mandmbklyn's Profile
Thinking of moving from Brooklyn, NY to Austin--what would I be in for, foodwise?
Since this post just got revived, thought I'd update with a report from 4 years later! We did move to Austin and I love it here, and the food scene has totally changed in the last 4 years. So, to answer these questions that I posted, from 4 years in the future:
Thank the lord for Antonelli's Cheese Shop! They're amazing. (It would be so great if they carried smoked fish, too. Especially good smoked sable...)
I love La Boite for croissants (though I read on here that they're using a new baker now, and the old baker is opening her own place shortly. Can't wait...)
House Pizza is great.
Lots of takeout but almost no delivery. Oh well.
The dim sum isn't bad, and I actually had soup dumplings at one place. Vietnamese food is great here.
Still no Malaysian restaurant--can someone please please open a real Malaysian restaurant here? Please?
Overall, the food scene in Austin is great now: I've had incredible meals at Uchiko, Uchi, Barley Swine, and of course BBQ, and I love all the trailers....I think that overall, it's an amazing city foodwise, and has changed so much in 4 years. Can't wait to see how it will keep growing.
--from the former Brooklynite
Thinking of moving from Brooklyn, NY to Austin--what would I be in for, foodwise?
Hi Challiday,
Austin and NYC are both amazing places, but TOTALLY different! NYC is so much fun, especially if you're in your 20s or early 30s and don't have kids yet. (It's a really hard place to raise kids unless you have a lot of money.) I loved living in NYC, especially Brooklyn, because of the amazing theater, restaurants, museums, everything--it's a great place to live. I miss it a lot, now that we're in Austin. Austin is fun, too, but a totally different vibe--laid back, easygoing, affordable. Good luck with your move!
Quattro Gatti on Congress near Little City
We had a wonderful meal here recently. I tried the Rigatoni della Nona and my husband had the risotto, and they were both delicious, and better than what I've had at Enoteca. I think it's on par with Asti (I've had some good, some bad meals there.) The bread was house-made and some of the best bread I've had in Austin. A great experience and I'd definitely go back.
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Enoteca
1610 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Great places to find chocolate/truffles
Michael Chabon, the pulitzer-prize winning author, makes chocolates? Assuming this is a typo...it's a funny thought.
My favorite things from Central Market
I just tried their poblano pesto tonight on top of their portabello & fontina ravioli from the refrigerated case...OH MY GOD it was so good! I'm hooked! A quick & simple meal in 5 minutes. I added some fresh basil and chives from our garden on top, and a sprinkling of parmigiano reggiano. Happiness!
Foreign & Domestic updates?
Has anyone been to Foreign & Domestic lately? We loved it last time we went, but that was a year ago! I'd love to hear if they're still good. Thanks!
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Foreign & Domestic
306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
Big Top Candy Shop
I tried it...it was ok. The cucumber flavor was great, but it was a little too sweet for me. Also, the soda was huge--I could barely drink a third of it! Think I'll stick to the egg creams next time, but it was fun to try.
Big Top Candy Shop
I LOVE Big Top. I'm a native New Yorker and I think their egg creams are fantastic. They were also featured on the food network making a cucumber soda...haven't tried it yet, but it sounded delicious. I think it's a fun place to visit to try out new candy...and, of course, it's lots of fun to bring kids there. I also love the old-school auditorium seats they have to sit on...takes me back to my nyc public school days.
Whole Foods - Lunchtime Best Kept Secrets and Deals?
I really love their New England clam chowder (and I've eaten a lot clam chowder on Cape Cod!) They also sometimes have a sweet potato and ancho chili soup which is incredible. Both soups are so filling that with some bread and a salad they make a great meal.
For comfort food, their mac & cheese is so great (from the hot food counter, not the prepared foods aisle--not sure why both taste so different, but they do.) It's also pretty cheap!
REAL BAGELS stop press, chow friends!
Oh, and does Wholly--or any place in Austin--sell smoked sable? I can't find it anywhere! (Well, they had some at Whole Foods but it was the awful packaged stuff.) I miss Fairway and Barney Greengrass the Sturgeon King! (In case there are any fellow New Yorkers out there reading this, who understand the sable-and-bagel shaped hole of despair in my soul.)
REAL BAGELS stop press, chow friends!
I feel I have to chime in on this discussion, as a native New Yorker, born and bred. I was excited to try Rockstar bagels...and they made me really depressed and homesick, longing for the real thing. I don't understand why people can't make a real bagel outside of NYC? I don't mean to sound snobby about the bagel thing. I just really, really, really REALLY miss good bagels! I'd make the trek to Wholly, but if it's like Rockstar it's just going to make me sad.
Real Bread
Wow, I want a breadbox like that--how cool! Thanks for sharing the photo. Something to dream about...
Good places to linger for a late afternoon lunch?
I'm looking for some new places to try in central and south Austin where I can have a late lunch by myself and linger for a couple hours and get some work done (with a bar or tables where I can use my laptop--wifi not necessary.) Places that I've liked are Foodheads, South Congress Cafe, and House Pizzeria...can anyone think of other places that have great food, and where they don't mind having you linger from 2 to 4pm or so? Thanks!
Foreign & Domestic on North Loop
We had an amazing meal here last weekend--one of the best meals we've had in Austin. We ordered the popovers (good), the salad with grilled peaches (also good), the Bibb lettuce salad (AMAZING!) the steak (very, very, very good) and the chicken (incredible), which my husband said was one of the best chicken dishes he's ever eaten in his life. The service was great, I loved the decor--hip, comfortable, but not overdone--overall, we loved it and can't wait to go back!
Take-out in central Austin?
We're looking to branch out of our take-out rut...anyone have good suggestions? We usually pick up from Central Market, Whole Foods, Asti, Mother's, Madam Mam's, Clay Pot, Thai Fresh, Salvation Pizza...what other places should we try?
Cheese-obsessed
I'm a native New Yorker and also crazy about cheese--I took lots of classes at Murray's Cheese in the Village, and I have to say I don't think you'll find anything close to that here. I've spoken to the cheesemongers at both Whole Foods and Central Market, and it's just not the same. They have nowhere near the depth of knowledge that you'll find in NYC. (Though I have high hopes for this new place opening in Hyde Park--so exciting!)
If you are really serious about cheese, I'd take a trip to NYC and take some classes at Murray's! Those classes were incredible.
Thinking of moving from Brooklyn, NY to Austin--what would I be in for, foodwise?
Thanks for your advice--I'm glad I'm still getting replies on this post!
We've been here for a year, and I have to say I still haven't found amazing cheese, a great bakery, Malaysian food, or amazing pizza, but we did find good dim sum at Chinatown--including soup dumplings! I didn't know we could even get them here! I was so excited. And the Vietnamese food is great--I love Tam's Deli, Thanh Ni, and Baguette House. And I like Thai Fresh a lot too.
I'd do anything for a great Malaysian place, though! I miss Nyonya in Brooklyn so much.
Red bean buns? Anywhere? I hope?
I'm seriously craving red bean buns...is there a Chinese bakery anywhere in Austin? Or an Asian grocery that sells them?
THANKS!
Restaurants in downtown Houston?
I'm going to Houston for the first time and wondering where to eat--are there any good, not-too-touristy places downtown? We're staying on Lousiana street. Thanks!
NYC Hounds Heading Your Way. Help?
We're transplanted New Yorkers and have some must eats for you:
Tacodeli chicken mole tacos--sooooo good! Their egg and chorizo breakfast tacos are great too.
The Vietnamese food here is better than NYC. Tam's Deli has the best banh mi; Tanh ni has the best spring rolls on earth. Get the pork pate one; it's out of this world.
The cinnamon and banana empanadas at the Farmer's Market on Saturdays downtown. Oh. My. God. Worth the trip from NYC!
Thinking of moving from Brooklyn, NY to Austin--what would I be in for, foodwise?
My husband was offered a job in Austin and we're debating making the move...and of course I'm worried about giving up all the great food here.
More specifically:
Is there a great cheese shop? (not just whole foods)
A good French bakery?
How's the pizza?
Is there much takeout and delivery?
Is there dim sum, or any kind of Chinatown? (Long shot, but figured I'd ask.)
Any Malaysian restaurants?
Advice on any of this is greatly appreciated...
Thanks!
Donuts
Trois Pomme on 5th and Garfield makes homemade jelly doughnuts on weekend mornings--fresh out of the oven and melt in your mouth--the best doughnut I ever ate!!
Anyone try JakeWalk yet?
It just opened on the corner of Smith and Sackett in Carroll Gardens. It's owned by the Stinky Cheese and Smith & Vine people...they're just serving wine and cheese and small plates, I heard. Anyone try it? Curious if it's worth a visit.
Top five lunch spots in the East Village?
What are your five favorites? (Cheap is a plus.) Thanks!
Valentines Day In Brooklyn?
We've been to Patois on Valentine's Day several times, and it's always romantic and delicious. With the fireplace it's so cozy (ask for a table near it when you reserve) and the special menu has never disappointed. (You MUST get the financier for dessert--it's out of this world.) A lot of people on this board don't like Patois, but we've always had a nice time there on Valentine's Day.
Burrata in Brooklyn?
I'd go to Murray's if you want to be certain you're getting a fresh one. And a fresh one is pretty amazing--so oozy, gooey, and fresh-tasting, it really feels sinful.
Burrata in Brooklyn?
It's pretty amazing--make sure you have a group of people to eat it with, though! It's too much for one or two people. It's on murray's cheese Ten Cheeses to Eat Before You Die list.
Breakfast and lunch suggestions on fifth ave in Park Slope?
what sandwiches do you like at tempo presto? i've tried a couple which were ok...any suggestions for especially good ones?
Carroll Gardens delivery options
I just realized I never gave my own top 5. Here goes:
Savoia - meat lasagna and diavalo pizza
Jessie's Brooklyn Kitchen - wild salmon, organic burgers, roast chicken, steak
ghang thai - pad thai with squid and pumpkin curry
zaytoons - zaatar bread, mujadarra and lamb kebab platter
caserta vecchia - margherita pizza and spaghetti with cherry tomatoes
(These two are pickup only, but they're fantastic):
Po--papardelle with rabbit ragu
Lucali's pizza with basil, garlic and mushrooms
Breakfast and lunch suggestions on fifth ave in Park Slope?
Looking for some places to try around Union St, but happy to walk 10-15 mins or so too. Thanks!
