A taste of Austin

Hi,

My husband and I will be in Austin for one night staying at the Austin Motel and would like to get a real taste of Austin. What restaurant would you all suggest we hit for dinner. We are looking for something not real expensive (around $15-25 a plate), preferably not Tex-mex. Any suggestions are welcome. Also, what bars/live music places give a true Austin feel?

Thanks!

A taste of Austin

From the Austin Motel, you can go to Threadgills for dinner at Barton Springs Rd/Riverside/So 1st (about 1/2 mile from your hotel, walkable). Then across the street from the Austin Motel is the Continental Club for music.

A taste of Austin

A non Tex-mex restaurant with a real taste of Austin is actually right in the neighborhood of your hotel! Walk down South Congress a bit to the South Congress Cafe -- http://www.southcongresscafe.com/

Also on South Congress, you could visit Magnolia Cafe, a 24 hour place that is better than your average diner -- http://www.cafemagnolia.com/

If you%26#39;re in the mood for Italian, try Enoteca Vespaio, also on South Congress, a short walk from your hotel. Make sure you%26#39;re at the Enoteca and not just Vespaio. Enoteca is a bit less expensive than the main restaurant, but just as good in my opinion -- www.austinvespaio.com/enoteca/enoteca.html

For live music in that area, go to the Continental Club on the opposite side of the street from your hotel (yes, there is one in Houston, too, but this one has a really great Austin vibe and great acts) -- http://www.continentalclub.com/Austin.html