Burnet Trifecta Packing Them In
I’ve always loved the trifecta at the racetrack. But that’s a long shot at best. There is a restaurant trifecta on Burnet that is, as racing fans would say, a lock. I’m talking about the back-to-back-to-back configuration of Noble Sandwich Co., Fork and Taco and Pinthouse Pizza. These are three restaurants that have substantially elevated […]
Hoover Alexander: a Chef and Man for All Seasons
This is not a restaurant review. If anything, it’s an appreciation of a pillar in the Austin food community and the story of one hell of a nice guy. I first met Hoover Alexander almost 30 years ago when I was doing my short-lived and first restaurant review stint on the then KTVV-TV (now KXAN-TV) […]
The Most Influential Restaurants in Austin
We are blessed with many fine restaurants in Austin. But among that group there are a few that stand out as being the trend setters for other restaurants. You know: the places local chefs and aspiring restaurateurs really pay attention to. Congress Since the first day he arrived in Austin over a dozen years ago […]
Austin Originals: Beau Theriot and Shirley Shaw of the Oasis
Aside from being two of the nicest people I’ve ever met, Beau Theriot, founder and owner of the Oasis atop Lake Travis, and Shirley Shaw his long-time consultant for operations and marketing, have persevered against a variety of almost Biblical plagues that would have caused most restaurant owners to light out for the territories. They […]
Places You Should Try in the Spicewood Area
Many Austinites don’t give the Spicewood area on Highway 71 the chance it deserves. There are some little gems out there that are worthy of consideration. Here are just a few of our favs with more on the way. Angel’s Ice House This little comfort food emporium on 71 dishes up pretty much things that […]
South of the River: New Restaurants Taking Off
Until very recently, South Austin has been a bit sparse on the food scene. But that has changed quite a bit in the past 3-4 years. Jack Allen’s Kitchen in Oak Hill really got things started as Jack Gillmore’s upscale comfort food really struck a chord. Son Bryce got things rolling on South Lamar, first […]
Easter Dining Recommendations 2015
Each year we usually provide you with a ponderous list for Easter brunch choices. This year will be a bit different. We’ll narrrow out list a bit, and provide some brief commentary on each choice. So enjoy and have a wonderful day. Don’t forget to email us with any questions. Freda’s Seafood Grille This is […]
Foodie Survivor Tips for SXSW
The annual carnival known as South by Southwest comes to town this week, which means a significant disruption of the downtown dining we locals are used to. Tip #1 You can’t navigate anywhere downtown so don’t even try. Drive your car to the closest point and then arrange for Uber to pick you up. And […]
Weekend Brunches Around the River City
Who doesn’t like a tasty weekend brunch? Unlike weekday dining, weekends have a sense of liberation to them, and brunches really seem to fit well with relaxed attitudes. Here are some of our favorites. District Kitchen + Cocktails This newish bistro at Escarpment and Slaughter has a really interesting brunch. Eggs Benedict that stand out […]
Pizza Wars 2014: The Best Pizzas in Austin
According to our pizza pals, the week after Valentine’s Day is traditionally a good one for pizza restaurants in Austin. Guess everyone went broke on Valentine’s Day, or some such reason. Nonetheless, here’s one of our favorite pieces of the year for your enjoyment. As many of you may know by now, I grew up […]
Korean Food Ramping Up in Austin
I’ve loved Korean food since I first tried Bulgogi and Kimchi at a friend’s house back in the 70’s. It took a while for the local restaurant scene to plant their flags, but things are moving forward. Reading Melanie Haupt’s excellent piece in the most recent Chronicle brought back a flood of flavor memories. The […]
Another Austin Original: Margarito Maldonado
Think about how many restaurants in Austin have opened within the past 10 years. Then, regrettably think about all of those that have closed in the same time span (way more than you might think). So when you reach the point when your place is celebrating a 10th anniversary, you have really accomplished something. Margarito […]
An Austin Original: Freda Cheng
I was having lunch at Chinatown Bee Caves the other day when I ran into an elegantly dressed elderly Asian woman with a friendly yet dignified air about her. We shook hands and I asked for her daughter. “What else new?” she said. “She working.” The woman was Freda Cheng’s mother, matriarch of the Cheng […]
An old Austin Food Year Passes, and a New One Awaits!
It is hard to put the enormous changes in the Austin food scene over the past year into perspective; and harder still to anticipate what impact the 2015 openings will bring. Bottom line, we are as on point food-wise as I’ve ever seen us. And it makes my job all the more pleasurable. While we […]
Austin Bar/Restaurant Owner on Undercover Boss
I first met Doug Guller about ten years ago as he was readying his first Bikini Sports Bar and Grill for opening at IH-35N. The concept is simple: girls in bikinis serving drinks and comfort food, and lots of sports on TV. Doug even coined the term “breastaurant.” Since then the business has grown to […]
