If your friend group is anything like mine, you typically get a group text message at 4 pm on Friday asking who is free for dinner. Or if you're naive like me, you forget that reservations in Austin fill up 2-3 weeks in advance. So, you're anxiously scrambling last minute to find a place that can accommodate you and your four out-of-town friends. This has happened to me too many times.
Luckily, I've discovered a few great gems that always seem to come through in these scenarios. Here's a compiled list of my favorite, last-minute dinner places to go in Austin with a large(ish) group.
Patrizi's At Vortex (Butterfly Bar)
www.patrizis.com/ | 3207 Manor Rd
Everything you want in an Italian dinner. Pasta. Garlic bread. Red Sauce. Pancetta. Egg Yolks. Do I need to say more? This decadent food truck shares the space with the Butterfly Bar, which serves up one of my favorite margaritas in Austin. This place is always a solid choice. Outside seating only.
Seolju
www.seouljuatx.com | 9515 N Lamar Blvd Suite 230
So fun! Located in North Austin in an unassuming strip center, Seoulju is a late-night, Korean comfort-food bar, focused on Soju. And their fried chicken is phenomenal! They only take reservations for parties over 7+, but they do have a waitlist that opens at 7pm. I recommend arriving right when they open at 7, as a line is probably already forming.
Boteco
www.botecoatx.com/ | 1720 Barton Springs Rd
I've followed this Brazilian food truck around for a while. They're now located off Barton Springs at The Picnic (food truck park), and still serving one of my favorite beef dish in Austin. The Picanha Grelhada is a masterpiece of sirloin, rice and beans and a fried egg. SO GOOD. Also, you really should order their Coxinha (Brazillian croquettes) to start. You won't regret stopping here.
Sour Duck Market
www.sourduckmarket.com | 1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
From the Odd Duck and Barley Swine team, this special cafe is everything I want in my dining experience. Unique flavors, fresh baked bread, and perfect cocktails served up in a cute patio. It's a great place to meet friends and talk for hours. Order dinner. Stay for a pastry. Grab a coffee. Then a beer. Then a cookie. I love it here.
Salty Sow
www.saltysow.com | 1917 Manor Rd This is always a go-to among my friends. We love their relaxed, yet upscale vibe. They do take reservations, but, they also take walk-ins. You may have to wait a bit for a table, but they have ample seating and usually can seat walk-ins pretty quickly. I recommend you enjoy a Rosemary’s Piglet or Sow’Rita while you wait for your table. Inside and outside seating are available here.
Sow'Rita
Slow Cooked Beef Shoulder
Vinaigrette
www.vinaigretteonline.com | 2201 College Ave If you're looking for something a little healthier, try Vinaigrette for their gourmet salads. Don't let that scare you-- the salads are not only creative but filling, fresh, and delicious. Plus they also have a full bar! Get a spot on their patio and enjoy your fresh greens underneath a beautiful large oak tree. And maybe the kale will help you feel a little less guilty about ordering that second cocktail.
Anis Day & Night
www.anisdayandnight.com | 7107 E Riverside Dr
Located in southeast Austin, this quaint, historical house offers amazing cocktails (and mocktails), natural wines, and two regular food trucks, Nyam Sunshine Cuisine (Caribbean) and Las Alegres Comadres (Mexican). There is plenty of parking and a spacious patio for your friends and pups. My out-of-town friends are always impressed when I take them here.
Nyam Sunshine Cuisine
Hopfields
www.hopfieldsaustin.com | 3110 Guadalupe Street I love this unique, quirky gastropub that focuses on French cuisine. They have plenty of space inside and a small sitting area outside as well. I think most people target them for brunch (their Full English Breakfast is WOW), so I've never had a problem getting a table for dinner. I also love just visiting for a Charcuterie Board and a glass of wine with the girls.
Llama Kid
www.llamakidatx.com | 4620 E Cesar Chavez St
Located in East Austin, this tasty Peruvian restaurant has a super cute outside space. Plus, I love that they will split tabs for a large group and have a parking lot. The staff is warm and inviting, and I haven’t even mentioned the food yet. You really can't go wrong with any item on their menu. A little pricey, but their seafood is fresh, and their sauces are spot on. I also really enjoy their Pollo A La Brasa. Perfectly seasoned, crispy chicken served with thick-cut potatoes. Enjoy it with a Pisco Sour.
Pisco Sour
Easy Tiger
www.easytigerusa.com | Multiple Locations
Always a fun, casual choice! This is your classic Beer Garden, except with cocktails too. I'm not a huge beer drinker, so this is a HUGE plus for me. Plus it's a bakery! I drool every time I think about their soft pretzels dipped in beer cheese. They have three different locations around town, and each spot has plenty of space to sit and chat or stand and mingle while you wait for a table.
Tamale House East
https://www.tamalehouseeast.com/ | 1707 E 6th St
I love going to Tamale House with friends because you can order separately via QR Code, there's plenty of space inside and outside, and there's a parking lot. The back patio looks like something out of a movie-- like it's some's It may be one of my favorite spots in Austin, and I confess I've sat there with margaritas and tacos for hours. Every time I visit, I'm reminded of why I fell in love with Austin.
Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya
https://www.domo-tatsuya.com/ | 1600 E 6th St
This is such fun place to grab some delicious small bites or a big bowl of ramen. Also be sure to try their Kirin Ichiban Lager with the frozen foam cap. This is a perfect treat for a warm Austin night. The line for food can get long, but don't let that scare you-- it moves pretty quickly. Take your out-of-town guests here. They'll love it!
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