Daryl Wittle: Running a Chain Like it’s Not a Chain
I love to go to high-end restaurants and savor the byproduct of the usually seamless partnerships between the front and back of the house. And that’s why we so much enjoy Fleming’s at the Domain. Yes, it is a chain. But for my money, you could call it “Daryl’s” after owner/partner Daryl Wittle. Truth be […]
Rudy’s Bar-B-Q: The Guys Behind the “Sause”
We want to thank all of you who submitted their top ten pizza lists as part of our Pizza Wars 2014 feature from last week. It was easy to tell that a lot of thought went in to your lists. And thanks to the many foodies who took the time to read our lengthy story […]
This Week’s Podcast: Steven Dilley, Founder and Owner of Bufalina
Steven Dilley’s story, as you’ll hear, is quite remarkable. With no restaurant experience whatsoever, he took his insatiable curiosity about pizza and parlayed that into the very popular (4th in our Pizza Wars 2014) Bufalina on Cesar Chavez. The fact that a brand new pizza joint made it into our Top 5 is nothing […]
7 Characteristics of Highly Effective Restaurateurs
Stephen Covey wrote a book over twenty years ago that revolutionized the business world and advanced the notion that success in business and in life were interdependent. I reread the book earlier this year, and began to think again of the applications of its principles for the hospitality industry. Here’s my take on it with […]
Brad Meltzer Podcast
This week’s podcast guest is Brad Meltzer who is the owner of Sumo Japanese Steakhouse, a teppanyaki restaurant on I-10 in San Antonio. Brad has owned teppanyaki spots in Austin in the past, and is a serial entrepreneur who dabbles in many businesses, but teppanyaki is what really floats his boat. From what I’ve […]
Do Presidential Perks Extend to BBQ Lines?
Big brouhaha yesterday when President Barack Obama, after finishing up a DNC fundraiser and speech at the Paramount, decided to jump the line at the intergalactically famous Franklin Barbecue on East 11th. The hue and cry on social media was immediate and in many cases, downright vitriolic. Of course, Obama made a gesture by paying […]
Fourth of July Weekend: Burgers and Q
As we approach the Fourth of July weekend, all red-blooded central Texans are hunkering down for fireworks, get togethers, and of course, whether at a restaurant or at home, burgers and barbecue. The two go together like apple pie and ice cream, Rick and Anita, even Obama and Boehner (well, on second thought…). So here’s […]
Frankie Hoch Podcast, Grillmaster at It’s All Good Bar-B-Q
This week’s podcast features Frankie Hoch, the Grillmaster at It’s All Good Bar-B-Q in Spicewood. He came to the business the old-fashioned way: driven by a lifelong love of Q he competed in cook-offs around the state and across the South. A chance meeting at a competition with one of his future partners led […]
What’s in a Name? The Story of Cedro
One of the more complicated and interesting aspects of the restaurant business is the actual naming of the establishment. Some names work well and last a long time. Others (Peso and Bucks, Rival’s Steakhouse, Sardine Rouge, Demi Epicurious for example, while well-intentioned, don’t seem to last long at all). Now I’m not saying the names […]
Downtown Density and Dining Out
When Will Wynn (great name for a politician) was serving as mayor, his most frequent mantra was downtown density. The idea was to create an enterprise zone where a significant amount of potential retail and restaurant customers actually lived and worked downtown. With all the residential and business construction in the past five years, we […]
The Iconic Bakehouse in South Austin To Close June 15th
It’s hard to imagine too many restaurants (Hill’s perhaps) that have been more integrally involved with south Austin than the always interesting and iconic Bakehouse on Manchaca near Stassney. Indeed, I can still remember my first bite years ago of one of their famous sausage crisps. But all good things alas must come to an […]
Welcome to our First Podcast on Dining Out with Rob Balon
Our first guest is Chef Louie Ciola, former exec chef of the popular Ciola’s in Lakeway, then chef at some uber-hot Minneapolis restaurants. He recently returned to Austin as executive consultant to the TC4 group which includes the Tony C’s at the Galleria and Avery Ranch, and the League Kitchen and Taverns in Lakeway and […]
David Bull and the Evolution of Austin as a Major Food City
I can remember the day almost as if it was yesterday. We had gone to dinner at the Driskill Grill in the famous downtown hotel. It was a slow night for a Saturday and we were surprised to see that the restaurant was staging a “mystery dinner” evening. You know: one of those dreadful events […]
Brad Meltzer: Mr. Teppayaki
Most Teppanyaki/Hibachi restaurants I’ve been in have been owned and operated by Asians. So how did a Jewish guy from Massachusetts become a pivotal force in the Texas teppanyaki scene? It’s an interesting story. Meltzer is a Renaissance man to be sure. He studied accounting in college, and it was in that capacity that he […]
Great Oysters in the Burbs: Café Blue
Growing up in New England where clams on the half shell ruled the day, I came down here with a complete lack of appreciation and understanding of oysters. Well that certainly has changed. Ever since Auggie Garrido coaxed me into my first platter of oysters at Eddie V’s about 14 years ago, I have been […]
