Let’s talk fish tacos.

We'll put our Fish Tacos up against anybody's in town -- even those trailer guys.

Did you know that Hyde Park Bar & Grill frequently has Fish Tacos as a lunch special?  And that our Fish Tacos are said to be among the best in Austin?

(See the daily specials at the Central location here and the South location here.)

They’re flaky, mild Tilapia Filets fried with a crispy crumb breading, fresh lettuce and creamy pico de gallo all stuffed in flour tortillas and served with queso blanco rice.  For $7.95

So…to get your fish taco fix, come to Hyde Park, get table service in a comfortable, colorful, creative atmosphere and get two scrumptious fish tacos with queso blanco rice for $7.95.

Just for fun, we’re going to have a little contest / drawing for our email crowd that’s related to the change in the art on The Fork as of today, March 21.   We’ll pick a winner from all those with correct answers and give that lucky and observant entrant a $25 gift card to our Central Austin location.

Everyone on our email list can enter our What's On The Fork drawing this week!

Here’s how to prepare to enter:

1. Make sure you’re on our email list.  We send an email about every 2 weeks, and there’s a drawing or giveaway  in just about every one.
2. Notice what’s new on The Fork after Monday, March 21.  (The Fork stands outside our Central Austin location in historic Hyde Park neighborhood at 4206 Duval.  We suggest you also friend him on Facebook at Hyde Park Fork and follow him on Twitter at HPFork.)
3. Watch for an email with instructions on how to enter the contest this week.

Wanted to point out a cool site called Live Like A Local — an especially good reference for those visiting Austin during SXSW / Rodeo / B’ball March Madness.

Live Like a Local likes our Fried Chicken (only avail Mon & Tues nites)

We do this partly out of a sincere interest in helping everyone enjoy the best of Austin, and partly out of …you guessed it….shameless self-promotion.

They have wisely included Hyde Park Bar & Grill’s infamous  Tony’s Southern Comfort Fried Chicken under the Best Chicken category.

Chef Tony Herring and his Famous Chicken

This is the chicken that Texas Monthly, the arbiter of all things truly Texan, called “tender, with outrageously crisp, well- battered skin, Monday’s bone-in chicken alone is worth a trip.” It’s the chicken that’s so popular, and so labor-intensive to properly prepare, we have to treat it like a controlled substance.  It’s only available on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

So if you’re in town on a Monday or Tuesday, you’ll have the opportunity to eat it.  And if you’re carrying a SXSW badge or wristband, you’ll get 10% off during SXSW week 2011.

Live Like a Local lists some other handy categories, such as Best BBQ and Best Tex-Mex, two highly competitive categories in a town with a BBQ joint or a Tex-Mex restaurant behind every tree.  (We don’t have a dog in those fights, as they say in Texas.)  They don’t list a few of our favorites such as the enchiladas at Dart Bowl, which were, last time we checked, about as good as bowling-alley enchiladas can ever hope to be.

By the way, we ask for your consideration for more of Live Like a Local’s categories such as:

• Best Burgers
• Best Fries (we made that category up)
• Best Vegetarian (we don’t specialize in it, but we have enough selection that you happily can dine in mixed company)
• Best Late-Night Dining (til midnight at our Central location)
• Best Brunch
• Best Healthy Food (the Horseshoe notwithstanding — all our food is handmade from fresh ingredients)
• Best Coffee
• Best Wi-Fi
• Best Live Music at our South location
• Best Margaritas
• Best Outdoor Dining at our South location.

So, make your Monday / Tuesday dinner plans now and check out Live Like a Local to enjoy the best of Austin!

SXSW is known for its contribution to music, film and technology. Hyde Park Bar & Grill is known for its contribution to upscale comfort food and its appreciation for local art and music. What happens when you put the two together?

Discounts!

SXSW badge and wristband holders get 10% off at both Hyde Park Bar & Grill locations, Mar 11 – 20.

