Manuel's

This is one of the few moderately priced holdouts to be found in a downtown dining scene that's been steadily heading uptown. Although there are some Tex-Mex dishes on the menu, most of the menu items are interior Mexican. You can get well-prepared versions of Mexican standards and some tweaked versions of the more common dishes, but Manuel's also offers hard-to-find specialties such as the chile relleno ennogada (chilies stuffed with pork and topped with walnut-cream sauce). A more common dish would be the enchiladas banderas, which are arrayed in the colors of the Mexican flag: a green tomatillo verde sauce, a white cream suiza sauce, and a red sauce. There's a delicious healthful option, pescado con espinacas, which is pan-seared fish with a bit of garlic served on a bed of sautéed spinach seasoned with a lime juice dressing.

In the evenings the small bar area is crowded with young professionals, and on weekends the wait for a table is about normal for Austin restaurants. The decor is assertively modern to draw a contrast with the building's original brick walls. There's a lively happy hour (daily 4-6pm), with half-price hors d'oeuvres and discounted drinks..

A northwest branch is near the Arboretum, 10201 Jollyville Rd. (tel. 512/345-1042). It presents live music Thursday nights.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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