Mother’s Day Dining Recommendations 2014 – ARCHIVED
Every year we usually name dozens of restaurants serving Mother’s Day Brunch. This year, as we did at Easter, we’re narrowing the list a bit to focus on some spots that you may not automatically think of, but are well worth the visit. So bring Mom to one of these little gems, and she will […]
A Culinary Reason to Head to San Antonio: Sumo
Things are a bit sparse in Austin on the Tepanyaki/Hibachi front. But this is an itch I have to scratch now and then, and so we drove to San Antonio last Saturday night to check out Sumo on I-10 next to a rather large Carmax. The owner is Austinite Brad Meltzer who, from a long […]
Cho Sushi Thrives in Lakeway and Steiner Ranch
John Cho did not aspire to run a sushi bar or Japanese restaurant. His brother David was the cook in the family (and a damned fine one at that all the way back to Midori Sushi). John headed to New York to make his mark in the tech/finance world while David remained in Austin. But […]
The PoK-e-Jo’s Back Story
Danny Haberman and Doug Bohne are two very unpretentious guys who have a fierce passion for the BBQ business. They have nurtured and guided the growth of PoK-e-Jo’s through a tough beginning to their current success with multiple Austin locations. Danny’s dad Porky and friend Joe Slayton actually began the first store off Mopac at […]
Easter Dining Recommendations 2014 – ARCHIVED
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 at info@diningoutwithrobbalon.com with any questions. Freda’s Seafood Grill […]
Crepe Crazy Set to Launch in Dripping Springs
Crepe Crazy, the popular trailer and winner of the 2013 Dripping with Taste Festival, is going brick and mortar. I stopped by yesterday to the location next to Oak Creek Cafe on Highway 290W in Dripping, and asked to speak to the owner. The woman I spoke to indicated using sign language that she was […]
People, Places and Dishes in Austin: Our Favorite Photos
The Austin dining scene is a blend of diverse dishes, personalities, and that unmistakable vibe that characterizes the River City. This photo essay is a composite of some of our favorite views of the people and the dishes that make Austin unique. All in the family at Hao Hao and Hao Q This is a […]
An American Success Story: Francisco Cortez and Santa Catarina
There is a wonderful Mexican restaurant in Lakeway featuring interior and coastal Mexican cuisine. It’s one of my favorites, and it’s called Santa Catarina. But the most fascinating aspect of Santa Catarina is the back story of the man at the helm, Francisco Cortez. He began his lifelong passion for great Mexican food working for […]
Kit Kat Named Most Influential Candy Bar
I know that news has been suffering from the “Olympics vortex” lately, but what a reach for Time Magazine to publish a piece on the 13 most influential candy bars of all time. What blows my mind is the winner: I immediately thought it would be Snickers but the winner was the Kit Kat bar, […]
Austin and Ellis Winstanley: Building the Abel’s Franchise
It all began with a couple of UT college kids, fraternal twins Austin and Ellis Winstanley. They didn’t start out to be restaurateurs (Ellis wanted to go to the Naval Academy) but before either had turned 21, they owned Star Seeds Cafe off I-35 at 32nd. The place did an immediate financial turnaround, and then […]
Rob’s Christmas and New Year’s Dining Options 2013 – ARCHIVED
For your convenience, we’ll be compiling many recommended restaurants’ hours of operation for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Enjoy, and don’t forget to generously tip your servers over the holiday season. We’ll be updating this list as we approach the holidays, so check back with us daily for more […]
Restaurants I’d like to Have Back for Christmas
I was thinking about some of my favorite former Austin restaurants the other day, and how much I’d like to see them back in operation as a foodie Christmas present. C’mon Santa, make some magic happen and bring these back! In no particular order… Cafe Mangu This little Pflugerville joint fused Puerto Rican, Dominican and […]
Rob Balon’s Reviews Now Available on YouTube!
Rob Balon has filmed restaurant reviews on FOX 7 and KVUE-TV in Austin since 1999. Given the increasing popularity of social media, and the fact that Dining Out with Rob Balon has significantly increased its Facebook presence, we thought it was time to add a YouTube Channel to our media mix. Rob’s reviews are still […]
Thanksgiving 2013 Dining Recommendations
Next to Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving is Austin’s other favorite dining out day. And as always, we’re posting a list of restaurants that will be open for Thanksgiving and contact information for those restaurants. We’ll also be updating our list with Thanksgiving menus as they come in. Book your reservations early: whether it’s for a higher […]
Rob’s Favorite Dishes at Austin’s Newer Restaurants
I’ve tried a lot of great new dishes in the past six months. Some have made it into my reviews and some are still waiting for print. But I wanted to share some of them with you. Sway My only negative on Sway is that I drove by it three times before finding it. The […]
