(From December 2009) As if his two restaurants across Olmos Street were not enough, along comes Damien Watel with a très authentique French bakery and bistro run by his mother, Lucile. Hearty French roast coffee and flaky croissants make a breakfast visit de rigueur, while soups, pâtés, quiches, and salads fill the lunchtime menu. We enjoyed a quiche lorraine and a satisfyingly French broccoli soup. There were still workmen in evidence finishing the dining area, and a lot of business is takeout, but already locals have made this a favorite.

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(From April 2009) The decor is pretty and girly. The food is just as the name suggests: heavenly. Corn chowder, thick and creamy, warmed us up on a cold day. We followed it with a trio of goodies that left us quite satisfied: chicken salad with dried cranberries and pecans, old-fashioned broccoli salad with raisins (a childhood favorite of ours), and cold pasta salad. A German chocolate cupcake four inches high and wrapped in dark brown butcher paper (we couldn’t resist the packaging) had the added bonus of being moist and not too sweet.

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(From December 2009) Willy Wonka must whisper to Ken Wilkinson when he’s crafting his beautiful bonbons, but the chocolatier has a second identity as a chef. His retail store, inside a rescued bank, doubles as a restaurant, serving up classic bistro fare plated on white Wedgwood. Hearty beef bourguignonne topped with puff pastry and broiled lamb chops with the traditional acerbic mint sauce are both big-city-worthy. Sides include crisp vegetables and, on our visit, decadent Gruyère-topped gnocchi. The experience can be magical, and you must let Wilkinson ply you with truffles: Their urbane flavorings, such as Iranian saffron, fresh mint, and cassis, far transcend their small-town origin. BYOB.

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(From February 2009) Can a cookie be better than you-know-what? You’ll have to decide for yourself. At this new retro spot west of the UT campus, patrons relax on mod sectional couches (or text or surf—there’s free Wi-Fi) while waiting for their made-to-order cookies. Choose from six kinds of dough (we prefer Dottie’s Oatmeal and Stacey’s Super Sweet) and more than 30 mix-ins (the dark chocolate melts in your mouth). Be indulgent and wash it down with a milk shake (the vanilla sent us to sugar ecstasy). No regrets. Promise.

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(From June 2009) The medium of choice for this fixture in the artists’ mecca of Edom is food. Well-known around these parts for its delicious pastries and designer burgers, EBG is branching out, sharing recipes on its Web site and offering cooking classes. On a recent lunch visit, the Reubenesque (a very stylish corned-beef-and-Swiss) spoke to us, as did the Shrimp Louis salad, presented with homemade bread. Once a month, EBG hosts a “gourmet night”; in February, for Mardi Gras, the menu offered alligator eggs. Hmm.

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(From August 2008) The Joe T. Garcia clan has descended on Park Place with a new installation of Esperanza’s, its much-loved breakfast and lunch spot. Lots of windows let the light shine into this inviting space, where early diners order up plates of migas and huevos rancheros and the midday crowd feasts on tacos and enchiladas (an expanded menu is in the works, as are dinner hours). Bar.

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(From October 2008) Evenings can draw a crowd to the urban-rustic courtyard of this little espresso bar on the east side. We loved the trio of hummus, tabouleh, and couscous; the vibrant yellow hummus was rich and garlicky. The toasty Mediterranean Mama panino arrived packed with turkey, olives, and tomato and oozing with feta. The dollop of dill mayonnaise added a welcome tang. The cinnamon-rich iced chai was smooth and refreshing. Beer & wine.

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(From June 2009) Our idea of pure pleasure is sitting on this lovely outdoor patio and indulging in crispy rolled corn tortillas with roasted chicken, Manchego and Gruyère cheeses, and chiltomate salsa. The accompanying black beans and fragrant basmati rice were just as good. But, despite its crunchy sugar biscuit topping, the cobbler (with caramelized peaches, apricots, and blueberries) was just plain mushy. We’re going back for brunch, which offers such mouthwatering possibilities as huevos con carnitas and migas with four cheeses. P.S. The place is located on level one (below the AMC theaters on level two); it opens at 9 for coffee (10 weekends). Bar.

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(From July 2008) We usually choose a scoop of one of the 26 made-on-the-premises flavors, but this time the nineteenth-century ambience inspired us to order a chocolate soda with vanilla ice cream; the intensity of the dark chocolate paired with the sweet, creamy vanilla was a marvel. Other classic fountain faves: malts, sundaes, phosphates, and a supersized banana split.

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(From December 2009) If you’re catching a movie at the Magnolia, grab a bite to eat at this West Village bistro (formerly called Lazare) just down the block. A killer appetizer is the flatbread with lamb merguez, grilled fennel, charred tomato, and dots of goat cheese. Pasta with tender New Zealand lamb, mustard greens, and roasted mushrooms astonished with its melange of flavors, and equally good was a crème brûlée topped with macerated blackberries and raspberries. The dark woods and long zinc bar lend an air of comfortable panache. Bar.

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