jwynne2000's Profile
Picturing casual gourmet, fresh seafood and veggies, creative, good
Olive and June and Asti are solid. Asti is a little more traditional, O&J kicks up the creativity (but wins hands down for the incredible patio)
I would avoid Peche. I've had two bad meals in a row there, and don't see a need to go there anymore except for an absinthe.
Killer week in Austin for Newbie
Killer week indeed! I'm lucky to hit most of those places in a year.
Really, a great list... you won't go wrong with those choices. I might add Olive & June in there in place of Uchi. Since you're already hitting Uchiko, plus you're planning HH at Parkside, I might want to mix in something different.
Also, make sure you leave yourself enough time to enjoy the sights and scenes! A few of the places on your list are geographically dispersed, and traffic pretty much city-wide grinds to a halt from about 7:00 - 9:00 and 4:00 - 7:00 on weekdays, and basically 24 hours a day on I-35.
They're all more or less central, but just beware of traffic.
Tomo on Palmer...any new reviews & is it still open? Website down.
Wow... yeah, if you're going to a movie at Violet Crown, Tomo (or Osaka for that matter) are WAY out of the way.
If Chef Choo is taking care of the sushi bar at Afin, I would imagine it's going to be good and the service will be great. It's now on my list of places to try.
I also used to enjoy the sushi at Mushashino, but haven't been in years.
Tomo on Palmer...any new reviews & is it still open? Website down.
I'm with Dina... in this area Osaka is a much better overall dining experience, imho. Even on a Tuesday, you may be on a wait at Tomo.
They have great Korean dishes, too, if you wanted to mix it up.
Hard Hat Vol IX
A new sign at the former South Austin Grill / former Vinny's Italian, on Barton Springs...
"Peso & Bucks - 24/7 Border Cafe -- Coming Soon!"
Hard Hat Vol IX
We went Thursday night for some hoops. Ordered the sausage and pancetta flatbread, which was okay. Beer selection is decent (on par with say, Little Woodrows, if you're familiar with that), better actually than their older sister, Cover 3. The shuffleboard table is a nice touch. As you can imagine, it was loud and packed, but I'm glad we have a new option up in the hood.
Hard Hat Vol IX
The Thai trailer you mention is actually pretty decent, and the prices are right. The curries and the basil fried rice are my favorites.
Raw Oysters
I've eaten here a few times on my way to Express games. Pretty formidable oysters and beer at good prices. They're not bad on the deep fryer either.
Raw Oysters
I've seen a place in the Southpark Meadows center called Port A Oyster Bar, but I don't know anything about it.
RIP part 4
Looks like this RIP thread has come full circle. It started with Kahuna's on Parmer and McNeil closing. Now, Old School Grill in that same location has shuttered its doors. Not sure what it is about that location.
LA Hound coming into town; any help would be greatly appreciated.
When we've gone to Barley Swine before and had to wait, we go next door to Opa - a funky Greek wine bar place - for a glass of wine and a seat in they cozy confines. They'll call your cell phone when you're table is ready. Not a bad way to wait it out.
And if the wait is borderline egregious for you, there's always Olivia right across the street. Not quite as great or "restaurant du jour" as Barley Swine, but a nice dinner nonetheless.
Anyone tried Hank's Garage?
We stopped in for lunch on the 23rd. It was my second visit and my wife's first. I had the chicken tikka masala poutine and wife had the moules frites. Both were frankly pretty awful -- her mussels tasted old and I got nothing resembling Indian flavors on my fries. Hopefully this was just a result of their last day being open.
Having traveled in Belgium this past summer, I really love this pub/restaurant concept in Austin. But if they reopen (and I hope they do), they need to shape up the execution of their food and really work on their beer selection. That always puzzled me about that place -- they offered 6 or 7 pretty easy-to-find Belgians, along with a whole smattering of random other beers. Coors Original on tap? Why do we need this here? Knock our socks off with 30-40 hard to find funky Belgian beers, serve it in its proper glassware, and have someone knowledgeable serving it to us.
Place w/ Great Food to Watch the Longhorns?
Cover 3 may suit your needs. I would temper my expectations though. No place in town that will have the atmosphere you're looking for is going to come anywhere close to Uchiko.
Christmas Eve Downtown. Is it crazy busy or worth the risk?
I don't think downtown gets all that busy. Most people are traveling or staying put at home. In fact, if there was a particular place you're looking to go, I would check first to make sure they're even open.
Considering your location, my suggestion would be to go to for Chinese food (Ho Ho, Din Ho, Asia Cafe, or First Chinese BBQ), followed by a nightcap at the Draught House. Those will all be open on Christmas Eve/Day.
Trappistes Rochefort 8 and 10 set to release in Austin
Yup. Saw that this afternoon when I went by there.
