"Mattie’s is located in busy South Austin, but it might as well be its own village. The sprawling grounds are home to peacocks, oak trees, and a romantic Victorian manor with diners spread throughout various rooms. But scenery isn’t the only draw. The menu’s emphasis on Southern classics—biscuits, gumbo, fried green tomatoes, and fried chicken served with mashed potatoes, to name a few top choices—matches the farmhouse backdrop. It’s the kind of place where reservations for Easter brunch (or any brunch, really) and Thanksgiving get competitive. Eating at Mattie’s, whether for a special occasion or a casual get-together, is like spending two blissful hours in the countryside—and yet it’s right there off of South 1st St. " - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs
