WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. Painted brick walls, tiled floors, pressed-metal ceilings, and schoolhouse pendants lend a charming, casual quality to this much-loved brasserie. Gather with friends for a delicious, well-crafted meal that features house-special mussels, steak frites, duck confit, a croque monsieur, or grilled lamb T-bones. Daily specials also include options like coq au vin and a braised pork shank. Even better, three-course prix fixe menus are terrifically affordable, as is Sunday brunch. If you're up late, a satisfying selection of fare makes for a comforting, tasty repast.

DOWNTOWN. The owners of Chez Nous are transplanted Parisians, but in their cozy restaurant, you'll think you've been transported to the City of Light. Tables are dressed with flowers in wine bottles, lace curtains hang at the windows, and many servers have retained their French accents. Every dish, from appetizers to desserts, is prepared fresh daily, and savvy locals really appreciate the menu du jour, which is considered one of the best fine-dining bargains in town.

BARTON SPRINGS DISTRICT. Chuy's is a real local favorite, and its colorful, whimsical decor features an Elvis shrine, lava lamps, and approximately 1,000 wooden fish dangling precariously from the ceiling. New Mexico chilis are grilled up front and served in many of the tasty Tex-Mex dishes, and Southwest enchiladas come stuffed with smoked chicken and cheese and crowned with a fried egg.

SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE. Younger sibling of ever-popular Vespaio, this engaging cafe and wine bar offers more casual and affordable dining. Golden-hued and bursting with good food, the place draws folks throughout the day with its pastries and coffee and with savory fare like paninis, pastas, pizzas, salads, and antipasti. Fresh, zesty ingredients enliven each dish and deliver great flavor at reasonable prices. Terrific wines and plenty of make-it-at-home grocery items round out the options. An awesome Sunday brunch is another perk.

NORTH AUSTIN. Great things sometimes come in unassuming packages ­ such is Fonda San Miguel. Located in an ordinary neighborhood in south-central Austin, it offers an interior and food that are nothing short of extraordinary. The decor transports you to an Old World Mexican hacienda, decorated with colonial Mexican antiques, Talavera tiles, and hand-thrown pottery. The beautiful courtyard is alive with flora and splashing water. Authentic interior Mexican cuisine is the draw, and traditional Yucatecan and Veracruzano dishes are deliciously savory but not unnecessarily hot.