Southwest Austin - Community Impact Newspaper

Neighborhood Dining Nutty Brown Café
Bands perform regularly both indoors and outdoors at Nutty Brown Café.
By Mark Collins
Sipping cold iced tea in the shade of a
live oak tree while dining on Tex-Mex and
listening to live music emanating from the
stage, it becomes clear that Nutty Brown
Café has captured the essence of the Texas
Hill Country. Which is exactly what owner
Mike Farr had in mind when he purchased
the Nutty Brown Café in 2003.
Nutty Brown, or “The Nut” as regulars
affectionately call it, was originally the
home of Nutty Brown Mills. The mill was
famous throughout Texas for its nutty
brown pralines, which is why the restaurant
still offers Nutty Brown Texas Pralines
($5.99) for dessert.
Nowadays, Nutty Brown is known best
for its expansive outdoor amphitheater that
hosts live music Friday through Sunday.
Offering everything from country to jazz
with a little karaoke thrown in, the stage is
always full. With five bars outside, a giant
sandbox to entertain the kids and a resident
parrot named Cheeto, there’s no reason not
to head out and enjoy a show.
“We try to do a decent job with the food,
but live music is really our bread and butter,”
general manager Jeff Musil said. “We get a lot
of kids out here; it is very family friendly.”
While live music is a draw for many, those
interested in what is on the menu will not
be disappointed by the variety of Tex-Mex,
Southwestern and American grill favorites.
Nutty Shrimp Wontons ($9.95) get the
meal off on the right foot. Jumbo shrimp
are covered in bacon, jalapeño and queso
then wrapped in a wonton shell and deepfried.
Biting into the crispy shell releases
the fattening yet mouth-watering contents.
Be wary of Big Daddy’s Double Bacon
Bad Boy ($11.95) — two 8-oz. patties, six
strips of bacon and four slices of cheese
— a burger that boasts it comes served
with a two-pack of Tums. The gargantuan
sandwich was fresh off the grill and looked
a mile high, daunting yet delicious.
The most difficult choice to make at
Nutty Brown is choosing a side from a long
and enticing list to accompany the entrée.
The jalapeño creamed corn stands out with
warm spicy gravy. The delightfully crispy
fried okra is a house favorite, as is the
queso home fries — fried potato chunks
doused in warm cheese.
For those wanting to combine the food
and the music, try the Fabulous Sunday
Brunch Buffet ($12.95). A variety of classic
breakfast fare, from bacon and eggs to migas,
is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. while
the Java Jazz Band serenades diners.
Upcoming shows at “The Nut”
Feb. 28 – Recovery Benefit for Kim Smith
Barbecue, live music by Michael Myers, raffle, live
auction and more benefiting Kim Smith, a local
woman seriously injured in an ATV accident
Noon-5 p.m. • $25/adults, $10/4-12 year olds
March 7 – Michael Myers
9 p.m.-midnight • Free
March 14 – 5th Annual Crawfish Boil
Zydeco bands play while Nutty Brown’s Louisianabred
chef prepares his mother’s recipes
All day • Free
March 20 – WC Clark
9 p.m. • $5
March 21 – The Eggmen
7:30-11 p.m. • $7
Belterra Dr.
Nutty Brown Rd.
Nutty Brown Café
12225 Hwy. 290 W.
301-4648
www.nuttybrown.com
Sun.-Wed. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Thu.-Fri. 11 a.m. –midnight
Sat. 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Rimrock Trail
290
N
Serving South Central Texas Since 1982
9900 South IH 35 • Austin, TX 78748
Located in Southpark Meadows Shopping Center
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