Restaurants in Round Rock

Ajay and his wife Kiran spent their childhood in New Delhi learning the ins and outs of Indian cooking and hospitality. Their experiences shine through at Taj Palace Indian Restaurant & Bar, where the aromas of tamarind, mango, mint, and curry tangle complexly in the air. In the kitchen, chefs heap charcoal on the glowing embers in tandoor ovens, skewer cuts of lamb steeped in herbs, and make sure each grain of basmati rice is pointing in the same direction. Wait staff dressed in crisp white shirts and bow ties carry away the piquantly spiced dishes, which earned the eatery a Best Austin, TX Indian Food award from Citysearchers in 2009. In the rose-hued dining room, soft sitar music meanders beneath framed paintings and golden arches. Colorful hand-painted lanterns dangle from the ceiling above tables laden with flavorful curries and rice dishes.

Mann's menu is the work of owner Jim Mann, an artist whose medium is meat and whose canvas is your face. No-nonsense noshers can order meat by the pound—sausage ($11.99), brisket ($12.99), ribs of bovine ($9.09) or porcine ($12.99) origin, pulled pork ($12.99), and more. To keep a hand open for impromptu gong solos, have Jim slap some of that meat between ground-wheat slabs for a barbecue sandwich ($5.59) and side it with potato salad, turnip greens, or black-eyed peas ($2.59 for one serving, $4.99 a pint). Larger appetites have their choice of combo plate with two sides (two meats, $11.59; three meats, $12.99; four meats, $15.79; veggie plate, $7.59). Once your plate looks like a pig exploded on it and your mouth and clothes are gloriously slathered in barbecue sauce, potato salad, and flecks of cobbed corn, finish up your power lunch with a jumbo Texas sweet tea ($2.29) and banana pudding ($2.89), then go nail that job interview.

Texadelphia's menu of cheesy, steaky, 100%-Angus-beefy goodness kicks off any meal with a bang. Order some chips and queso ($5.75) or queso fries ($6.29) before tearing into the Founder's Favorite, the cheesesteak that started it all (Angus beef or thin-sliced chicken breast, cheese, mushrooms, jalapeños, and Texadelphia's signature mustard blend; $6.89–$8.99). Branch out along southern lines with the Texican, a beef or chicken cheesesteak with all the trimmings and queso for topping or spooning ($6.89–$8.99), or the Hickory, laden with signature hickory sauce and manned by a crew of mouth-pleasing cherry peppers ($6.89–$8.99). Items of non-Philly origin also dot the menu, such as the bacon cheeseburger ($6.99) and the smoked turkey with guacamole salad ($6.59).

Helmed by veteran Austin restaurateurs Michael Vilim and Cathe Dailey (of The Cafe at the Four Seasons and Castle Hill Cafe, respectively), Mirabelle Restaurant aims to create delectable bistro-style dishes that challenge and dazzle the palate. A comfortable, Mediterranean-fashioned dining space sets the stage for its extensive and oft-updated dinner menu. Celebrate your favorite crustacean's birthday with the lump crab cakes ($9.95), which arrive neighbored by basil oil, tomato concasse, and claw-shaped candles. Rich, elegant sauces characterize Mirabelle's exotic mixture of entrees, from the gruyere cheese butter that marinates the grilled Beef Tenderloin ($26.95) to the yellow Bengali curry complementing the bacon-wrapped gulf redfish ($21.95).

Hyde Park Bar & Grill's two locations serve as neighborhood hubs where patrons can devour comfort fare while enjoying local art and discussing the newest local news. The Duval Street location’s signature oversize fork marks the eatery for groups seeking a space to converse without having to yell over the clangor of clouds bumping into nearby skyscrapers. At the Westgate Boulevard location, a covered patio welcomes diners to dine among fireflies and savor the live music that's staged at least twice a week. The menu surveys classic southern and American comfort fare, such as chicken-fried steak, mac ‘n’ cheese, hand-cut french fries, and burgers made with hormone-free beef. Along with a multitude of local and international wines, Hyde Park Bar & Grill rolls out vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes, as well as an assortment of desserts baked in-house by the eatery's chefs.

When Roger Diaz puts together a meal in his kitchen at Vivo Tex Mex, he’s not just tossing fresh ingredients into handmade tortillas. He draws on three generations of family cooking, taught to him by his mother and grandmother before he could even reach the stovetop. These family recipes include tricks to puff up a tortilla by lightly frying it, as well as the ingredients to make the tortilla itself from scratch.

Roger’s colorful dining room and patio celebrate his heritage as well. Huge, colorful canvases bedeck the interiors, bright lanterns hang from the ceiling, and a portrait of Frida Kahlo surreptitiously tries to steal sips of frosty margaritas. Al fresco, the constant burble of fountains chatters beneath diners' conversations while ample potted plants and flowers create a fresh bouquet of scents to complement meals.