Second Helpings: Home Away From Home
How to have Thanksgiving by letting others do all of the work
Fri., Nov. 24, 2000
The weekly Chronicle feature "Second Helpings" offers readers the opportunity to sample tasty, bite-sized restaurant listings compiled from new and previous reviews, guides, and poll results. This week's entries were compiled by Chronicle Cuisines editor Virginia B. Wood. When you need quick, reliable information about Austin eateries, check here.
The Cafe at the Four Seasons
98 San Jacinto, 478-4500Breakfast: Mon-Fri, 6:30-10:30am; Sat-Sun, 7-10:30am
Lunch: Mon-Sat, 11am-2pm
Brunch: Sun, 10:30am-2:30pm
Light Fare: Daily, 2pm-6pm
Dinner: Sun-Thu, 6-10pm; Fri-Sat, 6-11pm
Every aspect of the Cafe lifts it a cut above other hotel restaurants. The lovely dining room that looks out over Town Lake is casually elegant, the service professionals are knowledgeable, the wine list inviting, and Exec Chef Elmar Prambs' artfully presented cuisine consistently interesting. What more could you ask for in a vacation repast or a pleasant mealtime escape from life's harsh realities? The menu features a Texas influence in many dishes, an Asian flair in others, and they've added vegetarian and heart-healthy meals for health-conscious travelers. It's one of the best places for a special-occasion Sunday brunch and holiday meals here usually sell out, so reservations are a must.
Ancho's
In the Omni Austin Hotel DowntownSeventh & Brazos, 476-3700
Breakfast daily, 6:30-11am
Lunch daily, 11am-2pm
Dinner daily, 5:30-10pm
This attractive dining room benefits from its location in the hotel's dramatic atrium lobby, making it an interesting place to eat as well as people-watch. Sunday brunch here comes complete with one station for waffles, another for omelets, and a bountiful array of fresh fruits and baked goods to complement the meal. Lunch and dinner menus reflect the influence of Southwestern flavors with a variety of choices to satisfy even this most discriminating weary traveler. Thanksgiving here warrants a lavish brunch buffet with Christmas dinner available off the menu.
La Vista
In the Hyatt Regency Austin208 Barton Springs Road, 477-1234
Sun-Thu, 6:30am-11pm
Fri-Sat, 6:30am-midnight
La Vista bills itself as the "Fajita Capital of Texas" and they've got the goods to back up their claim. These fajitas are so popular the hotel had to create an off-premise catering operation just to satisfy demand. Choose either a pound of spicy beef or chicken with all the required traditional condiments and two can dine like royalty for under $20 in the comfortable dining room overlooking Town Lake. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners will be included in the cafe menu.
Driskill Grill
Sixth & Brazos, 474-5911Breakfast daily, 6:30-11am
Lunch, 11am-2pm
Dinner, 5:30-10:30pm
Sunday brunch, 11am-2pm
The grand dame of Austin hotels that was once famous as the showcase for the cooking of Texas culinary legend Helen Corbitt underwent a compete restoration two years ago and is striving for world-class hotel status. Executive Chef David Bull is turning the Grill into a fine dining contender for travelers and locals alike. Reservations for both their Thanksgiving and Christmas culinary celebrations should be made early.
Ma Ferguson's
In the Austin Hilton6000 Middle Fiskville Road, 206-3030
Mon-Fri, 7am-10pm; Sat-Sun, 7am-11pm
Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson was the first female governor of Texas and the Hilton management renamed their dining venue in her honor in 1997. The new spring menu is a takeoff on Ma's Ferguson Forum newsletter and some of the dishes bear the names of her family members and political rivals. We doubt Ma ever served any Jerk Chicken or Vegetarian Sandwiches on Grilled Focaccia but we bet a fiscal conservative who worked to overturn Prohibition would approve of the $7.95 daily International Lunch Buffet and a wine list featuring several affordable Texas vintages by the glass.
Onion Creek Grille
In the Omni Hotel Southpark4140 Governor's Row, 448-2222
Daily, 6:30am-2pm & 5-10pm
This pleasant South Austin dining venue attracts a hungry business lunch crowd with an affordable menu with Texas, Southwestern, and Cajun/Creole influences. For $7.95, fill up at the Pasta and Salad Bar or the Soup, Salad, Sandwich, and Baked Potato Bar. Dinner features a selection of certified Angus steaks from the grill served with fried onions and a choice of homemade sauces. They'll celebrate Thanksgiving with a huge brunch buffet with everything from omelets made to order to roast turkey and all the trimmings for less than $25 a head.
Garden Cafe
In the Renaissance Austin Hotel9721 Arboretum Blvd., 795-6100
Daily, 6:30am-2:30pm
Breakfast at the comfortable Garden Cafe covers all the bases: juices, fruit, a house blend of granola, old-fashioned oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, French toast, breakfast tacos, omelets, migas, and bagels with lox. The $10.95 breakfast buffet allows you to mix and match a variety of culinary influences every morning. Lunchtime brings an impressive array of pastas, salads, or hot and cold sandwiches. Travelers as well as local neighbors will enjoy the holiday lunch buffet. This hotel boasts an accomplished pastry department, so save room for dessert.
Cafe Julienne
In the Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel701 Congress Ave., 457-8800
Breakfast, 6:30-10:30am
Lunch, 10:30am-2:30pm
Dinner, 5:30-10:00pm
The dining room at the newly refurbished Stephen F. has all the ambience of a nice hotel coffee shop with prices set at the very top of the local fine dining market. Chef Klaus Happel's Mediterranean-influenced menu is well-executed, if somewhat unremarkable for the price. The Thanksgiving Day buffet goes for $48 per person and the festive Christmas offering will be $99.
