Old School Grill Opens on Parmer
Nice to see that the classy Old School Grill has opened at 6301 W. Parmer Lane way out in an area that’s fairly restaurant deprived. The menu ranges from what I hear is a killer chicken fried steak to Philly Cheesesteaks and ceviche along with vegetarian options. It’s in the Parmer / McNeill Plaza. Call […]
Los Pinos on Hudson Bend Begins Rebuilding
I, along with many of you, was devastated when the Los Pinos fire occurred earlier this summer. But the good news, as this picture will attest, is that rebuilding has begun. Not sure of what the ultimate time table for completion will be but I know there will be many happy patrons of this fine […]
Rasta Pasta Opens on The Drag
I’ve always enjoyed the combination of Jamaican spices and pasta but have not seen much of this around Austin since the heyday of the old Granite Café. Now there’s a new spot on The Drag called Rasta Pasta and they are dishing up some seriously accented and tasty pasta dishes. The store is spin off […]
The Real Story on the Bistro 88 Closing
A lot of rumors have been speculating about the demise of the beloved Westlake restaurant Bistro 88. Chef Jeff Liu’s fusion masterpiece had been a perennial member of our Top 20 for many years. Then, seemingly overnight, the dreaded padlocks and legal looking notices appeared on the doors and Bistro 88 was history. Jeff tried […]
Kenichi Reinvents Itself
I went to a function at the newly renovated Kenichi at 5th and Colorado on Monday night. Kenichi Kenada was there from Kona (he whipped up some razor-thin slices of kobe tartar in a truffle oil emulsion) and did not look a day older than when I had last seen him about 8 years ago. […]
Best Chicken Pot Pie, Shrimp Enchiladas, Vietnamese Pho… Part 2 of Rob’s Best in Austin
Thank you for making the first installment of our “Best of Austin” series one of our most downloaded stories of the year. But we’re just getting started. We have a lot of favorites and we’d like to share more of them with you. Again, this is completely subjective: no polls were attempted or even contemplated. […]
Gonzo Gourmet Club has Dinner and a Movie at iPic
Our Gonzo Gourmet Club had dinner and a movie at the new iPic (formerly Gold Class Cinema) Theater at the Domain on Tuesday night. We began with cocktails and appetizers, chatted with Chef Casey, and were extended cordial and competent service from the attentive wait staff. Then it was into the theater for the screening […]
Bistro 88 in Westlake Closes After Long Run
This is quite a story. In a little strip mall off Mopac on Bee Caves Road, in the same building that housed the original Chinatown, Bistro 88 was founded 20 years ago by master chef Jeff Liu. The food was a compelling fusion of European and Asian and they made my Top 20 on several […]
Benihana on Burnet Closes
Long-time teppanyaki favorite Benihana on Burnet has closed. I had many an enjoyable meal there over the years. Owner Brad Meltzer is now concentrating on the return of UR Cooks at the site of his Meltzer Uptown Restaurant just south of 183 on the South IH-35 access road (across from Appleby’s).
Bee Caves Road Claims Another Victim: Suzi’s China Grill
Once again the Bee Caves Road curse has struck yet another restaurant. Suzi’s China Grill, in a small strip center just west of Mopac, has closed. Too bad, I always enjoyed the dumplings there. The other two locations on South Lamar and on Anderson remain open.
Dining and the Debt Ceiling
It would appear to the uninitiated that this bizarre governmental scenario regarding the debt ceiling is nothing more than political posturing: each side trying to score points by appearing to be more zealous about trimming our debt than the other. But the seasoned pros who cover the morons masquerading as our elected officials know the […]
