Curra's Grill
The menu at Curra's focuses on the regional cuisines of interior Mexico. Cochinita pibil, the Yucatan dish of marinated pork baked in banana leaves, is featured here, along with Tampiqueña style meat, a rib eye steak served with a pork tamal, chicken enchilada, rice and beans. The machaca con huevo, shredded dried beef with eggs, is typical of northern Mexico, and the carnitas, braised pork with a hint of orange flavor, are from Michoacan. Open from 7:00 a.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. All menu items are served throughout the day.
Curra's Grill
614 E. Oltorf St.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-0012
www.currasgrill.com
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
Mesquite grilled steak and chicken are the specialties here, and can be ordered as entrees or in quesadillas, nachos or enchiladas. Choices like pan-seared Mahi Mahi tacos with fresh mango salsa have been pointed out as tasty, health-conscious menu options by "Austin Fit" magazine. Happy hour, with $5 draft beers and margaritas, is every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Open from Sunday through Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., the restaurant serves brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
301 San Jacinto Blvd.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-8300
www.rioaustin.com
Manuel's
A modern approach to Mexican cooking is reflected in this restaurant's food and beverage offerings. Medallions of pork tenderloin are served with pineapple and guajillo chile sauce or avocado, sesame and pumpkin seed sauce. Wild-caught black drum fish is grilled and served with mango mint butter. Hibiscus martinis are a contemporary take on a classic cocktail, and the Pink Chihuahua margarita is made with prickly pear juice instead of lime. Downtown and Arboretum locations are open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Manuel's serves Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Happy hour is 4 to 6 p.m. daily.
Manuel's Downtown Manuel's Arboretum
310 Congress Ave. 10201 Jollyville Road
Austin, TX 78704 Austin, TX 78759
(512) 472-7555 (512) 345-1042
http://www.manuels.com http://www.manuels.com
Article Written By Karen Hursh Graber
A native of New York City, Karen Hursh Graber is a food and travel writer. A graduate of Fordham University, she is a regular contributor to El Restaurante Mexicano magazine and National Geographic Books. A winner of the magazine industry's Folio Award, she divides her time between Puebla, Mexico and Sarasota, Florida.
