Restaurant Review Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse and Cafe´ by Erin Smith

Any person that has lived in Austin for more than a month, especially those hailing from more round-the-clock cities, has inevitably dealt with the dreaded realization that 9 p.m. has come and gone, foreclosing most of the restaurant options in our early-to-bed town. While a few greasy spoons and pizza joints do leave the light on for late-night diners, habitually nocturnal eaters can exhaust their options and their health pretty quickly.

Enter Leslie Martin, wily waitress and late-night gal, who decided to do something about this unfortunate situation a little more than four years ago. After witnessing the demise of a number of smaller restaurants, she felt strongly that Austin needed to restore community spaces in the city. In her words, “When stuff is closing, you have to put it back.”

Determined to diversify the late night scene, and give Starbucks a run for its money, Martin settled on a neighborhood spot, located on South 1st St., to quickly became the “Caffeine Dealer” extraordinaire of South Austin.

Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse and Cafe´ has since grown from a simple coffee shop to full-scale eatery, much beloved by the locals and regulars who spend Saturday mornings munching on fresh omelettes and made-from-scratch blueberry cornbread. From families reading the Austin American Statesman to hungover hipsters perusing Rank and Revue, Bouldin Creek always sports a diverse clientele. And while people battle for air-conditioned, inside tables in the summer months, a screened-in porch and ample patio seating are perfect as the temperate days of autumn roll around. Much applauded by mut-lovers, the cafe´ is also 100 percent dog friendly, providing treats and public water bowls for well-behaved pups.

Despite the fact that Bouldin’s quirky, yellow-painted interior, rotating artists’ collections and haphazardly assembled seating arrangements is enough to warrant a visit, all of this pales in comparison to the consistently great vegetarian fare. Although carnivores may shun their no-meat policy, even the most adamant of meat-eaters will admit that house specialties, such as the House Omelette (spinach, mushrooms, onion, fresh garlic and cheddar-jack cheese) and El Tipico (2 scrambled eggs, potato hash, tortillas and salsa) are stellar, even without the sausage. Simply substituting the magical, homemade Tofu Scrambler for eggs makes most dishes vegan-friendly and surprisingly scrumptious, too. A wide variety of salads (all which can be served with or without tofu), steamed veggies, portabello tacos and even a “Cosmic Sloppy Joe” are available, along with a brilliant selection of veggie, hummus or grilled cheese sandwiches to round out the menu. At least for now, Martin plans to expand the menu with new selections in the coming months.

So for a healthy change of pace and some fresh scenery, swing down to the south side. Always serving from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekends, Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse and Cafe´ would love to feed your late night or early morning cravings.