Progressive vegetable dishes and mindful wines work together at this elegant entry on East 6th Street by the team behind the beloved restaurant Contigo.

Website: gardner-austin.com
Number of seats: 72
Average per-person check: $60
Popular dishes: Broccoli with garlic, walnut and lemon; cauliflower with golden raisins, cashew and basil; gnudi with smoked mushrooms, ricotta and arugula
What people come for: Patio service with partial menu
Address: 1914 E 6th St.
Phone Number: 512-354-1480

A grand patio overlooking the Colorado River and a “vertically integrated ranch-to-table” philosophy bring Austinites to this font of down-home food served with up-market focus.

Website: jacobysaustin.com
Number of seats: 125
Average per-person check: $50
Popular dishes: Stuffed Salisbury steak with buttermilk mashed potatoes and brown gravy; shrimp and grits with head-on prawns, smoked cheddar and Cajun butter; chicken-fried steak with black pepper gravy, green beans and arugula salad; dry-aged butcher’s cut steaks
What people come for: Unique cocktails and craft beer, scenic patio
Address: 3235 E. Cesar Chavez St.
Phone Number: 512-366-5808

This offshoot of another Noble Sandwich Co. location in town recently expanded its beloved lunch service into dinner hours, with certain artisan sandwiches held over and other hearty, homey menu items conscripted in the mix.

Website: noblesandwiches.com
Number of seats: 72
Average per-person check: $12
Popular dishes: “Noble Pig” with spicy ham, pulled pork, provolone, spicy mustard, mayonnaise and bacon; venison burger with marinated ricotta, seared green tomato and rye pickles on fresh-baked challah roll; smoked quail with grilled Napa cabbage, mushroom red eye gravy and a biscuit
What people come for: Catering options (including whole-hog roasts)
Address: 4805 Burnet Rd.
Phone Number: 512-666-5124