I buy them from Richardson Farms at the Farmer's Market downtown. They've had them every time I've been.

Right now, I'm obsessed with the Chicken Tortilla Ramen at East Side King at Hole in the Wall. It's like taking the best chicken tortilla and mashing it together with the best Tom Kha and then adding ramen noodles. It's a flavor explosion, it will cure what ails ya' and it's currently my favorite soup in town.

Runner up is whatever is being made and sold at Giovanni's pizza stand in the Valero at Lamar and Barton Skyway. That guy is doing amazing things with soup. I've yet to have one that wasn't fantastic.

I went again on a Friday night at prime-time with mt husband and another couple. This experience was less pleasing than the last.

The hostess staff seemed permanently perplexed.

Our wait was about an hour which was to be expected, however, it was a rainy night and there was no good place to wait it out. We ended up walking over to Elizabeth St. Cafe and sitting on their front porch. We'd have gotten drinks there but couldn't figure out how to order them so we gave up.

Went back to Sway, couldn't get to the bar to order or get a menu. So we stood around awkwardly.

When we finally did get our table, we had a really hard time hearing each other. My husband pretty much ended up left out of the conversation. The woman on the bench next to him kept bumping into him and taking up way more than her fair share so that was an annoyance.

Two of us wanted to split a bottle of wine, two were going for separate drinks. The server took the wine order and then just started to walk off. We grabbed her to get in the other orders, but sheesh.

We ordered a lot of food: prawn miange, spring roll, peanut curry, son-in-law, tom kha and yams. For dessert, the panna cotta and the tea avogado.

I really liked the prawn miange, but it was really intense. Every flavor and texture under the sun at once, so it would be easy to get confused.

The spring roll was really good which surprised me. I would never have picked that on my own, but it was very fresh and herby and the tomato jam that came with it? That may have been the best thing we ate all night. They should bottle that and sell it.

The peanut curry was disappointing. Just kind of meh. The Tom Kha was delicious. I would have eaten the whole bowl by myself if it weren't rude to do so. Son in law was still delicious, and the yams. Holy hell, those blew me away.

So all-in-all, I think there are still a lot of kinks to work out, but I liked the food.

Had lunch there the week it opened and was blown away. The son-in-law, the wings, chicken fried rice and the green beans. All fantastic and even better when we brought them home and ate the leftovers. For two of us, the portions were plenty for two servings each.

I also tried the drinking vinegar and have a new favorite soft-drink.

Nope, next to Uchiko's Sweet Corn dessert, it's my favorite corn in the world. I am both high-brow and low :)

Back in January at Uchiko, my husband and I did the Omakase for the first time. There was a cauliflower dish on there that I am still thinking about today. Hands down the best thing I've ever eaten in our fair city, or anywhere for that matter. And I'm not even remotely a vegetarian, but holy moly, this dish. I wish I could remember all of the details of the dish, but all I can remember is the overall taste...salty, unctuous, crunchy, a little sweet, and a lot of OMG.

If you want the heat, try the shrimp and fish filet in special pepper sauce. I think that's what it's called. It's written on the white board behind the counter. It's by far the hottest thing I've eaten in Austin. To gauge my heat index, I do not find the spicy fish filet hot at all.

The ma po has a nice kick to it but after a bite or two, I'm hard pressed to call it too hot.

Seconding the spinach salad at House. It's the simplest thing in the world, but just out of this world with flavor and texture.

I went during the soft opening last week. I had the #2 with a corn on the bomb addition and it was really wonderful. Also tried the gyoza which were fine, but nothing to write home about.

The place is great looking and the staff couldn't be any nicer if they were twins. The pork belly in the ramen was out of this world, the noodles were tender and light, the broth was complex in it's subtlety and I want to go back every day.

Alas, that AC doesn't seem to be able to handle the load, so it's hot as the dickens up in that joint. I'll be a regular once the lines die down and the weather cools off.

Also noteworthy at North is the one with hazelnuts and strawberries. I get cravings for it.

Way, way better than Taj. Miles better. Totally worth the drive.

Of course, this is all just my personal opinion ;)

Today was my third visit, and first for the buffet. We are so lucky to have Asiana in Austin (and especially so close to my house!). Every time I've eaten there, I've been blown away, and have tried something different. The dosas are amazing. I've never had anything like it.

