Top Notch Burgers, North Central on Burnet Rd.

Top Notch Burgers  7525 Burnet Rd.  Austin, TX 78757  (512) 452-2181

Top Notch Burgers drive in restaurant opened in the early 1970s. It is located in the Allandale neighborhood in North Central Austin on Burnet Road just South of Northcross Drive.
(Google Map)

People flock to Top Notch for the burgers and fries, but they also have some very tasty fried chicken. The burger joint also has some thick and delicious milk shakes with your choice of the standard strawberry, chocolate and vanilla.

On the MENU they have an array of chicken sandwiches including chicken fried steak, fried or grilled chicken breast, and chicken salad. They also have a BLT, which is the only Top Notch sandwich I have had, and a grilled cheese.

Top notch also has chicken fried steak, shrimp and fish dinners. All 3 come with fries, and the seafood dinners also have a side of cole slaw. Optional sides include fried okra, potato salad, onion rings, mashed potatoes and gravy and tater tots to name a few.

"This place is great and reasonably priced, better then any fast food" says one reviewer.

TopNotchAustin.com | Menu (Downloadable) | Map

Zocalo Mexican Taqueria Cafe, 1110 West Lynn

Zocalo Cafe - 1110 West Lynn Street - Austin, TX 78703 - (512) 472-TACO

Zocalo is a mexican restaurant / taqueria / tex-mex cafe all rolled up into one. They are located just west of the downtown area at West Lynn and 12th Street. A few of my personal favorites are the crispy stacked chicken enchiladas, zucchini stew, and I also like the pulled pork tacos. Zocalo serves what I would call healthy mexican food. The cafe is in popular demand and get pretty crowded at lunch, so think ahead if you have a short lunch break.

Zocalo's serves only a couple of domestic beers with Coors and Lone Star the only two listed on the menu. The imported beer selection is better with Carta Blanca, Dos Equis, and a couple Modelo choices. Then of course you have Corona and Tecate. They also serve frozen drinks and wine.

It is a very short cab or bicycle ride from the downtown area if you are visiting Austin.

www.zocalocafe.com | Directions | Catering
MENU Lunch / Dinner | Weekend Brunch | Libations
Walk-Ins | Take Out | Groups | Kids | Outside Seating

Monday – Friday 11AM-10PM
Saturday and Sunday 10AM-10PM
Weekend Brunch Served 10AM-2PM

Green Mesquite BBQ, Barton Springs South

Green Mesquite BBQ - 1400 Barton Springs Rd. - South Austin - 512.479.0485

The Green Mesquite is located close to Downtown on the other side of the Colorado River in South Austin. It is close to Zilker Park and a couple football field lengths away from where the Austin City Limits Festival is held. This is the first location that opened in the late 1990s.

As any BBQ restaurant they serve beef, ribs, pork, sausage and chicken, but they are more than just a straight up BBQ menu. Some items I don't see at all barbeque restaurants are jumbalaya, chili cheese fries, fried okra, onion rings and catfish po-boys. The Green Mesquite also serves up a good ole American hamburger.

Prices range from $5.00 for a sliced beef sandwich, to $8 - $12 for barbeque plates.

The Green Mesquite is also a live music establishment with open mic Thursdays and bluegrass and bbq Sundays. They usually have music all week long. Music Calendar

www.greenmesquite.net | menu | hours / contacts | catering
More Green Mesquite Austin Area Locations

Southpark Meadows - 9900 South I35 South Austin, 512.282.7100

Round Rock Tx - 2601 South IH 35 North Austin, 512.341.0200

Nubian Queen East Austin Cajun Soul Food

Photos: smothered pork chops with onion rings, fried pork chops, fried catfish

Lola's Nubian Queen Eastside Cajun Soul Food Restaurant
1815 Rosewood Avenue (map)   Austin, Texas 78702   (512) 474-5652

Lola Stephens moved to Austin from Lake Charles Lousiana in the early 80s. I would have to think she had no idea how much love she would eventually get from the folks in the capital city that love good home cooked cajun food. it would be an understatement to say it is a dream come true. Starting out with a meager savings she jumped right in and didn't think twice. Lola's has since become an Austin Eastside favorite. On Sundays Lola is not open for business because she is busy feeding Austin's homeless at her own expense.

DAILY SPECIALS M-F
Gumbo (usually all you can eat on Friday), crawfish, baked chicken, pork chops with red beans and rice etc.. Check the menu for accuracy.

Nubian Queen Lola's Cajun Soul Food Cafe in East Austin, Texas serving cajun food, gumbo, po-boys, hamburgers, sandwiches, cajun sweet tea & more.

Breakfast  M-F, 8-10am Closed Daily 10-11am Lunch/Dinner Mon. & Tues.  11am-6:45pm Wed. - Fri.  11am-8:45pm Saturday  5pm-8:45pm www.nubianqueenlolas.com

PHOTO CREDIT: Kent Wang