Hyde Park Bar & Grill South at 4521 Westgate is showcasing live music Tuesday through Sunday with bands from around the world. Enjoy the music while you have a bite and take in the display of music-themed paintings and photography by more than 15 regional artists.

The Hyde Park Bar & Grill Central location at 4206 Duval is a favorite getaway for SXSW attendees and locals alike. With cozy tables, free WiFi and no live music, it’s the perfect spot to recharge with a meal and a beverage. The Central location is home to the famous giant fork which stands outside the restaurant, an Austin landmark and favorite photo-op since 1982. During the week of SXSW, photographic portraits of musicians and music-themed art is on display. Just blocks away is Hyde Park Theatre, where the popular play, St. Nicholas, runs through Saturday, March 12.

For those SXSW attendees visiting Austin for the first time, here are a few more reasons why you’ll want to experience Hyde Park Bar & Grill:

• Hyde Park Bar & Grill fries have consistently been voted “Best French Fries in Austin.” It’s a big platter of hand-cut Idaho potatoes, dipped in creamy buttermilk, rolled in seasoned flour and lightly fried. Served with our special Hyde Park Sauce.
• The restaurant holds the record for most Groupons sold in Austin at 7,000.

Both locations are easily accessible via Capital Metro from downtown Austin.

• Hyde Park Bar & Grill Central is 4 miles from downtown Austin. Take the #7 Capital Metro bus at 101 Congress Ave. & 2nd Street.
• Hyde Park Bar & Grill South is 7 miles from downtown Austin. Take the #5 or the #30 Capital Metro bus from Congress Ave. & Cesar Chavez St.

The menu is eclectic and includes upscale comfort food favorites such as mac and cheese, great burgers, chicken fried steak as well as pasta, steaks, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices.

So, whether you live in Austin or just visiting for SXSW, you are hereby invited to come enjoy yourself at Hyde Park Bar & Grill to experience an awesome trifecta of food, art and music.

For more information, please call either location:

Central: 512-458-3168

South: 512-899-2700

Hyde Park Theatre’s production of St. Nicholas is garnering glowing reviews from the likes of Spike Gillespie and Austin Theatre Examiner.

Hyde Park Theatre's hit play continues Thurs - Sun thru Mar 12

It runs Thurs thru Sundays, thru March 12.  NOTE:  Thursdays are Pay-What-You-Can nights.

A great night out.  Includes vampires.  (Go see it, and you’ll see why.)

Ever been to Hyde Park Theatre?

Hyde Park Theatre, actual size (almost)

It’s a little tiny place that packs a powerful punch.

We’re told the building was once a post office for the Hyde Park neighborhood.  It figures.

But it’s what’s inside that counts.  And what’s inside is Austin’s premier place for cutting edge, alternative theatre.  When you want big flashy shows and musicals where you know all the songs, head to Broadway Across America at Bass Concert Hall, or the Long Center, Zack Scott or even the State Theatre.

When you want in-your-face /you-can’t-believe-they-said-that / you’ll-never-guess-what’s-happening-next theatre, treat yourself to a performance at Hyde Park Theatre.

As a reviewer on CitySearch puts it:

Great Plays, Great price!!

Drove by the theater 3 times before I found it–It doesn’t look at all like a regular theater from the outside, and more like a run down gym. Inside though, it’s theater in the semi-round. GREAT plays!! And on thursday they have “pay what you want” night, which is quite possibly the coolest idea ever!!! You donate whatever you have in your pockets, and get to watch the show!! Just get there early, because obviously w/ optional pricing they fill up early. Honestly though, it’s such a fun Austin experience, I’d go even on a full price night!!

• Pros: Cool thing to do for not a lot of money.
• Cons: Hard to find the first time. Everything else is great!

We recommend them so highly, we post their schedule on our calendar.  And we’re prone to giving a ticket or two to each of their performances to folks on our email list.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that our Central Austin locaton, at 4206 Duval in the heart of historic Hyde Park neighborhood, is the ideal spot for a pre-show meal or a post-show late night drink or snack.   It’s an easy 12 minute stroll from our doors to the theatre.

