LENOIR

"Lenoir will make you want to linger. Maybe it’s the rustic dining room in a cute, renovated old bungalow on South 1st Street. Or the large wine garden shaded by massive oak trees. Wherever you’re seated, you’ll have access to a standard menu, plus a four or five-course “chef’s tasting” made up of a series of Goan-inspired plates that grow increasingly rich and savory, usually culminating in some large portion of steak or pork loin to guarantee you won’t need to supplement the meal with a P. Terry’s stop on the way home. Of the courses, usually two will be available for à-la-carte ordering, but the tasting-menu-only plates are typically the highlights. Wine pairing: Standard for $60 per person, premium for $90" - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs

"The Deal: Half off bottles of wine under $80; $3 off cocktails; $2 off beers; discounted food. Half off all bubbles all night Wednesday; half off a la carte food at the bar all night Thursdays. When the weather is nice, few better places are more appealing than Lenoir's backyard wine bar, under the shade of massive oak trees and lots of twinkling lights. The rest of the time, you can just grab a comfy seat inside the old farmhouse dining room. Bottles of wine are half-priced for a couple of hours most of the week, and bubbles get the half-priced treatment all night on Wednesdays." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"You’ll have to choose between two great experiences at Lenoir: the modern farmhouse or the large outdoor wine garden shaded by oak trees. Both are cozy and intimate, and both offer full access to a well-curated list of mostly natural wines, with plenty of options by the glass or bottle. And while you can certainly come for the wine alone, you’d be doing yourself no favors by skipping out on the five-course “chef’s tasting menu” made up of a series of Goan-inspired plates. They also have one of our favorite Happy Hours in town—with half-off bottles in the wine garden from 5-6pm every day that they’re open." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"The longtime favorite Bouldin Creek restaurant’s shady wine garden is an expansion of its vintage-chic interior. Another great spot for a nice date night, Lenoir is known for a great wine selection, unreal fluffy Pullman bread, and an ever-rotating menu of dishes made for hot weather. The wine garden serves the full menu, so try all of the Michelin-recommended fare." - Erin Russell

"The Bouldin Creek restaurant is a strong contender for the most beautiful restaurant in Austin, inside and out. Dine under shady live oaks outdoors in the shabby-chic wine garden (the full menu is available) or cozy up inside at a table or the bar. The mid-range menu offers seasonal selections like grilled wild cobia with smoked tomato broth and an impressive wine list. There’s also a tasting menu option, and don’t miss the fluffy Pullman bread." - Erin Russell