Where is the Best Takeout in Austin, Texas?
Mandola’s Italian Market is a delightful restaurant located in the Triangle. Although exceptionally “fratty” (and thus a tad unbearable) on the weekends, stop by any Tuesday night and relax while little Italy envelopes you. The huge wine selection, coupled with the extensive deli of fresh cheeses, meats, and pastries, leaves me to make several suggestions: 1. try the gorgonzola dolce, 2. when trying the gorgonzola dolce, remember to eat with a freind so that you aren’t responsible for eating 1/2 – 1 1/2 pounds of exquisite cheese all by yourself,3. try the Melini Chianti Borghi D’Elsa–voted best inexpensive red wine in 2005 by the New York Daily News, and 4. take your food outside and dine under the twinkly lights beside the concrete fountain.Mandola’s is a magical place–perfect for dinner with a date you’re trying to woo into believing you’re actually a foodie.ENJOY!Pros + True Italian Cuisine with a little taste of Austin.Cons – Beat the crowds–dine on a
My roommate and I frequently go to Zen on those nights you just don’t want to cook. We can get something fast that’s hot, tasty, and not absolutely terrible for you. Usual dishes are spicy shimp bowl and spicy chicken. Sometimes the spicy tuna rolls, too. Ask for white meat chicken. And we prefer to get brown rice. Zen is consistent and never disappoints. The people are always friendly, and while it’s never crowded for a late dinner, be careful when you go for lunch. Also, check nutritional info on their website if you’re concerned about that kind of thing. Not everything is “good” for you. Only big complaint – get lids that stay on the bowls the whole ride home!Pros + Consistent, Great deal, Ginger salad dressingCons – , Hard seats
I would go here alot more when I’m driving home from work if I could figure where to put my car!!! It just feels overwhelming when one is tired and thirsty… Anyway, if you’re on foot or bike, it’s totally wonderful. I love the coconut milk served in a real coconut… scooping the cool flesh out with the pointed straw is fun and nourishing. Want to impress your veggie mate? Buy her some of their amazing raw gourmet treats!
I’ve always loved any type of buffalo chicken with lots of bleu cheese, so Pluckers is a favorite of mine. It’s kind of dive-ish, and every time I’ve been have had to wait at least ten minutes, but the bleu cheese and buffalo chicken tenders/wings/buffalo chicken sandwiches are worth it. We recently had Pluckers delivered, but they forgot to bring an extra side of bleu cheese and an order of french fries, and the french fries we did get were soggy because they were packed in the same styrofoam container as the buffalo chicken fingers. I probably won’t order delivery again…next time I’ll dine in or pick up and save the $3 delivery charge and tip for the driver. Don’t go on trivia night unless you want to listen to the highly obnoxious trivia guy who wanders around the place and shouts into the microphone while getting drunk on the beer he totes and swearing at the people who heckle him.Pros + bleu cheeseCons – obnoxious trivia guy
The food is a bit expensive to buy, though their lunch specials are usually pretty good. Where Grape Vine Market really excels is in their wine selection, which covers almost the entire store. Their customer service agents are extremely helpful with wine suggestions, and their prices aren’t too bad ($1-2 more expensive than our local supermarket on same brand wines).
