I love liquor stores. I love browsing for new products, recognizing subtle differences in organization, noting prices, and – of course – responsibly imbibing the products. One thing that makes shopping for and purchasing liquor even more pleasurable for me is that I am also an economist. Economics is not so much something that a person studies as who they are. Everywhere I go I subconsciously collect a set of data points that my brain computes using a highly specific algorithm to then tell me if and under what circumstances I will return to that establishment. I am not special – everyone takes a complicated set of factors in to consideration to determine preferences – but an economist knows that this is happening which makes us want to understand.

So, for this post rather than provide an opinion based on intangible factors, I wanted to conduct a mini experiment and see how my favorite central Austin liquor stores measure up given a set of indicators I theorized to be significant in forming my overall opinion. A team of researchers (thanks James and Gabe) fanned out across Austin to collect six price, 14 selection, and four service data points. We intend to continue to update these numbers and study more stores (it is tough work, but someone has to do it). What follows are our preliminary results:

	Price Ranking	Selection Ranking	Service Ranking	Average Ranking
Chris’s Liquor Stores	N/A	1	6	3.50
King	5	5	6	5.33
South Lamar Spirits	3	4	4	3.67
Spec’s (any)	1	3	4	2.67
Triangle Wine and Spirits	4	7	7	6.00
Twin (any)	2	2	1	1.67
World Liquor and Tobacco	6	6	2	4.67
Standard Deviation	$ 1.17			1.51

What is presented in the columns are rankings for each category. Spec’s, on average, offered the best price. Chris’s had the best selection. Finally, by having someone on staff who knew the ingredients for Negroni, Twin ranked highest in service. You can see by the standard deviation in average price that you are likely to get a fair deal in any Austin establishment and standard deviation in average ranking also indicates that the competition was very close.

In conclusion we did not find any evidence that there is a bad liquor store in this list. We have also walked away from the experience with these notable conclusions:

• Liquor stores aim to please. Whenever a store did not have a specific item that we included on selection they most often said that they could order it. 
• It is not what you know, but what you are willing to learn that counts.  In only one instance did an employee fail to offer to look up the ingredients for a nigroni for us. In an age when everyone has a computer in their pocket good service should only be a Google away.
• Liquor stores are almost universally under the impression that they are competing on cost. The Austin market is dominated by two large chain stores that, by virtue of their size, will have the lowest prices. However, I don’t know anyone who is going to drive across town on a Friday afternoon in Central Austin traffic to get to one of these box stores to save, on average, $2.05. Customers want shop close to their destinations, find exactly what they are looking for, and above all, be treated well.

View Austin Fine Liquor & Spirits Stores in a larger map

This post is part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance’s 2013 City Guide.  Each year AFBA members contribute articles about Austin food and drink to the City Guide as a resource for locals and visitors to Austin.

Austin is a great place to find unique food trucks that serve creative food prepared with fresh (and even local) ingredients. Austin is also a pretty good town for vegetarians and vegans. Many, if not most, food trucks in Austin have vegetarian (and often vegan) options. This list sticks to those food trucks that are primarily vegetarian or vegan, rather than trying to list nearly every food truck in town (for that, check out Austin Food Carts).  Food trucks tagged with V and GF have vegan and gluten-free options available. If we missed any trucks or you have anything to say about our list, please comment or email us!

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Arlo’s VGF

Vegan Comfort Food – Burgers, Tacos, and More

Usual Location: 1104 East 6th Street (at Cheer Up Charlie’s)

Website: http://arlostruck.com/

Twitter: @arlosaustin

Menu: http://arlostruck.com/menu/

Suggested Dish: Bac’n Cheeze Burger

Arlo’s Food Truck serves up some of the best vegan comfort food in the city, from a food truck or otherwise. Arlo’s makes all of their vegan patties in-house, and they aim to use locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible.  A great place to have some yummy vegan food while enjoying a drink or draft kombucha and listening to live music at Cheer Up Charlie’s.

