yk

I've decided to fly to Austin for a daytrip (from Dallas). I have looked at the Capital Metro website for bus information (I have taken the Airport Flyer #100 a few years ago).
http://www.capmetro.org/

For my day trip, I will rely on the bus (only $0.50, what a deal!). Here are the sites I want to visit:

Austin Museum of Art (Downtown)
Blanton Museum of Art (grand reopening this weekend)
+/- LBJ Library Museum (if time allows)

It looks like the bus Airport Flyer #100 will get me to all these places, right?

I also need to find a place for lunch, either near the Austin Museum of Art (823 Congress) or near the Blanton Museum. I am open to any suggestions - I prefer "hip" places, no Tex-Mex.

Thanks in advance.

J62

the free dillo buses will get you around town.

If you'g/ve never been, Whole Foods on 6th st at Lamar is a unique lunch experience.

The silver dillo can take you from Congress (Aus Mus. of Art) to Lamar and back.

www.capmetro.orriding/routes_400.asp

yk

ttt

corwin

i like the texas chili parlor. it's hip, as are a few other places nearby. there's a sign on the wall in the chili parlor that reads, "don't you feel more like you do now than when you got here?"
corwin

trippinkpj

This place was really good, and close to where you want to be for lunch:
http://www.roaringforkaustin.com/menu_lunch.html

pepper131

yk - Can I ask you a dumb question? Why don't you drive down there instead? My husband used to travel to Austin often for work and found the travel time to be almost to the same....drive or fly.

J62

2nd the vote for Roaring Fork on Congress at ~7th. Another good option is Louie's 106, on 6th right at Congress. Great tapas menu if you want something different.

yk

pepper - I'm flying because of the current AA promotion (Fly 3, 1 free). Plus, I'm not a big fan of driving 3-4 hours there and back by myself. I'm prone to falling asleep while driving.

To others:
The Roaring Fork menu looks good. I'll probably give it a try.

Any opinions on Kenichi? From what I've read, it's kind of overhyped and overpriced? I wonder if anyone has eaten there for lunch.

AustinTraveler

Haven't eaten at Kenichi but if it's sushi you're after, I can recommend Maiko. It's located at 311 W. Sixth Street. That's just two blocks down and two blocks west of the Austin Museum of Art. It's a very easy walk.

yk

ttt

Anyone else wants to chime in?

michellen

I wouldn't call the Chili Parlour 'hip', but they've got damn good burgers!

trippinkpj

I really liked the Roaring Fork too. And Kerbey Lane for lunch, Artz Rib House and Ironworks for BBQ.

rine1967

YK,

I couldn't get the link to the dillo buses to work (J62 suggestion) so here is another link:
http://www.capmetro.org/riding/downtown_trollies.asp
The dillo will be easier to use, especially downtown to campus.

My suggestions for lunch are:
Clay Pit--spicy, yummy, pretty darn good Indian food http://claypit.com/Home.asp
If you are in a hurry, they have a lunch buffet.

Another unusual spot is "O" restaurant, at the Engineering school at UT. O's food is provided by the owners of one of the best restaurants in Austin, Jeffrey's. It is a little known fact that they also run this lunch spot. Here are a couple of articles about O:
http://www.utexas.edu/opa/news/00new...afe001016.html
www.austinchronicle.com/issues/ dispatch/2001-05-04/food_mini.html - 19k

If you are more interested in character and atmosphere, here are a couple of places with meaning to Austinites, but just mediocre food:

Scholz Beer Garten http://www.scholzgarten.net/My_Homep...es/Page12.html

Texas Chili Parlor (corwin's suggestion) http://www.cactushill.com/TCP/home.htm

Dirty's Hamburgers (we love their burgers, but newcomers may not be wowed) http://www.dirtymartins.com/3/Dirty_Martins_History/

Capitol Grill at the Texas State Capitol Building
http://www.therkgroup.com/CapitolGrill.htm

A couple of my suggestions are not near the Austin Museum of Art, they are closer to the LBJ library.

Also, if you have time, stop in at the HRC, also on campus. It is a treasure. http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/

yk

I'm leaving this week - keep your ideas coming!

yk

Just want to let y'all know that I went on my daytrip a few days ago. I posted a brief report here:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34808787

Thanks to all who gave me recommendations and suggestions, and especially those of you who suggested The Roaring Fork! I had lunch there and it was excellent!