addlepated's Profile
Tarka
Be warned - my experience at the one on Brodie is that asking for NO cilantro actually nets you EXTRA cilantro. Blargh! This has happened to me twice, after which I decided that Tarka was one of those only-if-I'm-dying-of-hunger-and-nothing-else-in-Austin-is-open type places.
El Pollo Regio
We just tried That Green Sauce. It's not _bad_, but it has almost zero heat.
parkside - meh?
Next time you get an appetizer from Parkside, get the marrow bones. They're one of the best bites I've had in Austin.
Justine's gets mixed reviews around here, but I went a month or so ago and enjoyed it very much. Everything we got was at the top of its game.
Korean Fried Chicken / Somunanjib / Rockin Rice / BBGo
We went about 2 weeks ago and while I didn't have the fried chicken, I did get the dolsot bi bim bap and was slightly disappointed. The egg was overcooked and the rice on the bottom of the bowl wasn't at all crispy. The flavors were all great, and the ban chan had some real standouts, but I was really looking forward to some crispy.
Is Lupe Tortilla Open?
Hah, my husband just informed me that he gets the spicy fajitas every time he eats there. I guess I'm just not paying attention! He concurs that they're really good. Will put on my To-Do list.
Is Lupe Tortilla Open?
How are the fajitas at Habanero? I think the only place I've ever had fajitas that I remember is Hula Hut, believe it or not - both their Shiner Bock and their Thai fajitas are tasty. I don't tend to order fajitas at many places after an unfortunate incident at Maudie's, but if Habanero has good ones, I might revise my position.
Is Lupe Tortilla Open?
El Milagrito for breakfast - their barbacoa plate is so, so good. They focus on the food, not the website. ;) http://elmilagritocafe.com/ Their homemade flour tortillas are making my mouth water just thinking about them. The breakfast plates come with a side of home fries that have been fried up in chorizo. Make sure to ask for their green sauce if it's not on the table. It's similar to El Pollo Rico's here in Austin, and is a perfect accompaniment to a barbacoa taco.
La Fonda for dinner. It's a San Antonio institution. They have split into a couple of differently owned locations now; the last one I ate at was the one in Alamo Heights, and it was divine: http://www.lafondaalamoheights.com/ (I usually go for the Friday Special; you can also order puffy tacos a la carte.) They have homemade corn tortillas (and probably flour, too, but the corn are so good that I've been ordering just those for a long time).
Many Tex-Mex places in San Antonio will serve you butter for your tortillas. It's a thing.
Close to La Fonda is Paloma Blanca (beware noisy website) - http://www.palomablanca.net/main/index.asp - also very good.
For fun, Mi Tierra downtown is open 24 hours a day and is connected to a panaderia in front. They serve okay cabrito, and they're next door to El Mercado, which is a great place to shop, especially for the Oaxacan and Guatamalan embroidered dresses that have come back into style - they'll be 1/4 the price here than they will be in the clothes boutiques. Also, there will be strolling mariachis here. Another noisy website (whyyyy?) http://www.mitierracafe.com/
I'm sure there are many more, but those are the places that I tend to hit when I'm back in town visiting since they're convenient for me. Maybe someone else has some suggestions too.
Is Lupe Tortilla Open?
Thanks - I have a hard time finding anything in Austin that rings my bells. Lots of places have one or two dishes that come close, but there's no place where I can go and order anything on the menu at random and be bowled over, probably because, as you say, I'm holding it to my SA standards. I just need to bite the bullet and drive an hour south for my fix!
Picturing casual gourmet, fresh seafood and veggies, creative, good
If you like mussels, give the mussels appetizer at Carrabba's a try. I have done the same thing with the juice there.
Lucky South Austinites: Asiana
Yes, we were there again last night and it was just as excellent. I really want this place to make it. Looks like they're applying for a liquor license, or maybe just beer and wine.
Is Lupe Tortilla Open?
The location at Arbor Walk is open. If you tell them it's your first time there, they will give you free tiny fajitas to sample. They still have some kinks to work out - i.e., my chalupa didn't have any beans on it (?!), nor any guac. Pass on their carnitas - boiled pork tenderloin, no fat. Fajitas seem like a good bet, if pricey. The puffy taco was pretty good; get it with beef, not with chicken as their chicken is cubed, not shredded, and it makes tacos awkward to eat. They're not gonna be as good as San Antonio puffy tacos, but they're decent. Refrieds are very nice and a rarity for Austin, good and gooey, not loose like many places, and there is bacon grease in there, by golly. All in all, not bad, and a definite step up from many Tex-Mex places around town.
This is written from a San Antonio native viewpoint on Tex-Mex, BTW.
Lucky South Austinites: Asiana
HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL this place is amazing. Go go go! The Chicken Tikka Masala platter was one of the best bites I've had in the last year, without a doubt (it includes this incredible buttery saag paneer and a side of sauteed veggies). Anxious to try out the lunch buffet so I can sample other goodies. We fed four people, with two big appetizers (one sampler and one masala dosa) for about $50 before tip.
Bundu Khan
This is a new restaurant in Oak Hill next to T&N, where the Burger Tex used to be.
http://bundukhankabob.webs.com/
We went last night and had lamb shawerma. Really, really tasty. The meat is nice and crispy on the edges rather than limp and it really adds something to the dish. The tzatziki had a strong (but pleasant) umami undertone that almost reminded me of caviar or taramasalata. I'm looking forward to exploring some of the more exotic menu choices.
