Are you familiar with UpTake’s Getaway Crew? The Getaway Crew resides on Facebook and provides an insider’s view of the cities they cover. The Austin Getaway Crew took the time to share their knowledge of restaurants beyond the BBQ. Read all about it below – and be sure to check them out directly for more great insight about Austin…

Spectacular flavor combinations in artistic presentations are the stuff of everyday at Uchi.

Although Austin is well-known amongst visitors as a destination for Tex-Mex restaurants and legendary BBQ joints, the dining scene has come a long way from this well-earned reputation. The Capital city is now home to a growing variety of cuisines, from upscale interior Mexican to South American, Japanese, Mediterranean, and everything in between. Thanks to the explosion of the mobile eatery phenomenon, Austinites have a plethora of options when it comes to dining out. Best of all, many talented local chefs have garnered national accolades and attention, from spots in Iron Chef America to top honors in publications like Food & Wine and Bon Appetit. Gastronomically speaking, Austin is now a national contender.

For adventurous interior Mexican, the stylish La Condesa never disappoints. They have recently added lunch again.

Lots of local chefs have embraced the farm-to-table movement wholeheartedly, with notables like Foreign and Domestic, Wink, Fino, Paggi House, and Vespaio. Newcomer Trace, at the W Hotel, even has a local forager on staff to help chef Paul Hargrove to find the freshest, highest-quality, locally sourced products and build strong relationships with area farmers. Not too far from there, the long-awaited return of Iron Chef America competitor Chef David Bull has Austin’s collective mouth salivating in anticipation of the opening of Congress. Chosen as one of Bon Appetit’s Top Ten Best New Restaurants in America in 2009, Olivia goes above and beyond when it comes to local, with 80% of their food coming from local or nearby farms and producers. Parkside’s chef Shawn Cirkiel recently opened his new pet project, a Neapolitan pizzeria called The Backspace. Chef Tyson Cole and Paul Qui, also Iron Chef veterans, are wowing the tastebuds and minds of serious foodies at Uchi and Uchiko, two spots that are raising the Austin culinary bar. Qui’s side project, a mobile eatery called East Side King, was featured in Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations alongside SoCo’s favorite seafood spot, Perla’s.

The daily board at Uchiko showcases the variety of offerings at this unique eatery.

Although classic Tex-Mex and outstanding BBQ have long been the center of our city’s attention, Austin’s chefs have so much more to offer than just that. Make sure you visit one of the many exciting restaurants, diners, and even food trailers, and step outside the stereotype box.