Five Guys Burgers Opens at 3208 Guadalupe
This is a national chain that has a rabid following tantamount to In and Out or Carl Jr’s. They yell at you (East Coast Style) when you walk in the door. Growing up as I did in CT, you take that stuff for granted. But down here, I don’t know. Frankly, the longer I live […]
Patton’s on Main Closes in Marble Falls
Just a few short months ago, Marble Falls was buzzing with high-end culinary activity. Then, 909 closed on short notice. And stunningly, less than a month later, Patton’s on Main (and for a time an occupant in our Top 20) closed. Just like that, the two best restaurants in Marble Falls gone! The official reason […]
Chef Jim Tripi Shines at Spanish Oaks Golf Club
I first became a fan of Chef Jim Tripi when he began the delightful Rojo Red restaurant at the downtown Marriott some eight years ago. Tripi was at the time was ranked among the top 5 chefs in the entire Marriott chain and it was easy to see why. He brought a sense of passion […]
Yama Chinese Sushi/Grill on Highway 620 in RR
About a mile west of St. David’s Round Rock Hospital on Highway 620, you’ll find a small strip mall with a killer Asian restaurant. Remember this name: Yama Chinese Sushi/Grill. This place is seriously good. Chef Roger Jang and his wife Elaine have created an uncommonly good Chinese and Japanese/ Sushi menu. I’ve tried the […]
Maria Maria opens on Colorado next to Kenichi
Jeff Dudham knows how to do the celebrity restaurant thing far better than most. He’s made it work with McCovey’s after baseball player Willie McCovey, Joe DiMaggio’s (in the Domain), and now with Maria Maria, a collaboration between legendary musician Carlos Santana and Chef Roberto Santibanez. This is the third Maria Maria to open with […]
Nuevo Leon on Slaughter at Escarpment Closes
After receiving a few emails from readers, I just confirmed with Rachel Davila, the founder of the iconic Nuevo Leon in East Austin that their new store at Slaughter and Escarpment had closed on the 31st of October. I am shocked. Tex Mex is one of Austin’s favorite cuisines. And Nuevo Leon has good lineage. […]
Cabo Bob’s Opens on 500 E. Ben White
If Freebird’s or Chipotle is your thing, then you need to know about the opening of Cabo Bob’s at 500 E. Ben White. They make burritos and tortillas in a fast-casual environment. I myself have tended to lean toward Freebird’s (partially because they are virtually next door to our office on S. Congress) but also […]
Don’t Let Perceptions of Our Economy Turn You Into a “Former Restaurant Patron”
One of the biggest downers in the past month has been to listen to the doom and gloom on the news and cable news networks. Every rise and fall (and mostly falls lately) of the markets is reported in breathless animation. And typically, that kind of news creates a self-fulfilling prophecy: people tend to get […]
Perry’s Steakhouse Opens at 7th and Colorado
Perry’s Steakhouse, originated in Houston, opened at 7th and Colorado on October 24th. The restaurant is family owned and is helmed by Exec Chef Casey Simmons. The Sous Chef is Xavier Martinez. And you guessed it, the featured fare is steak, and lots of it. Seating capacity is 350. Check out their menu at www.perrysrestaurants.com. […]
Fujian Grand China Buffet Opens on N. IH-35
I am not one to usually get too excited about Chinese buffets. But the Fujian Grand China Buffet at 8709 N. IH 35 (site of the former Old San Francisco Steakhouse) looks very clean and very good. I like the décor: very modern and I noticed they were regularly replenishing the trays. This is always […]
Rob Stops Watching Political Coverage
I feel like I am inside the middle of a bad daytime soap opera. Clearly these things I see happening can’t be real and yet I feel helpless to remove myself from this quagmire. The writers obviously don’t understand: they keep coming up with scripts that are mind bogglingly inane. It started with Sarah Palin’s […]
Corazon at Castle Hill Opens
Cathe Daily spent 18 years turning Castle Hill into one of Austin’s legendary restaurants. Finally, driven by vendor costs, she was forced to change formats and close the restaurant. But not for long. Castle Hill has been refitted and rebranded into Corazon at Castle Hill. Corazon meets “heart” in Spanish and boy does this restaurant […]
Al Capone’s in Round Rock Shuts Its Doors
Al Capone’s in Round Rock has closed. This restaurant began in Austin at the location that now houses the popular Zax Pints and Plates. It moved to the huge shopping Home Depot shopping center in Round Rock off exit 250 on IH 35 (ostensibly to take advantage of the proximity to the Dell campus). Initially, […]
Café 909 in Marble Falls Will Close Next Week
Cafe 909 in Marble Falls has announced that it will close at the end of next week and relocate to Houston. As one of our readers pointed out “it could compete with the finest upscale restaurants in Austin”. Hard to argue with that! I wish Chef Mark Schmidt and his wife Shelly the very best. […]
