Nicolai McCrary

Austin

Staff Writer at The Infatuation

Staff writer at @infatuation_atx Food photographer Occasional chef

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Articles

The “It” Bars Across America Right Now

2 days ago | theinfatuation.com | Allie Conti |Willa Moore |Garrett Snyder |Nicolai McCrary

In NYC, novelty and exclusivity constitute cool. And one of the city’s current hottest bars is a tiny, quasi-secret spot that’s only going to stick around through the end of summer. To get inside Los Salvajes, you have to be a “friend” of the bar, but in our experience, the term is used loosely.
Zeds Real Fruit Ice Cream

1 week ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Zeds is a New Zealand-style ice cream shop specializing in blended-to-order soft serve. If that sounds confusing, all you need to know is that you start with a base (vanilla or a non-dairy option), then choose from whatever fruits they have. It all gets blended together and topped with various drizzles and toppings. There's also another location in East Austin. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists.
Swedish Hill Bakery & Cafe

1 week ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

If you’ve been in Austin for any amount of time, you probably know the Swedish Hill name. They’re home to excellent baked goods, salads, and generally brunch-y items, with a few locations around town. This particular one is on South 1st St. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists. If you love carbs, you've come to the right place. Our picks for where to find the best breakfast in Austin.
Vida Verde Kitchen

1 week ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

This Mexican-American spot near The Domain serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a daily happy hour from 1-6pm that includes flatbreads, quesadillas, and margaritas. They tout locally sourced ingredients and made-to-order guacamole. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists. The best places to eat when you’re north of 183. Grab a bite at one of these spots the next time you’re out shopping at The Domain.
Gabriel Luna's Hometown Heroes

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary |Anne Cruz |Raphael Brion |Matthew Jacobs

“House Park is great. It's near House Park stadium, where I played a lot of football games. We used to call that place the House of Pain. It just reopened—they were on a four-year hiatus after the pandemic, and I'm so happy they're back. It's just a little shack and they serve until the food's gone."“I love Kreuz Market. It’s not actually in Austin city limits—it's in Lockhart, which is about 40 minutes away, but it's well worth the drive. I used to go there with my family after church.
Mexta is a disappointing way to spend a lot of money - Review - Austin - The Infatuation

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

RESERVE A TABLEMexta makes a strong first impression. A wall with life-sized angel wings greets you on the way into a dining room that feels less like a Downtown Mexican restaurant and more like a luxury resort carved into the side of a canyon, with warm stone textures and a beige-on-beige color palette that somehow registers as sleek rather than bland. It’s purpose-built for sipping $20 cocktails in a luxurious setting—and honestly, that’s the best way to experience Mexta.
The Spots Of The Summer, Austin Edition

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary |Matthew Jacobs

It’s time to christen a new holy trinity: champagne, caviar, and pizza. The East Side bar is a paradise for the high and the low, with pies from Allday (Austin’s latest, greatest pizza spot) and champagne glasses on almost every table. If bubbles aren't your thing, martinis served with caviar-bump embellishments can satisfy the night’s fancy quota.
The 8 Best Free Appetizers, Antipasti, & Bread Services In Austin

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary |Raphael Brion |Adele Hazan

Located at Corner Bar on South Lamar, Brown’s Bar-B-Que serves solid versions of all the classic smoked meats. But Sundays are when things get especially exciting: Spend $15 at the bar, and you’ll get a free plate with one meat and two sides. Then use that money you saved to order some excellent peach cobbler to wrap things up.
Conan’s Pizza - Review - South Austin - Austin - The Infatuation

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Conan's Pizza is an Austin classic that's been around since the 1970s. Deep pan pizzas are the specialty, but you'll also find thin-crust pies, pepperoni sticks, and calzones on the menu. Unrated: This is a restaurant we want to re-visit before rating, or it’s a coffee shop, bar, or dessert shop. We only rate spots where you can eat a full meal. Eating in Austin wouldn’t be the same without these spots.
Sahara Lounge - Review - East Austin - Austin - The Infatuation

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Part dive bar and part live music venue, Sahara Lounge is the kind of place where you're guaranteed a good time—one that feels much farther from Austin than its far East Side location might suggest. There’s music most nights, but the energy peaks on Saturdays during Africa Night, when the dance floor fills up and entry includes a small, free West African dinner buffet. Unrated: This is a restaurant we want to re-visit before rating, or it’s a coffee shop, bar, or dessert shop.