Our online drawing winner for the ticket to Hyde Park Theatre’s production of St. Nicholas was Customer Mike!

He planned to take his wife to the play on Friday night.  We gave him a gift card as a bonus.

(HINT:  You could be the winner next time, if you’re on our email list.)

St. Nicholas at Hyde Park Theatre, Thurs - Sun, through Mar 12

The third week of March is known as “March Madness” in Austin for not one, but three major events.

You’ve got your Rodeo, March 11 – 26.

You’ve got UIL basketball, March 3 – 12.

And you’ve got SXSW.

So … where are you going to eat when you want a great chicken fried steak, a great burger and Austin’s favorite fries, or a vegetarian dish like our Eggplant Fettuccine with Vodka Sauce?

And what if you want a cozy table with Wi-Fi where you can actually hear your dining companions?

(You probably see where this is going, don’t you? )

We’re going to recommend Hyde Park Bar & Grill Central (on Duval) as your go-to March Madness / Rodeo / SXSW Sanctuary.   Your place to slip away from the madding crowd for nourishment, a glass of wine or your favorite beverage, and re-charge.

You won’t be completely away from the scene.   Our Duval-street location is just north of downtown, right on Capital Metro’s route — try the 7-DUVAL / DOVE SPRINGS-NB line.

And we’re celebrating the music madness with a fabulous display of music-themed photography & art.

Steven Hopsons' portraits of musicians on display at HPB&G Central (on Duval).

Come see us.  You can even reserve a table.

Please stand by for a moment of unabashed self-congratulation:

We got an email from a customer who says this about the stuffed pork loin that was the dinner special at Duval on Fri, Feb 25 (and we quote):

I went in with my girlfriend last night, ate the stuffed pork loin, and the

butternut squash complimented the meats perfectly.

It was awesome.

stuffed porkloin, one of Chef Marty’s many popular dinner specials

Well, thank you, Customer John!   We really, really appreciate you writing to tell us you liked it.  We’ll take your suggestion to make it a permanent part of the menu under consideration.  Rest assured it will be back soon as a featured special.

And next time, we’ll call it “Stuffed Pork Loin a la John” in appreciation for your appreciation.

For everyone else, we suggest you try the daily specials — every day, rain or shine, there’s something that’s not on our regular menu for both lunch and dinner, with each location creating their own dishes.  Chef Marty at our Duval location and Chefs Tony and Eddie at our Westgate location are usually the creators of these fine meals, so our complements to them.

Check the Daily Specials for the Duval location HERE and for the Westgate location HERE.  Every day!

And remember you can reserve a table at the Duval (Central) location HERE or at reserve a table at the Westgate location HERE.  NOTE:  we make a select number of tables available for reservations –if no tables are available on line, call to find out what’s open.

Music begets art.

Carolyn Wonderland, photographed by Steve Hopson

Steve Hopson’s photographs of musicians, now gracing our walls at our Duval location, are living proof that the soul-to-soul experience that is live music can be captured visually.  Hopson’s eye is for those fleeting moments — the kind of mental image that comes to mind when you think of a particular performer.

Check out his website HERE.

We’ll be celebrating Steve on Wednesday, Feb 23 with an Art Party in his honor.  We’re going to party down with him and toast his fine photographic art for awhile in the happiest of hours.

And Steve has an extra treat for us, too — a fiddle player to add ear candy to the eyes’ feast.

Come fiddle around at the Art Party for Steve Hopson!

ART PARTY FOR STEVE HOPSON

Wednesday, Feb 23, 5 – 7pm

Free Hors_d’œuvres, drinks at Happy Hour prices

Great pictures, fiddle music, interesting people

Hyde Park Bar & Grill @ 4206 Duval

Come on by …. remember there’s parking behind Hyde Park the lot that’s just behind the restaurant.