
| Wine List 219 West Runners-up Vino Vino, Mirabelle Restaurant Honorable Mention Vin Bistro, Wink |
| Mixologist Bill Norris at Fino Runners-up Joyce Garrison at Hyde Park Bar & Grill Honorable Mention Tim Brown at Botticelli's, Duc Dinh at 219 West |
| Beer Selection The Ginger Man Runner-up Flying Saucer Draught Emporium Honorable Mention Draught House Pub & Brewery |
| Buffet Star of India Runners-up The Clay Pit, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill Honorable Mention Buffet Palace, Taj Palace |
| Happy Hour/Free or Cheap Deal Happy Hour Appetizers at 219 West Runner-up Half-Price Appetizers at Manuels Honorable Mention Happy Hour at Imperia, Half-Price Appetizers at Eddie V's Edgewater Grille |
| Late Night/All Night TIE: Kerbey Lane Cafe, Magnolia Cafe Runner-up Katz's Deli & Bar Honorable Mention Star Seeds Cafe, Parkside, Viva Chocolato! |
| Place to Take Kids Phil's Icehouse Runner-up Central Market Honorable Mention Waterloo Ice House, Freddie's Place |
| Place to Take Parents TIE: The Oasis, Eastside Cafe Runners-up The Salt Lick, Shady Grove Honorable Mention Fonda San Miguel |
| Restaurant Within 60 Miles The Salt Lick Runner-up Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar Honorable Mention Smitty's Market, Trattoria Lisina |
| Place We Wish Were Still Open Ararat Runner-up Les Amis Honorable Mention Brentwood Tavern, West Lynn Cafe, Capitol Brasserie |
| Other Restaurant Worth Noting Ararat at Hot Mama's Espresso Bar Runners-up The Steeping Room, Imperia Honorable Mention Sazón, Hog Island Italian Deli |
| Food Event La Dolce Vita festival at Laguna Gloria Runner-up Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival Honorable Mention Taste of Austin, Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival |
