mkrell's Profile
Know Your Enemy: Snappy Snacks Villainy Exposed by Local Media
Just to update everyone on the status of this, we had a successful meeting of the city council subcommittee, who recognize that many of the items may not be necessary and will harm the community. We are going to have several meetings in the next month or so with the city to work towards developing a plan that is focused on health and safety. As one of the council members stated, "please come back with a plan that has as light a touch as possible."
New Years Challah
Just for clarity the HEB on North Hills off Far West has a kosher meat market that also carries a wide variety of kosher items including baked goods. The Randalls on Balcones just south of 2222 has a kosher bakery. They both should have kosher challah.
Restaurants open Jan 1 Evening
Rob Balon who does reviews for a number of places around here has a list on his website [diningoutwithrobbalon.com] of holiday dining options.
http://www.diningoutwithrobbalon.com/xmas08.html
Mike
Taste or Mulberry Wine Bar..
Two very different places. Mulberry is small and "homey". i would imagine you would take up most of the bar with your group. The people there are friendly and the small plates are yummy. I haven't had dinner there so can't comment, but the wine selection is nice and reasonably prices. We really like to stop in here for a quick nibble and a glass of wine.
Taste is much larger and has the whole wine store/tasting thing going on. Again, the food is good, from the appetizers i have had. The wine selection is larger and can be much more involved since you can go grab your own tastings.
If it were me i would take over Mulberry, but i like the smaller place.
Maria Maria?
So has anyone been to this new place downtown? I understand it's owned by Carlos Santana and serves Mexican food, but that's all I have heard so far. Anyone have comments on the food, drinks, etc.?
1/2 price or discount bottle nights
i am compiling a list of places that have some kind of wine discounts on a regular basis. So far what i have is the following:
North - 1/2 price bottles on Monday night
Daily Grill - 1/2 price bottles on Monday night
Vin Bistro - 1/2 price bottles on Monday night and 1/2 price or $5.00 wines by the glass on Wednesday night
What else is out there?
Appetizers and Champagne...
So I'm trying to come up with a place to sit and have good appetizers and a bottle of Champagne for a celebration? Any great options come to mind that have both a good appetizer menu but are nice enough to sit and schmooze for a while over a good bottle? The best i have come up with are Eddie V's and potentially the bar at the Four Seasons. Any other suggestions you can come up with?
Vino Vino
Went over the weekend for the first time. they have a very interesting wine selection focusing on France, Spain and Italy. They have about 15 wines by the glass, a pretty diverse selection. We had a sparkler from Spain, a white (France) and a rose (Spain) and and a couple reds (one French, one Spanish). All were around $10-15/glass, and all were worth it. When i was discussing what they had in reds, Jeff (our server) told me to hold on while he checked what was open behind the bar...and came back with a couple different selections than what was on the menu.
We were pretty settled and comfortable so ended up eating there but wanted just a light meal. As i remember we had some olives, 2 salads, one was the special (duck confit) and the other a pear with blue cheese. We also had the cheese plate. Finished out with an expresso creme brulee. The two salads were nice and very large, the duck was yummy. The brulee was mediocre.
The total bill for 3 with 6 glasses of wine and the above was around $150 including tax and tip (approximate).
Interestingly the guy who waited on us was the owner (Jeff) and he have us the whole run down on the place and it's history.
We found it quite comfortable for a glass of wine and a lite dinner or snack and actually decided we would go back, which we usually don't say. Crowd was nice and the noise was not too bad (one of my major issues with many of the new restaurants in town). i can see dropping in for a nice late night glass of wine on the way home from downtown.
As an aside the patio was not open that night so we didn't get a chance to check it out.
Austin Chowhound looking for Veggie meal
She's already been there. This can certainly be a place that can cover both non-vegetarians and vegetarians alike...
