NORTH AUSTIN. At lunch time, this stylish café bustles with professionals from the nearby medical complex, but at night the place becomes an upscale neighborhood bistro. The talented chef prepares an inventive menu of internationally inspired dishes, like Caribbean jerk snapper with fried plantains, pepper-crusted sea bass on soba noodles with ginger-cilantro sauce, and chicken picatta on saffron rice. You'll also find Tuscan-style thin-crust pizzas with toppings like venison sausage, BBQ chicken, Stilton cheese, and fresh seasonal veggies.

BARTON SPRINGS DISTRICT. Wander among herb and flower gardens on your way to Casa de Luz's front door, and once inside, enjoy a macrobiotic vegan meal unlike any you've probably ever had. Place your order at the counter, and then pick up utensils, condiments, soup, and salad at the buffet on your way to one of several long communal tables. There's only one entree choice, so you may want to call ahead to see what's on the menu for the day. Sometimes it's Mexican or Guatemalan; sometimes it's sushi or pizza.

NORTH AUSTIN. Charming Eastside Café is much more than just a neighborhood restaurant. Situated in a former residence, the café has several small dining rooms, a lovely enclosed patio room, a gardening/cooking shop, and a garden. The latter provides fresh produce for many of the kitchen's best creations, such as pesto ravioli, grilled pork tenderloin with cranberry-port sauce and broccoli with lemon butter, and rich mushroom crepes topped with roasted tomato sauce. Weekend brunch is reliably filling and tasty.

NORTH AUSTIN. This popular café serves good, healthy food 24 hours a day with an emphasis on fresh ingredients. Highlighted on the menu are a wide variety of omelets, pancakes, and other traditional breakfast dishes. Among the morning options you'll delight in are a chicken verde omelet, gingerbread pancakes, breakfast tacos, biscuits and gravy (with eggs), migas, and steak and eggs. Other menu options include sandwiches, salads, and lots of entrees that take their inspiration from around the globe, including Mexico.

NORTH AUSTIN. Mirabelle's dining room is elegant, warm, and inviting ­ casual enough that suits aren't required but upscale enough for special occasions. The cooking is international in scope but completely French in technique and presentation. A variety of culinary tricks adds depth and complexity to basic foods. Meats and seafood, for example, are spice-rubbed, smoked, marinated, or roasted to bring out their amazing flavors. Sauces are top-notch, and soup stocks are all made from scratch. The lunch menu has similar entrees, plus gourmet sandwiches and salads.