Courtesy of EarthSky Communications, here's a list of restaurants in Austin, organized by neighborhood, including highlights of things to see nearby.

Austin is a city of neighborhoods and a great eatin' town. Restaurants can get crowded, so go early ... or enjoy the wait. Except for the restaurants downtown, most of the ones listed here are modestly priced or inexpensive. We've also included some fine dining restaurants at the bottom of this list. We added in some coffee shops and other fun places, too, in the various neighborhoods. Some of these restaurants sometimes have live music, but – for all music info – call first, check the website, or pick up an Austin Chronicle.

In the Heart of Downtown

Eddie Vs. Seafood and more. http://www.eddiev.com/ 301 E. 5th St. 512-472-1860

Kyoto. Excellent sushi bar and good Japanese dinners. Afterwards, check out the Elephant Room downstairs for live jazz. 315 Congress Ave., Suite 200. 512-482-9010. http://www.kyotodowntown.com/

La Traviata. Upscale Italian. Wonderful food. 314 Congress Ave. 512-479-8131. http://www.latraviata.net/

Manuels. Great Mexican food, great margaritas. 310 Congress Ave. 512-472-7555. http://www.manuels.com/

Sullivan's Steaks. Martinis and jazz. 300 Colorado St. 512-495-6504. http://www.sullivansteakhouse.com/

Las Manitas. Inexpensive Tex-Mex; breakfasts and lunches with movie stars and local politicians. 211 Congress Ave 512-472-9357. They don't have a website. They don't need one. That's how cool they are.

Points of interest in this area

Historic 6th St. — east of Congress, west of I.H. 35 — is now a center for local music, youth, and fun. Check out Casino el Camino (http://www.casinoelcamino.net/) which calls itself "6th St.'s only real neighborhood bar" and which serves great burgers. In the mood for a movie? Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz (http://www.originalalamo.com/) is a lot like your own living room (food, drinks served), but with much bigger screen. Otherwise, just wander 6th St. — always something to see.

Near 6th and Lamar

Z-Tejas. Nice patio. Southwestern cuisine. 1110 W. 6th Street 512-478-5355. http://www.ztejas.com/

Rounder's Pizza. Order out, or sit on the patio. 1203 W. 6th St. 512-477-0404. http://www.rounderspizzeria.com/

Whole Foods Market. Okay it's a grocery story, but it's also an unbelievable array of prepared foods and some nice indoor and outdoor eating areas. 525 N. Lamar Blvd. 512-476-1206. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/lamar/

Sweetish Hill Bakery. Open breakfast and lunch only. Best baked goods, nice soups and sandwiches. 1120 West Sixth St. 512-472-1347. http://www.sweetishhill.com/

Points of interest in this area

Waterloo Records at 600 N. Lamar is a music-lover's dream store. http://www.waterloorecords.com/

Book People at 603 N. Lamar is a three-story wonderful bookstore. http://www.bookpeople.com/

On Lake Austin

Hula Hut. Good place to eat, great place to party. 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. 512-476-4852. http://www.hulahut.com/

South Congress

Vespaio. More excellent Italian food in a quiet atmosphere/ 1610 S. Congress Ave. 512-441-6100. http://www.austinvespaio.com/

Guerro's. Good Tex-Mex in a noisy atmosphere! 1412 S. Congress Ave. 512-477-7688. http://www.guerostacobar.com/

El Sol y La Luna. Great little Tex-Mex café. 1224 S. Congress Ave. 512-444-7770. http://www.elsolylalunaaustin.com/

Home Slice. 1415 S. Congress Ave. 512-444-7437. http://www.homeslicepizza.com/

Points of interest in this area

Too many to name. This is the So-Co district with many shops and restaurants. Be sure to check out Jo's Coffee at 1300 South Congress Ave. During the SXSW Music Festival in March (pronounced "South By Southwest"), Jo's parking lot was the site of many huge impromptu parties. http://www.joscoffee.com/

On "The Drag" Near UT

Trudy's More Tex-Mex, in Bari Scott's old neighborhood. 409 West 30th St. 512-477-2935. http://www.trudys.com/