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Bananarchy VGF

Revolutionary Frozen Banana Desserts

Usual Location: 603 West Live Oak Street

Website: http://bananarchy.net

Twitter: @bananarchyatx

Menu: http://bananarchy.net/blog/menu-2

Suggested Dish: The Afternoon Delight

Choose a size, dip, and toppings to build your own frozen banana or select one of their specialty frozen banana creations.  Either way, you’ll be sure to satisfy the need for a cool snack on a hot Austin day. There’s always frozen bananas in the banana stand!

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Capital City Bakery V

Austin’s Best Vegan Sweets

Usual Location: 1901 Rio Grande Street

Website: http://www.capitalcitybakery.com

Twitter: @CAPCITYBAKERY

Menu: http://www.capitalcitybakery.com/menu/

Suggested Dish: Blackout Cupcake

Capital City Bakery is a 100% vegan bakery food truck that has made quite a splash since opening.  It has been featured on the Cooking Channel’s Unique Eats and won the Best Vegan Sweets award in the 2012 Austin Chronicle. Get there early because they often sell out of their excellent cupcakes.

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Conscious Cravings VGF

Wraps, Salads, and Smoothies

Usual Location: 1901 Rio Grande Street

Website: http://consciouscravingsaustin.com/

Twitter: @Consciouscrvngs

Menu: http://consciouscravingsaustin.com/Menu.html

Suggested Dish: Chimichurri Seitan Wrap

Conscious Cravings prepares satisfying vegetarian wraps, salads, smoothies, and sides using local and organic ingredients as much as possible.  Their offerings are generally quite healthful, and they take pride in preparing their tasty sauces in-house.  Conscious Cravings is a great place to stop and refuel with a healthy lunch.

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CoolHaus VGF

Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches on Chewy Cookies

Usual Location: 1104 E 6th St (but highly mobile with several trucks)

Website: http://eatcoolhaus.com

Twitter: @COOLHAUSATX

Menu: http://eatcoolhaus.com/menu

Suggested Dish: Salted Caramel on Double Chocolate

This fleet of imported food trucks from LA sport an ever-changing menu of ice creams and cookies.  Choose a cookie and ice cream flavor to craft your own ice cream sandwich, or just go for a bowl of the cold stuff. Crazy flavors, such as Balsamic Fig & Mascarpone, Spicy Pineapple & Cilantro, and Olive Oil & Rosemary, are joined by crowd favorites like Tahitian Vanilla and Coffee Oreo.

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Guac N Roll VGF

Fresh and Unique Guacamole Made to Order

Usual Location: 3rd and Guadalupe

Website: http://www.guacnrollaustin.com

Twitter: @Guac_N_Roll

Menu: http://www.guacnrollaustin.com/#!the_truck/c21kz

Suggested Dish: The Saba O’Riley

This mohawk-sporting food truck specializes in very unique preparations of everyone’s favorite dip – Guacamole.  All the guacamoles are made fresh to order and served with warmed tortilla chips and your choice of house-made salsa. Guac N Roll also has a few non-guacamole-based dishes, including the only vegetarian posole (Mexican hominy soup) we’ve seen in Austin.

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Moses Falafel VGF

Traditional Vegan, Gluten-Free Falafel

Usual Location: 610 W. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

Website: http://www.moses-falafel-austin.com/

Menu: http://www.moses-falafel-austin.com/menu/

Suggested Dish: Full Pita Falafel with Tahini and Schug

Moses Falafel is an unassuming little food truck that has surprisingly good traditional Israeli falafel prepared by one of the friendliest food truck proprietors in town.  The falafel pita comes with cucumber & tomato salad, hummus, lettuce, pickles, tahini and/or schug (spicy sauce!).  Moses Falafel also has falafel tacos, eggplant pitas, fries, baklava, and a refreshing mint lemonade.

