"Take a quick glance at Ocean Blue's menu and you’ll see popcorn shrimp, oysters on the half shell, and boudin sausage. Keep looking and you’ll start to see chicken satay, green curry soup, and thom ka gai. Ocean Blue may look like just an oyster bar from outside, but it’s also quietly one of Austin’s best Thai restaurants. Start with an order of oysters—raw or broiled with crab meat, bacon, and cheese—then make your way through Thai classics. Show up during crawfish season, and you’ll be able to try the house special seasoning, blending traditional Cajun spices with lots of garlic and butter. Ocean Blue also has a sister location in North Austin called Deckhand Oyster Bar with a nearly identical menu. photo credit: Holly Dirks" - Nicolai McCrary