Nicolai McCrary

Austin

Staff Writer at The Infatuation

Staff writer at @infatuation_atx Food photographer Occasional chef

Featured in: Favicon

theinfatuation.com Favicon

resy.com

flipboard.com Favicon

blog.resy.com

Articles

Knuckle Sandwich

1 day ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Knuckle Sandwich first opened last year as a trailer in South Austin and immediately won our hearts—it’s home to one of the single best sandwiches in the city. Now there's a second location at The Far Out. Grab a bite before a show or just let their namesake Knuckle Sandwich be the headliner of your night. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists. Some of the best fried chicken sandwiches you can eat today. Don’t let anybody tell you that Austin isn’t a sandwich city.
One Bite Dumpling

1 day ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

It feels like Central and North Austin have been getting all the new dumpling spots—until now. One Bite is located off William Cannon, and the specialty is dumplings of all varieties. You’ll find them boiled, steamed, and fried, and there’s a strong selection of noodle soups, fried rice, and small dim sum plates. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists. Try not to burn your tongue. Dumpling World specializes in handmade dumplings out of a small restaurant in The Triangle.
House Park Bar-B-Que

1 day ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

House Park Bar-B-Que is Austin’s oldest barbecue joint. It’s been around in some form since 1943, and it's seen its fair share of changes over the years—both inside and out. The most noticeable update came after a grease fire nearly destroyed the place in 2020, resulting in a total rebuild. But two things have stayed the same: the original barbecue pit and the cheeky slogan, “NEED NO TEEF TO EAT MY BEEF”—not to be confused with the nearly identical one over at Sam’s BBQ.
Strangelove Coffee & Wine

1 day ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

We couldn’t ask for a better team to pair up for a coffee and wine bar than Figure 8 and Small Victory, and that’s exactly what we got with this new East Side spot. It’s located right behind Intero, so after your cute little date night you can stop by for a glass of bubbles or an espresso. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists. Vintage is an independent bookstore in East Austin with a wine bar insideRestaurants and bars with great wine lists.
Marinara Miracles is like dining in a secret Italian attic - Review - Austin - The Infatuation

1 week ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Marinara Miracles feels like the kind of place you stumble into by accident. It’s perched at the top of a creaky staircase above a dive bar, in what feels more like someone’s attic than an Italian restaurant. The reality is somewhere in between. The space is small, with a few red-and-white-checkered tables, plus an air hockey table and a TV that looks like it’s been there since the ‘70s.
Where To See And Be Seen In Austin

1 week ago | theinfatuation.com | Matthew Jacobs |Nicolai McCrary |Raphael Brion

Clark’s looks like it was pulled off a magazine cover about “happy people doing happy things in happy places.” It’s the de facto answer to the question “Where can I eat oysters and sip martinis in Austin?” and it’s rare to see a seat stay empty for more than a few seconds. Every corner of the restaurant looks like a still from a Brunello Cucinelli ad directed by Sofia Coppola.
Woodneck Kitchen

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Woodneck is a food truck at Dainty Dillo on East Cesar Chavez that features creative sandwichess—including one with double falafel patties, and another with a chicken cutlet and calabrian chili—plus a few salads for good measure. 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. Don’t let anybody tell you that Austin isn’t a sandwich city. Some of the best fried chicken sandwiches you can eat today.
Sami Sumeli - Review - Cedar Park - Austin - The Infatuation

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Austin hasn’t had a lot of options for Georgian food—zero, to our knowledge—until now. Sami Sumeli is bringing Eastern European classics like khachapuri, khinkali, and shkmeruli to Cedar Park. Right now they’re open for dinner, with lunch coming in the near future. There’s also a full bar with plenty of Georgian wines (and sub-$10 prices by the glass). We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists. These spots may finally convince Austinites to drive out to the suburbs.
Pins Mechanical Co

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Part arcade, part bar, and part restaurant, Pins Mechanical is a massive space in the St. Elmo complex with drinks, games, and food. There’s bowling, pinball machines, foosball, and more on the activity front, plus a full bar and food. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists. The best Austin bars where you can do things besides drink. Where to sing your heart out in public or in private. There are plenty of places to drink in Austin, but these are the best ones.
Café Largesse - Review - Barton Creek - Austin - The Infatuation

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Nicolai McCrary

Over in the Barton Creek neighborhood (close to Bee Cave), Café Largesse is an all-day cafe and wine bar. By day, the menu features pastries from Sour Duck, housemade lunch and dinner entrees, and locally roasted coffee. By night, it’s more of a wine bar with snack-y bites. 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. It's not hard to find a cup of coffee in Austin, but these are the best in the city.