Guy Fieri Rolls into Austin for More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Fiesty and spiky-haired celebrity chef Guy Fieri just rolled into Austin today to shoot another series of his popular Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives series. It’s still uncertain where Fieri is going to land, but his show does have an influence as the Green Mesquite found out several years ago. So be on the lookout for […]
How Healthy is the High End Dining Scene in Austin
The relative health of a cosmopolitan city’s high-end dining scene speaks volumes about the discretionary spending inclinations and overall financial condition of that city. So key question: how does Austin measure up to other cities comparable to our population and demographic profiles? And the answer, despite some recent high profile closings, is pretty darn good. […]
Sap and Madam Mam Split: Divide Restaurants
Heard from Sap today, co-founder of the Madam Mam’s dynasty, that his divorce with his wife had been finalized. As a result, Mam will continue to operate the Anderson and Guadalupe stores, while Sap is going to rebrand the Westgate store as Sap’s Fine Thai Cuisine. I know this has been a struggle for both, […]
McCormick & Schmick’s Downtown Store Closes One Day After Acquisition by Landry’s
The problem with building up a successful restaurant chain and then selling that chain is that ultimately, there are casualties. Landry’s acquisition of McCormick and Schmick’s led to that first such casualty yesterday: the downtown Austin M&S store. The Domain M&S store, from all reports I’ve heard, will remain open. I was not surprised by […]
Dining Out in Austin: 2012
Welcome back foodies! We’re off and running into 2012. Hope your holiday season was wonderful and that our terrific Austin restaurant scene provided at least a few memorable meals for you and yours. I had elbow surgery last Wednesday so I’m typing this post with my left hand. Been feeding myself that way for the […]
Our Favorite Articles of the Past Year for our Readers During our Holiday Break
Well, it’s been quite a year, food fans. And during our annual Christmas-New Year’s hiatus on diningoutwithrobbalon.com, we’d like to leave you with some of our favorite stories and blogs for your reading pleasure. Have a safe and wonderful New Year’s Eve and Day (you can still find our list of restaurants for New Year’s […]
Lakeway Restaurants Battle Credit Card Fraud: Unoffical Police Report Finds No Employee Involvement
A multi-agency investigation involving credit card fraud was launched in Lakeway on Thursday after complaints from some restaurant patrons. The unofficial police report thus far is that “no local restaurant employees or operators have been involved in any of the credit card fraud.” I’ve seen this type of thing before in the restaurant business. The […]
Dining Options in Lakeway Expand Exponentially!
A couple of years ago, at least from a restaurant standpoint, Lakeway was as Ray Benson might put it, pretty much “asleep at the wheel.” Yes there was Pao’s, and Ciola’s, and Rocco’s, but not a whole lot more. But the restaurant growth in recent years, especially the last 2 years, has been virtually exponential. […]
Eddie V’s Sold to Parent Company of Olive Garden
When I first heard this story I honestly thought someone was joking with me. Eddie V’s, a perennial occupant of our Top 20 list for Fine Dining restaurants in Austin, had been sold to Darden, a multi-billion dollar restaurant company that owns such brands as the Olive Garden and Red Lobster. But alas this is […]
Jack Allen Gillmore: the Creative Force Behind Jack Allen’s Kitchen
Jack Gillmore grew up in the valley in Brownsville. He did not have aspirations of being a chef at a young age (as is so often the case with today’s chefs). But he worked at various restaurants in Brownsville for the same reason most teen work, he needed spending money! He moved to Austin to […]
Bo Theriot Assumes Controlling Interest in Soleil. Recruits Chef David Burton Sanchez from Apatite Café
This is a big story for the Lakeway area and for foodies all over Travis County. Oasis owner Bo Theriot announced today that he has purchased a controlling interest in Soleil, the Mediterranean restaurant adjacent to the Oasis. Soleil, which has been open for almost a year, had been helmed by famed Texas chef Robert […]
Once Again, For Those Who Haven’t Yet Heard the Explanation: Why We Do Things the Way We Do at Dining Out with Rob
Yes, I’ll admit that diningoutwithrobbalon.com is not your typical restaurant review website. And this seems to annoy some people who tend to visit websites where the content is exclusively user generated. The usual comments from them are almost predictable: 1. “He likes everything. Never says a bad word about any one.” 2. “He gets paid […]
Rob’s Favorite Mexican Restaurants in Austin: Part 2
Last week we began with a look at 13 of Rob’s favorite Mexican places. But 13 couldn’t begin to address Rob’s favorites accurately. So here is Part 2 for your reading and dining pleasure. Los Pinos A tragic fire earlier this year temporarily closed this Hudson Bend favorite. But they are rebuilding and owner and […]
New Fall Bar Menu Items at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille is now offering three new bar menu items: Seared Scallops, Gourmet Grilled Cheese, and Slow Cooked Pork Stew. In celebration of these new items, Perry’s will be offering a fall special – 4 items for just $4 each, Mon–Wed after 4pm (limit one of each per person) for the month of […]
Austin Restaurants Celebrate the Year of the Pig!
The days when your mother would lecture you on the dangers of trichinosis from eating undercooked pork now seem but a distant memory. Americans in general and Austinites in particular seem to be developing an entirely new and almost passionate relationship with all pig-related foods. This has been fueled in large measure by some very […]
