East Side Pies, #1 in our Pizza Wars, Opens North Store at 13265 N 183

Posted by on Oct 1, 2018 in News, Openings, Pizza, Rob's Blog

Noah Polk and Michael Freid, the honchos at my thin crust favorite East Side Pies are literally on a roll. They’ve opened a new store on North 183 and are about to open a location at the airport as well. Talk about spreading the crust. 🙂 Well, good for them and good for all Austin […]

Verde’s Mexican Parrilla on Hamilton Pool Road Still Delivering Quality

Posted by on Sep 29, 2018 in Mexican, Reviews, Rob's Blog

A few years back when I was doing TV food reviews on KVUE, I became very partial to the food at Verde’s Mexican Parrilla on Hamilton Pool Road. I wanted to tape a review there but unfortunately that never came to pass. The GM of KVUE at the time was the mother of the wife […]

III Forks: The Classic Downtown Steakhouse

Posted by on Sep 24, 2018 in Downtown, Rob's Blog, Steaks

For a great may reasons, not the least of which is a beautifully marbled 18 oz bone-in ribeye with a wonderful first bite rush of flavor, III Forks has evolved into a classic downtown steakhouse. The bar is engaging and it looks as a steakhouse bar should: sleek, sophisticated, and inviting with touches of marble […]

Bozeman, Montana Restaurant Says “No Thanks” to Donald Trump, Jr.

Posted by on Sep 19, 2018 in News, Rob's Blog

The Midtown Tavern in Bozeman, Montana has cancelled a planned event featuring Donald Trump, Jr. hosting a Republican fundraiser. It’s surprising, as most restaurants don’t walk away from lucrative event business. And even more surprising given that Montana is definitely a red state and Trump, Sr. territory. But the manager is quoted as saying “We’re […]

First Taste of The Brisket Gumbo at The Switch

Posted by on Sep 13, 2018 in Barbecue, Rob's Blog

I had lunch at The Switch with Ron Oliveira and tried the Brisket Gumbo. Unusual dish in that it’s served over a potato salad base but the flavors are fairly mild and the tastes are engaging. You can see Todd Duplechan‘s nuanced influence here and it’s what I expected. I’m really liking this place!   […]

Obama’s Favorite Pho at EurAsia Bears No Resemblance to Trump’s Faves

Posted by on Sep 12, 2018 in Asian, Rob's Blog

Obama’s Favorite Indonesian Pho (Bakso Sapi) has become a staple at EurAsia Sushi Bar & Seafood in Oak Hill. I have to agree with President Obama on this one. This is a beautiful Pho, and at EurAsia (located at the Y in Oak Hill) the meatballs are homemade. I my wildest dreams I can’t even […]

The Chicken Fireballs at The Oasis are Addicting. That’s How Tasty They Are.

Posted by on Sep 11, 2018 in Rob's Blog

Remember the old tag line for Lay’s Potato Chips: “Bet you can’t eat just one?” I feel the same way about the Fireball Chicken appetizer at The Oasis. The dish is irresistibly tasty and crunchy. It comes with a killer jalapeño cream sauce. And damn it, I just can’t stop eating them. This was amply […]

Sweetish Hill Closes; will Reopen with New Name, Ownership

Posted by on Sep 10, 2018 in Closings, News, Openings, Rob's Blog

Larry McGuire continues to evolve his Austin food empire with the acquisition of the iconic  Sweetish Hill Bakery which will soon reopen as Swedish Hill Bakery Café & Deli as part of McGuire Moorman Hospitality. The idea is for the new Swedish Hill to serve as a baked goods source for McGuire’s other concepts like […]

The Classic Banh Mi – a bit of history, and where to find one in Austin

Posted by on Sep 3, 2018 in Rob On Cuisine, Rob's Blog, Vietnamese

You might say that the creation of the Banh Mi sandwich was an historical inevitability. Many great dishes have evolved out of cultural mergers brought about either by war or otherwise. The French occupation of Vietnam during the 1950’s is another example. The classic French baguette merged with Vietnamese bbq popular in the small country […]

Pastrami or Pizza? Tough Choices on the Menu at Pieous in Belterra Village

Posted by on Aug 31, 2018 in News, Pizza, Rob's Blog

So I went in to Pieous for pastrami and then I bumped into this pizza, the wonderfully named “Fat Queen.” Tough decision, but this was one hell of a pizza. Pieous is now open at Belterra Village on Hwy 290 W. By the way, they also have a blueberry pie that rocks!   Pieous Belterra […]

Meet Frankie Hoch, Pitmaster at It’s All Good BBQ in Spicewood

Posted by on Aug 29, 2018 in Barbecue, News, Rob's Blog

Does this guy look happy? He should. He’s Frankie Hoch, Pitmaster at It’s All Good BBQ. Frankie has been a weekend smoker and griller for years when he’s not fixing police cars for the city of Austin. He met his eventual partners at It’s All Good at barbecue competitions around the area. Dale Wieczyk, for […]

Josh Kaner at the Old Pieous Building Before the Move to Belterra Village

Posted by on Aug 28, 2018 in News, Pizza, Rob's Blog

When Pieous first debuted several years on 290 in Cedar Valley, it took the area by storm. Foodies that far southwest had never had genuine Neapolitan pizza before. And the word quickly spread about their tasty pizza pies and their amazing moist pastrami. Pieous has now moved to a larger location at Belterra Village off […]

Beat the Texas Heat with Cold Water New England Oysters at III Forks Downtown

Posted by on Aug 27, 2018 in Rob's Blog, Seafood

III Forks is known for their beautifully marbled Ribeyes and New York strips. But there are nights I am drawn like a moth to a flame to their huge selection of Blue Points, Malpeques, and other mollusks from Prince Edward Island, Maine, and Cape Cod. Sure, we all love great steaks but in this steaming […]

Todd Duplechan and Jeff Weinberger Revive Texas Tradition

Posted by on Aug 24, 2018 in News, Openings, Rob's Blog

Todd Duplechan, who was Chef de Cuisine at Trio under Elmar Prambs before starting Lenoir on South 1st Street, and Jeff Weinberger, long time owner of the Shoreline Grill, have collaborated on a significant bone-in fried chicken revival at J.T. Youngblood’s at the old Airport. It is quite simply terrific fried chicken and were I […]

A Little Variety at The Switch

Posted by on Aug 22, 2018 in Barbecue, Rob's Blog

Pork ribs, moist brisket, beautiful sausage, hush puppies and a side called smothered cabbage. Nice plate and it’s a great sampler. Great things happening down at The Switch in Belterra Village.

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