Alexandra’s Cookie Dreams: Decadent and Delicious Startup Wows Cookie Austin Cookie Lovers
Alexandra Bruskoff is a U of Michigan grad. That in and of itself would endear her to me. (PhD, ‘76). But this former school teacher can also make one amazingly compelling cookie. Her start up, Alexandra’s Cookie Dreams is located in the Warehouse district and is shipping cookie all across Texas and the U.S. My […]
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar Opens Second Location at The Domain
One of my favorite steakhouses, Fleming’s, is opening its second location today at The Domain in N. Austin. Aside from very tasty USDA prime steaks, Fleming’s also serves over 100 wines by the glass and is a very good spot for business dining or a date night out. Operating Partner Reuben Rolf said: “We’re really […]
Green Mesquite to Have Its Moment on National TV
The irrepressible Guy Fieri, host of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has completed filming a segment on our own Green Mesquite at Barton Springs and S. Lamar. Owner Tom Davis and his sturdy crew are stoked, and why not? What’s the feisty Fieri going to feature? Don’t know, but the fact that he’s […]
How Many Steakhouses Can the Downtown Area Absorb?
This is an intriguing question. Every time a new steakhouse opens, the pessimists say that this has got to be it. When III Forks opened, they said there was no way the downtown area could absorb another high-end steak joint. Well III Forks is thriving. So are Fleming’s, Sullivan’s, Austin Land and Cattle, Eddie’s V’s, […]
Joe’s Bakery On a Roll
In my humble opinion, there’s no better place in the city for Huevos Rancheros or a steaming bowl of Menudo than Joe’s Bakery on E. 7th street. The place hums like a beehive full of happy diners every weekend from 7am-3pm. And it’s almost as crowded on weekedays. Recession? What recession. There’s no evidence of […]
Rob’s Recommended Dishes: Part II
The Steamed Clams Posillipo at Ciola’s. Steamed little neck clams in an amazingly tasty red sauce. This is beautiful for dipping bread after the clams have disappeared. Originally part of the menu for “Sinatra Week” but held over by popular demand. The Drunken Noodles at Chon Som on Wells Branch Parkway. The subtle tastes of […]
Finn and Porter at the Hilton to Reopen on Jan. 21st
After half a million dollars of renovation, Finn and Porter, the signature restaurant at the Hilton, will reopen on January 21st. The innovations include changes to the menu as well, some tweaking in the absence of the departed Chris Bauer, and a new look. I had a few bites at a private tasting several weeks […]
Zoot to Move Out to Bee Caves Road
One of Austin’s more popular restaurants, Zoot, is pulling up stakes from its current location off Lake Austin Boulevard and moving out to Bee Caves Rd. to a spot roughly equidistant from Hwy 360 to Hwy 71. Zoot is one of Austin’s classic fine dining restaurants and will be welcome out in an area that […]
Nunzia’s and Senorita’s Close in Oak Hill
The restaurants that took over for the original Y Bar and Grill in Oak Hill have closed. The concept was original: essentially two diverse dining establishments in the same building. One was the fine dining side (Nunzia’s) and the other Latin (Senorita’s). All I could think of was a line from Robert Frost’s poem: two […]
Yu Sushi Izgaya Opens Downtown at 206 Colorado
In what must be truly called a labor of love, Sushi Sake owner Gary Chiuq finally got his new restaurant Yu Sushi Izgaya opened downtown on 206 Colorado. It took three years and much heartache but the build out is complete, the interminable permit process is done, and the place is open. There’s no website […]
Bennigan’s Downtown Gives Way to Fiddler’s Hearth
The old Bennigan’s at Riverside and Barton Springs has made way for a new restaurant venture called Fiddler’s Hearth. This is an Celtic-style establishment serving Irish, Scottish, Welsh and a variety of other Celtic cuisines. It’s family owned with locations in Indiana and Austin. Looks like they’re serving all the obligatory pub grub including Bangers […]
Ten Things that I Resolve for the New Year: 2009
I will endeavor to consume more Rudy’s BBQ moist brisket. A Texas A&M study has actually determined that the moister the brisket, the more health benefits it affords to the eater. Works for me! Now if only some food science type will reveal similar data for Moonshine’s mac and cheese the circle will be complete. […]
Tony C’s Pizzeria Ready to Open at Hill Country Galleria
You’ve heard me talk about family-owned Italian joints before and one of my favorites is Ciola’s in Lakeway. They are about to branch out into the pizza business with the opening of Tony C’s across from the Cinerma at the Hill Country Galleria. We went to the private New Year’s Eve party and the place […]
Craving Breakfast: Check Out Texas Honey Ham on Bee Caves Road
What a pleasant surprise this place has been. In a small strip mall on 3736 Bee Caves Rd, this place sits where the old C-5 Steakhouse used to be. My wife discovered it when she bought one of their Honey Glazed Hams for the holidays. But they are much more than that. I am a […]
Karibu Ethiopean Restaurant and Bar Opens on 1209 E. 7th
In a city that has precious if little ethnic cuisine, we welcome the opening of Karibu Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar on 1209 E. 7th St.
