"It’s easy to take Chuy’s for granted now that the decades-old institution has franchised throughout the South. Even at their original location on Barton Springs Road, most dishes are mediocre, especially compared to Austin’s many Tex-Mex alternatives. Still, Chuy’s perks are unimpeachable, like the ability to walk in with a large-ish group and have a good time in the kitschy space. Nowhere else has a large school of colorful metal fish swimming across the ceiling, and few places are this reliably upbeat (even without a few margaritas in your system)." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs