Those who live and travel along the IH-35 corridor have many options for great food. Today we bring you two great options for dining in either Austin or San Antonio. 

Este
2113 Manor Rd., Austin, TX 78722

Located in East Austin, Este brings fresh seafood with a Mexican flair to the table. With a bright dining space and a huge outdoor patio, Este is a great spot for dinner, lunch, happy hour, and even dessert. Bar Toti is right next door if you want to hang out even longer, and no need to worry about parking as Este has complimentary valet onsite. 

Chef Fermin Nunez brings flavors of his hometown, Torreon, Mexico, and presents unique and tasty dishes. He has a resume filled with Austin staples and also opened Suerte with business partner and restaurateur Sam Hellman-Mass, who is behind Este as well. 

An extensive wine list and vibrant coastal-inspired cocktails are the perfect pairing for aguachiles, ceviches, oysters y otros mariscos! While their fish is delicious, they also have great vegetarian options like the hongos quesadilla. Happy hour specials include $1 off oysters, $5 off fish tacos, $15 off seafood platters, $25 off seafood towers, 25% off bottles of wine, $2 off micheladas, draft beers, glasses of wine and $12 margaritas.

Este puts thought and sentimental touches into their space, as they give you a postcard with your meal. They will even stamp and send it for you! Something else unique is their female-led garden that provides fresh seasonal produce to both Este and Suerte. You can learn more about volunteering at the garden here. Make your reservation for Este here. 

Little Red Barn

1836 South Hackberry, San Antonio, TX 78210

If you’re in the mood for a mouth-watering steak, Little Red Barn is a must to check out. Their quaint farmhouse decor and cowgirl clad waitstaff really make you feel like you’re in a real barn having a good old country time. All you need is some hay stacks and some country music! 

Founded by Ralph and Lili Hernandez, Little Red Barn opened its doors in 1963. It was previously an old meat market before the delicious San Antonio staple we know and love today. This family-owned business started with only 8 tables. Today, they’ve grown to accommodate over 800 guests, and more recently celebrated 60 years of serving the Alamo City scrumptious steakhouse fare. Pretty impressive! 

This is the place for a great steak, so stop by and take our word for it. Others agree, as they recently won ‘Best Steakhouse’ in San Antonio by local publication, the San Antonio Current. Be sure to come in with an empty stomach, cause this steakhouse is known for their large portions of classic eats. 

They don’t have your standard hand-held menus, instead they have big red board menus that lean against the tables. As soon as we sat down we were greeted with salads. The ranch dressing is deliciously homemade, but the real star of the show is what they’re known for, the green goddess dressing. If you’re into garlic, you’ll love this dressing. I mean anything is good with garlic, right? 

You’ll have a choice to choose from starters like the jalapeño poppers or wings, to their Ringo special (chopped steak w/ smothered onion & jalapeños), and of course, steaks and entrees. 

The Porterhouse was so huge; you’ll have leftovers to last a couple of days. The T-Bone is pretty popular, but you can try other slabs of meat like the classic sirloin or ribeye. All entrees come with sides like loaded baked potatoes, green beans, fries and rolls. 

If you want a break from steak, they also have some fish, shrimp, and chicken entrees. 

We’d also recommend the Country Fried Steak (some might say it’s the best they’ve ever had).

You’ve satisfied your steak craving, now you have to satisfy your sweet tooth. Might as well, right? We really enjoyed their cheesecake, but you also can’t go wrong with their other southern sweet treats like the Key Lime Pie or Apple Pie A La Mode. The brownie or brownie A La Mode will satisfy the chocolate lovers. Add a scoop of ice-cream on top!

Another great thing – the Little Red Barn is super family-friendly. We witnessed three birthday parties while there. There’s a big open space in the back for those who want to have private events, whether an office function or any other special occasion. 

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Cover photo Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.