Frommer's Review
Las Manitas has reached "iconic" status in Austin. No one is quite sure what this means or what rights it confers, but the tag has been bestowed and accepted universally and is not in dispute. Unfortunately, Las Manitas is facing closure. The owners of the land want a developer to build a Marriott hotel on this site, which is one of the last blocks of Congress Avenue that hasn't surrendered to the march of progress. A chorus of anguish was heard when the news came out. Many are disgusted by it and remember when the old Armadillo, a famous concert venue, was torn down for the sake of a parking lot, or when the nightclub Liberty Lunch met the same fate. There have been hearings at city hall, at which someone came up with the notion of "iconic businesses" -- places that make Austin Austin. There will be more hearings, but it's unclear whether anything will come of them. Las Manitas may still be standing when you come to Austin, or maybe it won't. If it is, you should check it out. It's got the kind of hominess that you can't fake that comes only with years of being a community venue.
If you manage to get here, just about anything on the menu is good. For lunch I gravitate towards the enchiladas Michoacán or the enchiladas rojas. For breakfast, I enjoy the chilaquiles verdes (tortilla strips cooked in green sauce, with Jack cheese and onions), which remind me of some I used to have in Mexico.
Pass a few hours here and you're likely to see a broad swath of Austin society. In the morning it will be the managerial classes having power breakfasts. After they clear out, you'll see representatives of Austin's bohemian classes (mainly musicians and artists) drift in for a late breakfast. At lunchtime come the pols and dealmakers. You can hardly step foot in the joint without seeing some local celebrity.
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.
