When Personal and Restaurant Information Become Relevant
I’ve had several people complain that it was pointless and redundant for me to announce that Sap and Mam, former owners of the acclaimed Madam Mam’s, had divorced. I mentioned this both on diningoutwithrobbalon.com and on my Facebook pages. Their point was: what has their personal business have to do with the restaurant world? In […]
Shawn Cirkiel Opens Olive and June at Former Site of El Arbol
Shawn Cirkiel established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Austin culinary world with Jean Luc’s. Then he topped himself with Parkside. Another innovation was Backspace where some of the finest Neapolitan style pizza in the city can be found. Shawn’s latest project is Olive and June which opened after Valentine’s Day […]
Elizabeth Street Café Opens off South 1st
If you like cuisine with a French-Vietnamese flair, then you’ll probably like the Elizabeth Street Café at the site of the former Bouldin Street Café at 1501 South 1st. You’ll probably like it even more because it has Larry McGuire behind it (Perlas, Lambert’s, Bridges Ranch). The fare ranges from Pho, noodle dishes, and the […]
Swift’s Attic on Congress to Open Apr. 16th
The buzz on this place has been nothing short of amazing, and it’s been growing since the fall. And it ticks me off that we’ll be out of town for the soft opening the first week of April. But you put C.K. Chin at the front of any house with Stuart Thomajan and his partners […]
Tony C’s Coal Fired Pizza Introduces Left-Handed Pizza, Apr. 1st
In an effort to increase sales by 15 percent, Tony C’s Coal Fired Pizza, Austin’s Original Coal Fired Pizza, today announced that it will target the 15 percent of the often left out left-handed community of Austin by introducing the left-handed pizza available beginning this Sunday. According to Scientific American, about 15 percent of the […]
What Goes Around Truly Comes Around at Trento
When my wife and I first tried Trento about a month and a half ago, I ran in to Nina Seely, an old friend who I’d not seen in years. She and her husband Frank are partners with Donnie Damuth in the restaurant. Nina is a neat woman with a great eye for fashion, evidenced […]
Judging the Proverbial Book by its Cover
I know a woman who will almost automatically veer away from a restaurant if it’s not draped in white linens with oak and mahogany trim and fitted with thick, plush leather chairs. Oh and lots of glass and chrome is nice too. She is not alone among river city diners. The only problem with that […]
Lakeway: The Hottest New Dining Scene in Central Texas
I can remember just a few short years ago when dining anywhere near Lakeway meant Hudson’s on the Bend, The Oasis, Rosie’s, and Ciola’s and Pao’s. Wow, has that changed. While Hudson’s still holds forth as the area’s ultimate fine dining destination, it’s gotten a stiff challenge from the newly reenvisioned Soleil adjacent to the […]
Estancia Churrascaria Closes 290 South Location: Opens Larger Store at Arboretum
Many fans of Estancia Churrascaria (me included) were sad to see the recent closing of the 290 South store next to the Holiday Inn Express. But owner Ironi has opened a new and larger location of the popular Brazilian steakhouse at the Arboretum. I had lunch there last week and the place is larger and […]
Southwest-Style Chisos Grill Opens Next to Cafe Blue at Galleria
It began with a bowl of Chad’s mellow Lobster Bisque, (with ample chunks of lobster and crab), continued with Presidio Tostadas with roasted pulled pork, smoothed along with a lovely salad of spinach and greens and finished with two kick-ass entrees: a red Chile rubbed Pork Chop with a Burgundy mushroom sauce and Texas Gulf […]
Check Out Rio on Pleasant Valley at E. 5th
For those who fondly remember Sampaio’s, Rio on Pleasant Valley will evoke pleasant Brazilian memories. This is a little joint that is not too long on ambiance but way long on flavors and textures. I had lunch there recently and greatly enjoyed my choices. I hadn’t had any decent Yucca fritters for some time and […]
Chon Som on Wells Branch Pkwy Closes
We are sad to announce that Chon Som will be closing their doors permanently on Sunday, March 18th. It has indeed been a fun passionate adventure for Nat & Marissa Sawatphadungkij with lots of memories that will be with us forever.
Domingo’s near Dripping Springs Closes
Out near Dripping Springs, Domingo’s, an owner-operated restaurant on Highway 290 in what had been the former Stadium Grill, has also closed. Domingo made some very decent Mexican food: in fact, I thought his Shrimp Fajitas and his Talapia al Mojo de Ajo were terrific. The place was not much on ambiance but had a […]
