Special offer

"Foodie" Friday 8-3-12

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899

“Foodie” Fridays in Austin

Dories picks 7-27-12



This week’s “Foodie” Friday is all about places that are truly Austin.  These choices all have a bit of history and have become Austin icons.  If you’re looking for something different this weekend try one and add a little history to your night out. Come on be adventuresome!!!

 





1.  SCHOLZ GARTEN             http://www.scholzgarten.net/
Scholz Garten is the last of the great Biergartens in Texas.  It was built by August Scholz in 1866 over an old boarding house, the year following the end of the Civil War. It started out as a place where the German community in and around Austin could visit before horseless carriages and moving pictures took their toll on the available time everyone had.  The kids would play noisily around the bandstand, while the adults would enjoy a cold beer and great food.  The good food and cold beer is still a tradition at Scholz Garten.  This is the oldest business in TX without having ever been closed down and/or re-opened.   In 1966, the 59th Texas Legislature honored Scholz Garten in House Resolution #68 “as a gathering place for Texans of discernment, taste, culture, erudition, epitomizing the finest tradition of magnificent German heritage in our State.” Scholz Garten was recognized as a forum for discussion of the problems of government and a place where you could catch a break from matters of state.  Scholz Garten was recorded as a TX Historical Landmark in 1967.  Modern day Scholz Garten has a large outdoor patio with picnic tables and a long bar serving drinks along the side.  The inside has a back area with windows where you see outside to the patio with several table where you order food and drinks. The main bar area is one small step up & where you’ll find 4 TV’s that have all the different games to watch.  Their food is excellent with a variety of great German food (including weinerschnitzel)  and, of course BBQ (this is Austin after all!) along with a great selection of beer to go with whatever you choose, right in downtown Austin.

2.  THE ELEPHANT ROOM             http://www.elephantroom.com/
This place is the embodiment of the greatest things about Austin.  Located in the basement of an old building off Congress Ave. The Elephant Room is the kind of place you go to when you want a relaxing, low key night out on the town.  A lot of out-of-town visitors make their way here to enjoy some great music in a really cool atmosphere.  There’s a little history involved in how it got its name.  During excavation for a nearby tower, a cache of mastodon fossils were found.  They were stored in the basement that would eventually become The Elephant Room.  The New Yorker Magazine has listed The Elephant Room as one of the best jazz clubs in the U.S. & USA Today ranks it as one the top 10 places for jazz in the U.S.  You’ll find a calendar of what music will be playing during a given month: a vibrant jazz band, a blues singer or something that will get your heart pounding. There is a sense of being shut off from the rest of the world here, it’s sensual, cool and dark with brick walls.  If someone were to tell you Al Capone used to come here for a secret card game, you’d believe them! But, one thing is for sure, it’s the only place of its kind in Austin.

3.  THREADGILLS        http://www.threadgills.com/
Threadgill’s is legendary not only for its chicken fried steak and cheese grits, but for also being the place with the best in bluegrass, country and soul music as well as their delicious Sunday Gospel Brunch! The history behind Threadgill’s began when a bootlegger and lover of country music, Kenneth Threadgill opened his first Gulf filling station in 1933 just north of the Austin city limits.  But, he had more on his mind than pumping gas. His “joint” soon became THE place for traveling musicians interested in grabbing a drink after they performed. It continued to flourish into the 60’s and when the times changed, so did Threadgill’s by inviting hippies and beatniks to his singing sessions on Wednesday nights.  His love for people and music would smooth things over when the inevitable clashes occurred when ‘longhairs’ crossed paths with ‘rednecks’ and because of this, a new culture of tolerance emanated from the tavern, which then had an effect on its patrons and the music that came from it.  Not to mention that this is where Janis Joplin developed her brassy style and it propelled her to become the first female rock and roll superstar.  Threadgill’s always has great comfort food: chicken fried chicken, grilled pork chops with applesauce and, of course, meatloaf and potatoes; and their jalapeno honey mustard salad dressing is to die for!   Threadgill’s has been around a long time with steaks, seafood po-boys and the best vegetable side-dish selections in town, this is the quintessential Austin food and music spot.