Office just moved to Amber Oaks near Parmer and 620
I live in the area as well. To add to Dina's list...
- Al Forno Pizza
- Ming's Cafe
- Smoky Mo's BBQ
There are a few great ethnic places in the shopping center at Spicewood Springs and 183, but i don't know if that's too far.
Gift Card for friends....sort of.
I second the Antonelli's idea. I may steal that. :)
HOT DOGS IN AUSTIN...
The best I've had so far is Clem's Hot Diggity Dogs. This is the description from their FB page:
we serve a 100 % beef dog in a natural casing served on a buttered toasted new england style lobster roll, we also serve kettle chips sodas water and HOT BOILED PEANUTS (VEGAN CRAWFISH)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clems-Hot-Diggity-Dogs/107677445968957?sk=info
Dirty 6th Area Restaurants
Backspace is a great pizza place adjacent to Parkside. I don't know about everyday eating, but even once a week probably wouldn't break the bank. Parkside is also a good dinner spot, but a bit pricier.
Hosting a cocktail hour in Austin
Is this going to be an after-work soiree? If so, don't underestimate the amount of traffic on Mopac (both directions) during the hours of 4:00 - 7:00. It's a long schlep by car if you end up doing something in south or east Austin, say. There is no worthwhile public transit here either, so factor that in as well, unless you're renting a party bus.
Near the Domain, I'd vote for
- North By Northwest
- Draught House. Beer only (they brew their own + 75 or so others on tap), but you cannot beat the atmosphere.
- Cover 3 - think upscale sports bar. Decent selection of beer, cocktails are good. Plus they have an upstairs party room you can rent out and the food there is pretty decent.
Simple, delicious Japanese food has landed in NW Austin
Ajishin Sushi & Noodle (no website.... yet?). Located at Parmer near McNeil, a few doors down from Little Woodrows.
These guys just opened yesterday, so we went and checked it out for dinner tonight. I'm nothing at all of an expert on Japanese food, so I'll keep this more informative and less opinionated.
The menu is simple, yet varied enough to keep it interesting. The basic categories are 1) sushi, 2) Udon noodle bowls, 3) Soba noodle bowls, 4) larger dinners, probably meant to be family style, pegged under a category called "Kyo-Chirashi".
(note: looks like lunch is just Udon and sushi)
About 8 - 10 different Udon bowls, ranging from about $7 - $10. Wife and I each had one and thought all aspects of them were tasty (again, I don't have much of a frame of reference here).
4 soba bowls, IIRC.
Sushi menu is straightforward and unpretentious. For nigiri, they have all the standards, plus some goodies such as Uni and octopus. We sampled a mackerel and a tuna piece, which were quite fresh and delicious. There are 8 or so straightforward rolls (by that I mean no sweet sauces, mango, or funny names). Their more traditional Japanese rolls included pickled radish, natto, and burdock. Prices of all nigiri and rolls were very reasonable.
Didn't see any beer or wine on the menu, so I would assume BYOB is cool? Not sure about that though, will need to ask next time.
Would love to hear opinions from some Austin hounds more well-versed in Japanese food. I'm excited to explore the menu further.
Hard Hat Report Vol 8
If you've never eaten at the College Station locations, you're in for a treat with Blue Baker. Seriously good bread and sandwiches.
Anyone finding HOT Hatch chiles around town?
We got some from the Parmer/McNeil HEB yesterday and they are indeed hot. I think they have two different bins of them, one mild and one hot.
RIP part 4
I think it's just temporary while they install the Container Bar in that lot. Cazamance is still in business....
http://www.facebook.com/Cazamance
First Chinese BBQ
I'll second that too. I've always had great success with any permutation of their BBQ pork or duck.
Review: Old School Grill
I've been a couple of times and had a bit better of experience than you did. Maybe it really does just depend on who's cooking.
Have had the wings (B-), cheeseburger (A-), and swordfish with dirty rice (B-). They were all about 2-3 bucks more than the Austin dining populace would be accustomed to. I actually thought the burger was perfectly seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium rare. Fries were great too.
The service there I thought was great.
My main beef with the place is the $5 pints of beers. That is heresy as I see it! :)
Hard Hat Report Vol 8
Thrillist video about the new Old School Grill:
http://www.thrillist.com/food/austin/tx/78729/north-west/old-school-grill_american_burgers_cheap-grub_comfort-food_good-for-groups_lunch_sandwiches_seafo
Old School Grill menu:
http://www.thrillist.com/popup/972619/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aHJpbGxpc3QuY29tL2ZpbGVzL21lbnVzLzk3MjYyMG1lbnVwb3B1cC5qcGc%3D/Menu?ptype=menu
:)
