At least that’s how the manager at the Austin Arboretum described the menu at Zoës Kitchen, the first of its kind in Texas.

“It started out in Birmingham, Ala.,” he says said of Zoës. “So it’s definitely a Southern take on Mediterranean-style food.”

It’s Mediterranean-style fare that includes soups, salads, sandwiches, pita sandwiches and kabobs. And there’s a lot of feta cheese being tossed around here, too.

We started the meal off with a plate of hummus and pita. The olives added a nice acidity but I wished the pita bread was toasted.

According to Zoës’ website, the menu is inspired by restaurant founder Zoë Cassimus’ family recipes in which ingredients are fresh and simple. Nothing is fried or microwaved here. Food is grilled and the ingredients include fruits and vegetables cooked in fresh herbs and olive oil.

Sampling of Zoe’s different pita pairings – hummus, chicken, tuna, and egg salad.

Tabouli salad with ozro “tabouli”, baby spinach, mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and lemon vinaigrette.

Steak stack sandwich with sliced steak, portobello, mozzarella, caramelized onions, feta spread, tomato, sourdough and rosemary oil.

Steak roll-ups with sliced tri-tip, swiss, sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions

Steak, salmon and shrimp kabobs with red bell peppers, onions, grilled potatoes and roasted vegetables.

Zoe’s Kitchen

What To Order: For lunch, try the tomato bisque, it’s made from scratch. The steak sandwich and pita sandwichs are perfect for a quick lunch. For dinner, try the tabouli salad with steak kabobs.

Hours — Zoës Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Information — There are two locations in Austin at the Arboretum and Sunset Valley. Guests can order online or download the Zoës Kitchen app for smart phones to order take-out. For more information visit, zoeskitchen.com.

Description — Simple, tasty, fresh. That’s the motto at Zoë Kitchen, Smith said.

1. Buttermilk panna cotta, blueberry thyme compote, almond soil, thyme crema, blueberry glass, hyssop with blueberry sorbeto. // Olive and June
2. Citrus torta, blackberry ginger marmelata, biscoto crumble, poached blackberry, meringue, torn mint, limoncello sorbeto. // Olive and June
3. Farm greens with giardiniera, red onion, herbs and pecorino romano. Flavorful salad without any dressing // Backspace
4. Spicy cauliflower, capers, calabrese with lemon // Backspace
5. Bianca pizza with arugula, mozzarella  ricotta and pecorino romano. By far the best pizza that I’ve had in Austin. The sourdough crust is light and crispy with a chewy bite // Backspace
6. Hazelnut chocolate budino with homemade toffee & caramelized banana with salted caramel pudding // Backspace
7. Ahi Poke with soy, ginger, avocado and sesame lavash crackers. 80 steps to make this masterpiece // The Carillon
8. Miso marinated mero with maitake mushrooms, wilted spinach with a carrot ginger reduction. // Read more on my visit to The Carillon
9. Kale salad with pickled beets, bacon powder, caraway and walnut pesto // The Carillon
10. Caraibe terrine with white chocolate custard, chocolate crumbs, candied hazelnuts and raspberry coulis // The Carillon

Housemade spicy tomato soup with slow roasted tomatoes and basil. Soup for the soul!

Calamari fritti with a spicy tomato sugo. One of the best fried calamari’s I’ve ever had! It’s coasted with a rice flour, which makes it super light and crispy.

Grilled NY strip with creamy polenta, spinach, crimini mushrooms with truffle butter.

Breaded veal piccata with capers, lemon butter, potato puree and green beans.

Tiramisu cheesecake with toasted pistachio

Pumpkin zeppoles with salted caramel gelato

What to order: The slow roasted tomato soup with fried calamari.

Trento
3600 N. Capital of Texas Hwy, bldg d
Austin, TX 78746

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1. Soft boiled eggs for oxtail soup ramen // Ramen Tatsuya
2. Polenta benedict with prosciutto di parma, poached eggs blanketed with hollandaise sauce (Loved this!) // Winflo Osteria
3. Bloody Mary, extra spicy // Winflo Osteria
4. Espresso  // Winflo Osteria
5. Salami Panino with crispy genoa salami, fried egg, shaved red onion, arugula between a challah bun // Winflo Osteria
6. Brunch at Winflo with A Taste of Dawn
7. Food art by Chef Joaquin Ceballos at Sway Thai // Uchi’s Citywide 86′d
8. French Crepes with berries and side of chocolate sauce and maple syrup // Blue Dahlia Bistro
9. Flan latte from Dominican Joe // Blend of caramel, vanilla and cinnamon
9. Words of wisdom from Andrew Zimmern at the W Hotel for Austin Food & Wine Festival.
10. Fresh caramelized bread with creamy ice cream, fresh and slightly tart berries with silvered almonds, a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of sweet honey. // Japanese Honey Toast 

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We started the meal with an appetizer plate featuring fried calamari and wild west shrimp, which were my favorite. The shrimp is hand-battered and fried with spicy cherry peppers, garlic butter and dressed with housemade Ranch. The spinach dip with artihoke in melted provolone was delicious too!

Flo’s Filet with cold-water lobster tail and melted butter. The filet was named after one of Longhorn Steakhouse’s original servers who loved their filet so much that they named it after her. Love that it comes with a baked sweet potato.

Fire-grilled USDA Choice bone-in porterhouse – a NY Strip & filet in one juicy cut.

Cold-water lobster tail and LongHorn Salmon. The hand-cut fresh Atlantic Salmon is marinated in a secret bourbon marinade, grilled to a flaky perfection and served over rice.

Goldrush Martini // Made with homemade vodka with fresh cut pineapple and passion fruit infused vodka

The Perfect Margarita // Sauza Conmemorativo tequila, Grand Marnier, Patrón Citrónge, Triple Sec and orange, lemon & lime juices

More information can be found at LongHornSteakhouse.com