Austin

(From August 2009) Buenos Aires Café—Austin’s first Argentine eatery—has opened a spacious and inviting second location on the east side. Fresh and flaky, empanadas come with various fillings, including a don’t-miss carne picante with scallions, raisins, and green olives and a vegetarian’s dream packed with spinach, ricotta, and Parmesan. Entrées can be spotty; steer clear of the bland gnocchi and head straight for the pastel de papas, Argentina’s answer to shepherd’s pie. Vegetable lovers will enjoy the handmade herbed crepes (canelones caseros) filled with Parmesan and a portobello-eggplant blend. Beer & wine.

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(From October 2009) If you’ve never been to a hacienda in Mexico, this beautiful restaurant is the next best thing. Open the elaborately carved wooden doors and walk into a stunning indoor courtyard with a fountain and various nooks in which to sit and enjoy conversation and cocktails while waiting for a table (suggestion: make a reservation so you don’t have to wait all night). The main dining room is massive, with the focal point being an elegant flower arrangement atop a large, dark table. Punched-tin light fixtures hang from the green ceiling, colorful artwork perks up the walls, and Saltillo tile covers the floor. We sat in an adjacent room, which was smaller but similarly styled and just as crowded (there were two tables with more than fifteen people apiece). We started with out-of-this-world handmade flour tortillas (the corn were fabulous also) and fresh ceviche (mixed with avocado, onion, and tomato). From the many offerings (think tacos al pastor to chorizo verde), we decided to stay focused on seafood and went with the camarones al mojo de ajo, good-sized Gulf shrimp sautéed in garlic butter. For a split second we thought about a decadent dessert, but in the end, an after-dinner glass of pinot grigio sounded just as delightful. We’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you to go for Sunday brunch.

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(From October 2009) Let the sweet smell of jasmine envelop you as you savor the atmosphere of this upscale neighborhood restaurant, where the verdant vines twist through the metal fence on one side and strings of lights brighten the dusky patio all around. Sampaio’s is great for a cool summer night, either for tapas, drink specials, or a scrumptious evening meal. We started with mussels in a poblano-fennel broth with a sauté of onions and peppers, served with fresh-baked bread. Although the light sauce lacked oomph, the mussels popped with flavor. As the waitress set our main courses on the mosaic stone table, the tarps of caramel-colored fabric above our heads blew in the slight breeze. The porco grelhado, a coffee-crusted grilled pork tenderloin with a delicious cherry sauce sided by grilled asparagus and served atop mashed yuca with goat cheese, was definitely the best dish of the evening. As we savored the last bite, a cat purred at our feet, demonstrating that everyone in the Allandale neighborhood wants to relax on this fabulous patio.

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