The Kimberly
A polished birthday dinner with attentive service, downtown views and steaks that made the evening feel worthy of the occasion.
Never repeat a restaurant
Where We’ve Actually Eaten
Every restaurant below comes from a published Mark & Jen date journal. Use the map to see the territory, then sort the list by neighborhood or cuisine.
8 documented restaurantsA growing record: The Tuesday tradition began in 2009, but this index starts with the dates currently published online. New journal entries will keep expanding it.
Aris Mediterranean Steakhouse
A dressed-up Restaurant Weeks experience with ribeye, lamb chops, thoughtful service and enough tableside theater to feel celebratory.
SOSU Izakaya & Sushi Bar
Quiet sushi-bar seats, chef recommendations, sake and a memorable pork belly rice bowl. The counter turns dinner into part of the entertainment.
Picnik
A seasonal dinner and bottle of wine in a room that gave us an easy starting point before moving across town for garden-bar cocktails.
Cinque Terre West ATX
House-made pasta, a five-way Negroni menu and a postcard tradition made this feel more personal than a standard Italian dinner.
Ember Kitchen
Live-fire cooking inside the Seaholm Power Plant, positioned perfectly for a Central Library walk and a downtown cocktail afterward.
Grey Orchard
Steak frites and rigatoni in a polished room, followed by a creekside cocktail stop that gave the night an unexpectedly scenic finish.
PopStroke Cedar Park
A full-service dinner option attached to the activity, making it easy to combine food, cocktails and mini golf without another drive.