Dories Past Picks:


July 27 July 20 July 13  July 6  June 29  June 22  June 15  June 8  June 1  May 25  May 18  May 11  May 4  April 27  April 20  April 13   April 6  March 30  March 23  March 16  March 9  March 2

As always, local events and information are brought to you as a courtesy of Dorie Dillard,Coldwell Banker United Realtors, your NW Austin Real Estate Consultant. Please watch for future Dorie picks for Austin dining experiences!

If you are considering the sale or purchase of a NW Austin home I would love the opportunity to earn your business and exceed your expectations!

Search for homes in NW Austin


“WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO ASSIST YOU!”no matter where you are, we are just a click away

Posted by

(512) 750-6899
CALL OR TEXT

EMAIL ME

My ActiveRain Blog

ReloAustin.com
Austin Real Estate Website

CanyonCreekNews.com
Canyon Creek Neighborhood

I specialize in Listing and Selling homes in the NW Austin Area. I use my experience to guide clients through the process, whether selling or buying. It’s a beautiful thing when your career and a passion come together. I love what I do!

 

Comments (13)

Bobbie Smith
Stroudsburg, PA
570-242-1891

These posts are so great for people visiting the area.  With this info they will not be afraid to visit some place other than a "chain" Great informative post Dorie.

Aug 02, 2012 09:25 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

It's so nice to have a personal recommendation for a restaurant!  Well done!

Aug 02, 2012 09:28 PM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Yum... Now i am ready for something good. I love the information you give to these restaurants and like Bobbie says.. they are not the big chain restaurants that are the same everywhere you go.

Aug 02, 2012 09:39 PM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Wow..Austin has many great places to choose from to eat and relax :)!  Any of these three restaurants looks like it would provide great food and a terrific atmosphere :)!

Aug 02, 2012 09:49 PM
Carol-Ann Palmieri
RE/MAX Executive Realty, Al and Cal Realty Group - Franklin, MA
"Cal" the Real Estate Gal

Hi Dorie.   No one knows the area like you!    Fun reading the history behind Threadgills. 

Aug 02, 2012 10:08 PM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Dorie...just when I think you aren't going to be able to top the previous choices you come out with more fantastic restaurant choices in Austin TX.  YUM-ME!

Aug 02, 2012 10:20 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Dorie - I love Threadgills and even though I had breakfast, the mention of my favorite foods.. .chicken fried steak!  In fact my favorite meal is chicken fried stead, mash potatoes and green beans.

Aug 02, 2012 10:52 PM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good morning Dorie -

Well I've fallen way off the healthy eating wagon so your Foodie Fridays sound really good to me!  We have an Elephant Bar here.  It's great perhaps it's a sister to your area Elephant Room?  Speaking of food... time for breakfast :)

 

Aug 02, 2012 11:53 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Dorie, Quite the collection you've put together.  The more I read about Austin the more I realize I need to pay it a visit someday :)

Aug 03, 2012 12:20 AM
Stephanie Stringer
First Choice Loan Services NMLS#210764 - San Antonio, TX
Mortgage Loan Originator

Good morning Dorie... Yummmy to Threadgills!!!!  That chicken fried steak is amazing.  It's also so big that there is enough for a doggie bag.... It's funny, it seems like Fridays are when I eat the most.  I am thinking it's because of the yummy items you put out on your blog.  This blos always make me hungry.  Keep up the mighty fine work you are doing!

Aug 03, 2012 02:25 AM
Joy Daniels
Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd. - Harrisburg, PA

Makes me want to make a trip to Texas for some FOOD!  Thanks for the great post idea.  I am going to try to write something similar about my home town. 

Aug 03, 2012 06:14 AM
San Antonio Texas New Homes for Sale
www.sanantoniotexasnewhomesforsale.com - San Antonio, TX
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hill Country

Dorie a great list of fabulous Austin Restaurants

 

Thank You 

Aug 03, 2012 07:56 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Dorie,

Oh my goodness, I will have to find a way to bring my husband down to Austin just to eat at Sholz Garten!

Aug 03, 2012 09:08 AM