Austin Chowhound looking for Veggie meal
I am an Austin Chowhound coming to Chicago for the weekend of the 4th. i need a great restaurant downtown for 4, the catch is one is a vegetarian and it's Sunday night. i would really like to make sure it's a great meal for her, any suggestions? i was looking at one sixty blue, but they are not open on Sunday. i really want something upscale, so the typical middle eastern, etc won't cut it. i'm looking for one step down from Alenia, Everest, Tru, Trotters, etc. Maybe North Pond, will that work for a strict vegetarian?
Office Luncheon - S MoPac & Barton Skyway
There are a number of delivery services that will bring you food from a wide variety of Austin restaurants (Google Austin lunch delivery). some that we have used are Bombay Grill, Chinatown, County Line, North by Northwest and Satay, but we are on the north side of town. I suggest you check them out.
Looking for delivered, pre-prepared meals
Another great option is the Soup Peddler. They deliver once a week and they have a lot of great items. You can order online at http://www.souppeddler.com.
BYOB restaurants
in general most places will let you bring in your own wine, with the caveat that they don't carry or have that same wine on their list. if you are planning on bringing a number of bottles i would call first, where ever you happen to go.
Appetizers for dinner...
So i have a friend coming to town for the first time and we have one night for dinner. Instead of doing a dinner, i was thinking that we should do a progressive appetizer and drink thing so she can see a little more of what Austin has to offer. We are starting at around 6:00 or 6:30 and need to be at Fonda's bar to meet some folks for a final drink between 9:30 and 10. I would assume we can hit 2 or 3 places at most without feel rushed (and dealing with traffic).
So it's to you chowhounds...where would you go to have a drink and appetizer that shows off Austin and it's character? What would you order? She lives in the SF bay area so Chinese and Japanese are probably less appealing than SW cuisine.
As a caveat, she is going to be up by the Arboretum for the pick up so NW is better than downtown (and south) in this case.
Mike
Kosher Turkey, Rubashkin's Aaron's Best-where to find? Or recommendations
if you ever have trouble again call and ask for Tracy Cross, he's the Kosher Store manager and has been a great help to us many times in the past.
Desperately trying to find the perfect location for 60th anniversary party!!!
So you would like a private room with some decent food. Are you looking for any particular location in Austin? Downtown? Northwest? In the Northwest area you have several choices: Mirabelle and North by Northwest are both reasonable and have decent food for that amount. Reeds Supper club has a nice room but may be too expensive. You can get an area of the outside patio if it's nice at Manuels. If Asian fits the bill Tien Hong has a couple areas they may be able to set up for a private party.
A little more information and we may be able to narrow the suggestions. Middle December is a bear for weekends as well...
Dinner recs for group of 50 young company trainees
haven't eaten there, but you may want to try Buffalo Billiards to add some fun to the evening...i would think that would be a great evening for some trainees.
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Buffalo Billiards
201 E 6th St, Austin, TX
New candy store/soda fountain on SoCo?
so does anyone know if this is open yet? anyone been there?
Bored of Options Spicewood/Mopac
kind of makes you sad, doesn't it :) i refuse to give up so easily. We should be able to find a few tolerable things...some more off the top of my head the first few in the pricier range and not all that great but they may fit your groups needs.
Siena
Bellagio
Reeds Supper Club
Las Colinas (in the plaza by Mirabelle, never been there)
P.F. Changs
Manuels (both on Jollyville)
Alborz on Anderson
Boulevard Bar and Grill on Far West
Bert's Barbeque on Far West
Satay on Anderson
El Arroyo (i know, don't start)
Korea House (Anderson Lane)
Berryhill Baja Grill (360)
Salt Lick 360
Thistle Cafe
Dragon Gate
Ski Shores (great place on a sunny day no matter the food)
Bored of Options Spicewood/Mopac
Lot's of options in the area, even for the un-adventurous. In no particular order (and not judging the quality of the food) and with variety in mind:
Pluckers on 183
County Line on 2222
Waterloo on 2222 and 360
Mesa Ranch on Mesa
Mirabelle on Mesa
Tan My (formerly Tan Tan) on Peyton Gin
Z Tejas near the arboretum
Mrs. B's at Mesa and Spicewood
Mike
