Aviary Wine & Kitchen

Once a boutique decor shop, Aviary traded in its quaint treasures and furniture for bottles of wine and seriously good small plates. Wise choice: the wine bar and restaurant is now a bonafide South Austin gem. Stop by for glasses (or bottles!) of red, white and bubbly for happy hour (4-6pm), which could very likely turn into oysters and crudo and, if you're feeling like something more substantial, rich, whole branzino, roasted chicken or hearty plates of pasta. Executive chef Thomas Calhoun continuously revamps the menu to accommodate seasonal ingredients, which translate to sumptuous desserts as well—think chocolate cake with beet sauce, or panna cotta sprigs of mint and honeycomb. Be sure to stop by on Dirty Dozen Wednesdays, when they offer half priced bottles from 6 to 11pm, or for a leisurely lunch (11am-2:30pm) feautring dishes like lamb and beef pita and curry squash soup.