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Nomad Dosa VGF

Build-Your-Own Indian Rice-Lentil Crepes

Usual Location: 1603 South Congress Avenue

Website: http://nomaddosa.com

Menu: http://nomaddosa.com/menu.php

Suggested Dish: Mumbai Mash-ala with Cilantro Chutney and Sambar

Don’t know what a dosa is?  It’s “a freshly made, rice-lentil batter fermented, savory filling stuffed, crispy sourdough tasting, all your senses engaging wrap/crepe/thin pancake of deliciousness, healthiness and nourishment!”  Sound awesome? It is! Head down to Nomad Dosa to get a build-your-own crispy or soft dosa with your choice of filling, toppings, and sides, and wash it down with a delicious mango lassi.

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Schmaltz V

A Vegetarian Take on Jewish Deli Classics

Usual Location: 913 E Cesar Chavez Street (behind Farewell Books)

Website: http://www.facebook.com/SchmaltzAustin

Twitter: @schmaltzaustin

Menu: Check their chalkboard

Suggested Dish: “Harvey P” Seitan Pastrami Reuben and House-Made Pickles

Located in the small lot behind Farewell Books (previously Domy Books), Schmaltz makes excellent vegetarian (and often vegan) versions of classic Jewish deli sandwiches.  You really can’t go wrong with any of their offerings, but our favorites are the Seitan Pastrami and the Falafel Patty Melt.  Don’t forget to get a side of their vegan potato salad or their excellent house-made mixed vegetable pickles.

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The Holy Cacao

Cake Balls, Hot Chocolate, and Other Desserts

Usual Location: 1311 South First Street

Website: http://www.theholycacao.com

Twitter: @HolyCacao

Menu: http://www.theholycacao.com/?attachment_id=2124

Suggested Dish: Rabbit Cake Ball and Mexican Drinking Chocolate

Sporting an interesting selection of cake balls and three types of real (non-powder-based) hot chocolate, the Holy Cacao is sure to satisfy your chocolate desires.

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The Ice Cream Social V

Gourmet Ice Cream and Frozen Treats

Usual Location: 75 Rainey Street

Website: http://www.icecreamsocialbus.com/

Twitter: @icecreambusatx

Suggested Dish: Tres Leches Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone

Typically found amidst the trendy house bars of Rainey Street, The Ice Cream Social food bus is near full-service ice cream shop on wheels.  Choose from their gourmet ice cream flavors (like Peanut Butter Mole, Tres Leches, and Roasted Strawberry Cheesecake), add some toppings, and select your conveyance method (sugar cone, waffle cone, ice cream sandwich, or cup).  The Ice Cream Social also prepares some very nice popsicles with interesting flavors like sweet tea, Thai iced coffee, and white grape.

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The Vegan Nom VGF

Rockin’ Vegan Tacos

Usual Location: 120 North Loop Boulevard

Website: http://www.facebook.com/TheVeganNom

Twitter: @thevegannom

Menu: The Vegan Nom Menu

Suggested Dish: Grilled Avocado Reale Taco and Bean Diablo Taco

One of my favorite taco spots in Austin, which, as an added benefit, is completely vegan!  The Vegan Nom whips up excellent vegan breakfast tacos, creative signature tacos, nachos, queso, and more.  Everything is made to order and comes with their great hand-made salsas.  Definitely worth a stop, especially if you’re in the North Loop area bar-hopping from Drink.Well. to the Workhorse.

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The Vegan Yacht VGF

Ahoy, matey

Usual Location: 1110 East 12th Street

Website: http://theveganyacht.com/

Twitter: @theveganyacht

Menu: http://theveganyacht.com/menu

Suggested Dish: Freeto Burrito with Avocado

The Vegan Yacht prepares mostly organic, all-vegan fare for East Austin visitors and guests.  The Vegan Yacht makes most of their sauces and other non-vegetable ingredients by hand so they know where it came from.  Before visiting, be sure to check their Twitter or Facebook account as hours tend to be somewhat sporadic.

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Other Austin Food Blogger Alliance City Guide articles about vegetarian food in Austin:

• Central, South, and Westlake from Jessica of ATX Gluten-Free
• Downtown from Nelly of aneelee
• East from Nelly of aneelee
• North from Lauren of Gourmet Veggie Mama

As a bonus tidbit of info, you can find other vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free restaurants around Austin (and in several other cities as well) with Locate Special Diet (and their Android and iPhone apps).