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The Omelettry

Austin

Austin’s Best Restaurants That Don’t Cost an Arm and a Leg

I’ve seen a number of Austin restaurant “best of” lists over the past few weeks, and I don’t know about you, but they frustrate me. Most of the restaurants listed are expensive, at least in Austin standards. They’re the sort of places I can only afford to eat at once or twice a year. Though I appreciate good food, when you are a working-class individual, dropping $50 per person at a restaurant can nearly cause a heart attack.

Even when it isn’t the end of the year, the same restaurants show up on the “best of” lists for Austin. I’m not going to name those restaurants here because I’m sure they’re all delicious and run by hard-working individuals. They deserve the attention they receive, but so do some of the less famous and cheaper restaurants that are sprinkled throughout Austin.

Below is my list of great Austin restaurants for people who make under 40k a year. These are the eateries where you can still spend $10-$15 per person and have a great time. To me, these spots are what made (more…)

Austin

Austin Changing: Why My Love for Austin is Being Challenged

austin skyline

When I first drove into this city five years ago, I fell head over heels in love.

Lately, my undying love for Austin has been challenged.

I’ve learned the hard way that writing about Austin as though I’ve lived here a long time will provoke scorn, but to hell with it. Even within the five years I’ve lived here, I’ve seen rapid growth that makes one’s head spin.

Austin has been in influx for decades, but it’s hard for anyone to argue that the “big city” changes have been most prevalent these past 5-10 years.
Unlike LA and NYC- who came into their own decades ago- we’re watching a city grow and mold right before our eyes.

Readers make fun of writers who talk about Austin as though they’ve lived here a long time because they write articles titled this: “Austin is ch-ch-ch-changing: Give up the hate and embrace the non-natives who make our city great.”

This article, which I wrote in January of 2012, was from the perspective of someone who was confused as to why Austinites were (more…)