Madam Mams. Excellent Thai food. 2514 Guadalupe St. 512-472-8306. http://www.madammam.com/index2.html

Dog Almighty. Healthy junk food. Vegan options. Beer $2. 2801 Guadalupe St. 512-476-3647. http://www.dogalmightyhotdog.com

Points of interest in this area

Spider House at 2908 Fruth Street is a wonderful coffee house, and a great place to chill. The University is nearby, if you want to explore the campus. http://www.spiderhousecafe.com/

Barton Springs Road, near Zilker Park

Chuy's. Where, a few years ago, a certain President's daughter was involved in a certain illegal activity involving Chuy's famous (and very delicious) margaritas. 1728 Barton Springs Rd. 512-474-4452. http://www.chuys.com/

Green Mesquite. Barbeque and more near Zilker Park. 1400 Barton Springs Rd. 512-479-0485. http://www.greenmesquite.net/

Points of interest in this area

Daily Juice at 1625 Barton Springs Road is a fun place to stop for a pick-me-up. http://www.dailyjuice.org/

Barton Springs Pool at 2101 Barton Springs Road is a year-round, spring-fed, gigantic swimming hole in the middle of Austin. It's in Zilker Park, which has miles of hike-and-bike trails, and some nice wide open spaces. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm

Always Good, Varied Menus

Kerbey Lane http://www.kerbeylanecafe.com/

The Original: 3704 Kerbey Lane, 512.451.1436

South Lamar: 2700 South Lamar Blvd., 512.445.4451

The Drag: 2606 Guadalupe St., 512.477.5717

Magnolia Cafe. Open 24 hours. http://www.cafemagnolia.com/

South Congress: 1920 S. Congress Ave., 512-445-0000

West of downtown: 2304 Lake Austin Blvd., 512-478-8645

Texas Bar-B-Que

County Line. Not too far to drive, super patio. Be sure to get there in time for the sunset. http://www.countyline.com/comeseeus.asp

On the Hill: Bee Cave Road just past 360, 512-327-1742

Iron Works. Downtown, near the Convention Center. Good barbeque. 100 Red River. 512-478-4855. http://www.ironworksbbq.com/

Stubb's. 801 Red River St. 512-482-0035. http://www.stubbsaustin.com/

Ruby's BBQ. Clean; grass fed beef. 512 West 29th St. 512-477-1651. http://rubysbbq.com/

Strictly Vegetarian

Mothers. Can't beat their cashew tamari salad dressing ... many great options. 4215 Duval St. 512-451-3994. http://motherscafeaustin.com/

Casa de Luz. Nice veggie Sunday brunch. Thursday evening Guatemalan night is also good. 1701 Toomey Rd. 512-476-2535. http://www.casadeluz.org/

Veggie Heaven. 1914 Guadalupe St. 512-457-1013.

Fine Dining

Mars Restaurant. 1400 S. Congress Ave. 512-472-3901. http://www.marsaustin.com/

Fonda San Miguel. 2330 W. North Loop. 512-459-4121. http://www.fondasanmiguel.com/

Wink. 1014 North Lamar, Suite E. 512-482-8868. http://winkrestaurant.com/

Road Trip

Satellite Café in Oak Hill. 7101 Hwy. 71 West Oak Hill, TX. 512-301-1883. http://satellitecafeoakhill.com/

Salt Lick. Worth the drive for excellent barbeque in a Texas setting. 18001 FM 1826 Driftwood, TX. 512-894-3117. http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

Don't Miss

Amy's Ice Creams. You think you don't want ice cream … but you do. http://www.amysicecreams.com/

On the Drag: 3500 Guadalupe, 512-458-6895

Near 6th and Lamar: 1012 W. 6th St., 512-480-0673

South Congress: 1301 South Congress, 512-440-7488

Music

People who come to Austin always want to know, "Where are the best places to go to hear live music?" But there's no one answer to that. The Austin music scene is as fresh, powerful and fluid as the spillway at Barton Springs Pool. You can wander 6th St. to try to catch some good bands. You can pick up an Austin Chronicle for current music listings. Or ask around!