BenefitsPRO Broker Expo: 10 places to eat and drink in Austin

By Emily Payne | April 11, 2022 at 09:34 AM

1. Find a great steak

When you're in Maine, you get seafood. When you're in Texas, you get a steak. Austin has no shortage of great steakhouse options, but to save you the trouble of sorting through them all, we'll point you right to Austin Land and Cattle Co., an independent, family-owned steakhouse that prides itself on being relaxing and unpretentious. And the steak? Well, it's pretty good, too.

2. Wait in line for BBQ

Ask the locals, and they'll tell you the time spent waiting in line for a plate of brisket from Franklin Barbecue is worth every minute. You can also order ahead--if you're organized enough to know what you want six weeks in advance. If you can't tear yourself away from the conference sessions long enough to experience Franklin's, the city offers plenty of top-notch alternatives.

4. Go on a beer crawl

Craft beer aficionados without a lot of time on their hands need not stray too far from the conference center to experience the best of what Austin has to offer. Just a mile down the road is Zilker Brewing, and practically next door, Lazarus Brewing. If a coffee milk stout on an outdoor patio is your idea of an ideal afternoon, look no further than Zilker. Or, for an actual coffee (as well as tacos, kombucha and more), Lazarus raises the stakes. If you're willing to travel a little farther, Austin Beer Garden Brewing (or, as the locals call it, ABGB) offers up a fine selection of local brews.

6. Get classy at the Roosevelt Room

Looking for a place that's sure to impress a prospective client? Then the Roosevelt Room is the place to go. The prohibition-era decor encompasses two full bars, a dance floor and balcony views. The cocktails run the gamut from historical (the Milk Punch dates back to 17th century Scotland) to hipster (try the Black Pearl, a scotch and rum cocktail with charcoal powder, edible liquid silver, served in a clove-smoked treasure chest), and there are no wrong choices.

7. Check out the elephant in the room

Austin has a reputation for being a little bit… off-beat. There's no shortage of uniquely Austin experiences to enjoy while you're in town, so make sure you find at least one that you would never encounter back home. For example, head on up I35 to Carousel Lounge Bar. This experience is less about the drinks than the decor, which, to give you a taste, earned the bar an award for "Most Nostalgic Phone Booth."

8. An Asian take on a Texas classic

Carnivorous appetite not satiated yet? Check out Loro, an Asian take on the Texas smokehouse. Leading the menu are James Beard-winning chefs Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin (of Franklin Barbecue). It's the perfect low-key venue to grab a quick lunch--check out the smoked bavette, or, if you're worried that all of this meat is getting to your arteries, opt for the oak-smoked salmon.

1. Find a great steak

2. Wait in line for BBQ

4. Go on a beer crawl

6. Get classy at the Roosevelt Room

7. Check out the elephant in the room

8. An Asian take on a Texas classic

We're just a few weeks away from the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo in Austin (May 23-25) a chance to finally see your industry peers in person and catch up on the latest trends and strategies in the benefits industry. And, after two years of contactless takeout delivery and last night's leftovers, we also have the chance to enjoy each other's company over good food and creative cocktails. What better place to do that than Austin? This young, hip and eccentric city offers up some exciting and unique venues, as well as some top-notch traditional dining options. Related: BenefitsPRO Broker Expo: 10 things to do in Austin If you haven't made your travel plans yet, we recommend adding an extra day or two and treating yourself to a taste of everything the city has to offer. Check out the slideshow above for some recommendations. Read more:

NOT FOR REPRINT

Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.

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Instant Insights /

BenefitsPRO Broker Expo: 10 places to eat and drink in Austin

10. Get your morning jolt

1. Find a great steak

2. Wait in line for BBQ

3. Tacos--morning, noon and night

4. Go on a beer crawl

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5. Donuts and cocktails?

6. Get classy at the Roosevelt Room

7. Check out the elephant in the room

8. An Asian take on a Texas classic

9. A midnight delight

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10. Get your morning jolt

1. Find a great steak

2. Wait in line for BBQ

3. Tacos--morning, noon and night

4. Go on a beer crawl

Advertisement

5. Donuts and cocktails?

6. Get classy at the Roosevelt Room

7. Check out the elephant in the room

8. An Asian take on a Texas classic

9. A midnight delight

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10. Get your morning jolt

1 Elevance sues medical services firms over 'fraudulent' out-of-network care billing

2 UnitedHealth moves pricey Stelara off standard commercial drug plan formularies

3 A patient’s genes may affect which GLP-1 obesity drugs work best, researchers say

4 Cigna hit with 2nd suit alleging misuse of 401(k) forfeitures, now matching UnitedHealth’s 2 suits

5 DOL secretary talks about self-insured employer plans and PBM regulation at House hearing

Employees spend 18 minutes choosing benefits: Why lack of clarity costs employers dearly

Boosting mental health benefits usage: A Q&A with Mindi Cox

Health care costs soar to $1,425 out-of-pocket, vary wildly by state

Instant Insights /

BenefitsPRO Broker Expo: 10 places to eat and drink in Austin

1. Find a great steak

Emily Payne

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4 Cigna hit with 2nd suit alleging misuse of 401(k) forfeitures, now matching UnitedHealth’s 2 suits

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