They just opened and you can tell they are excited about it. Very friendly, very chatty. Decor is minimal. Food is good.
Austin Restaurant Week 2012 experiences
We went to Bartlett's the other night, not realizing it was ARW. Holy moly, were we impressed! They really were on top of their game. I got the fennel/grapefruit/beet/goat cheese salad, crab cake, and orange chocolate pot de creme. They were all amazing, with the highlight being the crab cake which tasted like all sweet, fleshy crab meat and no filler at all - but honestly, I was so stuffed by the enormous salad (there must have been an entire beet in there!) that I was able to take half my entree course home and eat it for lunch yesterday. Hubby had the filet mignon, which was cooked rare as he ordered it, so that was an immediate point in their favor since most places overcook, but the beef itself was flavorful and good. His butternut soup starter had him rolling back his eyes with each bite. All in all, we left very happy, and honestly, sort of gobsmacked - we were not expecting an experience like that when we walked in the door. Well-played, Bartletts.
Austin Burger Smackdown!
Hey, there's a dance in the old dame yet. We went to Cat Mountain two weeks ago and were moaning with each bite we took, the burgers were that good. I will say it: I have not had a better burger in Austin. Now, if you don't like the sweet type of buns, you may not like the Cat Mountain 'burgs, but me, I happen to love them.
Hillside Farmacy Report: Good and Bad
Did that news article say $20 for six raw oysters??
two foodie girls eating their way through austin...
You can get flautas just about anywhere though. Where on the menu does Jorge's have fried tacos? I can't find 'em.
Justine's
Quick update on Justine's, which I haven't seen posted about recently - we went there earlier this week, had no wait for an indoor table, and were extremely pleased with our meal. I was very dubious about what we would face as we headed in, but was pleasantly surprised by both the atmosphere (not nearly as close or noisy or hipster or warm as I feared) and the food. I had the trout menieure, which was the night's special, and it was outstanding. It was served with spring vegetables and I thought there were carrots included in the mix, but they turned out to be orange beets! Yum! I even had good escargot, which I thought was impossible with my track record of always getting the bum escargot of the batch.
I wish they had more wines by the glass, but that's just a minor quibble.
He's Baaack! Where have you seen Bourdain in town?
He spoke at SXSW this year, so probably not filming a show (unless someone knows otherwise), just enjoying some grub. Although why he's going to Frank, I have no idea. ;)
Looking for a "Meat and Three" around the Austin area.
Southern Hospitality has some darned fine food, but it's buffet and lunch only. http://www.sohosfoods.us/ Call ahead to see if they're open - I think there's a new baby and they took some time off to focus on that.
Royer's Round Top Cafe is about 1.5 hours away and a bit upscale, but fabulous - http://royersroundtopcafe.com/ - limited hours there as well, make sure you're going at the right time.
But neither place comes with a third side standard, I'm afraid. Even the Lu Ann platter at Luby's is a meat-and-two. http://www.lubys.com/en/menu.asp?sn=2
Hillside Farmacy Report: Good and Bad
Have you had the Bloody at Frank? Don't go there right now (or anywhere near downtown during SXSW if you value your sanity), but once things settle down, Frank makes a pretty darned tasty Bloody. I don't think much of their food, but I might go out of my way to drink my lunch there.
Tex-Mex on Austin's Southeast and East Sides, Part 13
No, they're next to the Stop and Shop north of Stassney on S. 1st. Handy for grabbing a drink to go along with your tacos. They have more tables behind the trailer, btw.
Tex-Mex on Austin's Southeast and East Sides, Part 13
Quickie update on La Flor - they no longer serve barbacoa, but as of this morning they have what I consider the best carnitas in town. Their picadillo is very tasty too. The deshebrada was good, but I would forego that for the carnitas. It's very difficult to find them crispy, but here they are!
Dallas to Austin Road Food
I want to put in my recommendation for two kolaches at The Czech Stop that you might not try - the sauerkraut/sausage and the poppyseed. The sauerkraut is actually not very sour and it's a nice, moist meat-type kolache (I've found that some of the plain sausage ones can get a little dry). The poppyseed is very dark and somewhat alarming at first appearance, but it's really good and not as sweet as some of the other fruit ones. It's also different enough that you don't feel like you're just eating a differently-shaped Danish.
Second Bar & Kitchen / Bar Congress
Cat Mountain had a pretty good burger the one time I was in, but I haven't been back to verify. I need to remedy that.
Second Bar & Kitchen / Bar Congress
Just wanted to pop in here with a recommendation for the brussels sprouts, if you are a brussels sprouts fan. We went the other night (late-ish) and I got a burger with sprouts on the side. The burger was just okay - lacking in seasoning, as someone else mentioned - but the brussels sprouts were something else. They tasted like they had been seared or roasted, then braised in wine and butter, and the crispy bits of bacon and the feta accompanied it perfectly. I could not detect the mint. The charcuterie plate was also very nice, though I wished for more cornichons to have between meats.
On a weird note, they were playing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on the two screens over the bar, and as much as I love the movie, I do not want to see Benicio del Toro upchucking red salmon along the side of a white Cadillac as I nosh on my food. After it was over, they turned on Mommie Dearest, which was far less graphic.
The Spiciest Mexican Dish in Austin
Yes... and I have never been able to buy jalapenos or habaneros at the store that are half as hot as the ones I grow in my back yard. I think that nearly all the mass market grocery store peppers (at least the ones I've tried) are on the mild side these days. Farmer's market ones might be better for heat.
