For me, this restaurant is one of the places that says “Austin” should I have to describe it. I have lived in a handful of other cities and this place is rather unique. So either Threadgill’s is unique or else I never really explored those other cities that well.
What’s so special about it? Well, long ago, Austin was a much smaller place and Threadgill’s was on the northern edge of the city. It was a joint gas station and diner with live music because the owner was a musician. I’ll have to re-read the menu or something to get the history of the place right but right now it’s terribly important. Should you come to visit Austin, no trip would be complete without at least one meal there.
What kind of a food is it? In a nutshell, something I call Soul Food for White Southerners because I’m a Yankee. Threadgill’s has the staples of Central Texas: chicken-fried streak, cornbread with jalapenos (blech!), black-eyed peas, catfish and iced tea. Plus meatloaf, chicken and icebox pies. For me, the place’s greatest attraction is the selection of vegetables; potatoes, squash, beans, green beans, creamed spinach, black-eyed peas, carrots, corn and okra (I probably forgot many others too). Besides the food, Threadgill’s still has Austin traits in its character: they have free wireless access and the menu has a little joke about the side dish of mac & cheese being classified as a vegetable in Oklahoma.
Somara took this picture at night which really shows off their neon sign shining on North Lamar.