Today, they actually turned me into a goat lover with the briyani on the buffet. I've eaten goat a few times at other Indian places, out in Llano at Cooper's, at Barley Swine...and I just figured I wasn't a fan. It's usually just...blah.

But today, the goat in the briyani was amazing. I wanted briyani so I was willing to try the goat, and boy am I glad I did! So moist, tender and just little hints of some fat on it to give it a great flavor, similar to lamb.

That's the perfect description of it. It's what I say about Chuy's too. It's not authentic, it's not tex-mex, it's just Chuy's.

I used to absolutely hate Torchy's, but then I found the baja shrimp taco, and now I'm in love. Albeit only with that taco. Everything else I've tried outside of that and the queso has been terrible.

Ha, me too! Jalepeño ranch, chips and a mini bean and cheese burrito with green chili sauce...sometimes it just hits the spot. And then I can't go back for a year because I feel so gross and self loathing.

Fourthing this. The strawberry basil this summer is insanely good. Also the quark with fig.

Two plates I love: Polvo's and Maria's TacoXpress. Both sound a lot like what you are describing (though I think you have to ask for the cheese at Polvo's). I am not sure, but I don't think Maria's has handmade tortillas.

Thai Spice has this. It's in the shopping center at 2244 and 360 with the LaMadeline and HEB. I think there is another location as well, but I can't remember where.

Seriously, Asiana is absolutely amazing. A couple of weeks ago, we went and had the dosa with potato and onion, lamb rogan josh, and kefti. Absolutely outstanding and hands down the best Indian food I've had in Austin.

I also give props to New India on S. Congress next to the Wells Fargo at Oltorf.

I've been once and was less than impressed. Husband's pasta dish was inedible, my roast chicken was fine, but nothing terrible special, friend's Croque Monsieur bread was too tough to eat, service wasn't great, booth was cramped, and there's one stall in the ladies' room that's just simply too small to be usable.

I'm in the minority around here, but I find Parkside to be mediocre at best. I'm willing to give it a third try to hopefully hit the three's a charm, but I'm not in a hurry.

Uchiko is hands down my favorite place in Austin, and honestly, so far, the world. I just got back from a week in San Francisco, eating at a couple of starred places as well as some other trendy things, and nothing competes with Uchiko on any level from food to service.

I think Congress warrants a try next time you're in town as well. I was bowled over by the lobster bisque. The other two dishes were kind of meh, but I'd like to give it another try.

My husband orders that pasta dish every single time we go to Enoteca. It's amazing. I bet it'd be outstanding as a sandwich.

Last time I was at Pho Saigon in Chinatown Village, I asked the lady who is always there (owner? manager?) if they'd be opening a South location any time soon. She said it was already in the works, but didn't indicate where. I think she said spring/summer.

We ordered pizza from here at work last week, and I thought it was serviceable. The slices are ginormous. We got one margarheita and one with a bunch of meat and veg. The part I wasn't crazy about was the "bone" of the crust (the end). It had a bland, watery aspect to it.

I think a slice and a drink are around $5 for lunch, and the slice is just insanely big.

Trio at the Four Seasons is my go to. They have 2 or 3 big bar tables that seat at least 6. You can get more around there if needed. The prices are fantastic and they have a new menu where all of the food is $5. The drinks are all wine, and it's a small list, but it's a really good list.

http://www.triorestaurantaustin.com/m...

Thank you all for the great recs and ideas.

Here's the recipe I found that I want to try:
http://goo.gl/h8wEo

Agreed, my favorite restaurant, not just in Austin, but anywhere in the world...so far.

Does anyone know of any place in Austin that I can buy fresh sea urchin? I'd really like to try my hand at a sea urchin pasta dish, but can't find a place to get it.

I also love the corn sorbet. The first time I tried it, I was immediately taken back to being 8 years old eating corn pops while watching Saturday morning cartoons. It's my second favorite dessert in Austin...

We went last month and tried a couple of new things. The ones that stood out were the Jar Jar Duck and the Pork Cheek. Oh the pork cheek. I want to eat that every day for the rest of my life. With Uni on the side.

I second the tobacco cream. It's my favorite dessert in Austin.

Noticed tonight as we were driving by that the MM signage is all still up, but there's a big banner hanging over the patio that says "SAP'S". A peek inside looked like a new interior. Does anyone know what's going on here?