Tyson Cole Expands to Uchiko on North Lamar
The popular Uchi has created its own spinoff called Uchiko at 4200 N. Lamar in the Rosedale neighborhood. The restaurant opened on July 6th of this year and boasts a comparable if somewhat smaller version of the Uchi menu. The translation of Uchiko in Japanese is essentially “child of Uchi.” Tyson Cole also has another […]
Fire at Jezebel Causes an Estimated $200,000 in Damages
Parind Vora is not winning any awards for luck lately. His fine-dining restaurant on Congress, Jezebel, suffered over $200,000 in fire damage late last night. This is the same restaurant that has been the target for the wrath of the anti foie gras crowd for the past several years. And while the fire department has […]
Thai Food in Austin: Explaining the Inexplicable
I have long wondered why so many Austinites seem to be either indifferent toward or uncomfortable with Thai food. It may simply be that the predominant cuisine icons around here: steak, BBQ, burgers, and Tex Mex are so deeply rooted in Central Texas dining attitudes and habits that something relatively unfamiliar has a hard time […]
Dining Kosher with the Sagers
There are few people on the planet that I am fonder of than Susan Sager. Born Susan Hawkins, she fell in love with my long-time friend Alan Sager and formed a lasting bond that produced four lovely children. And, she converted to Judaism from her Protestant upbringing. And like everything Susan does, she handled the […]
Austin Restaurant Community Mourns Passing of Ray LeMay
Ray LeMay was a large and colorful man who loved life and lived it to the fullest. The charismatic former owner of Ray’s Steakhouse passed away this week at the age of 59. And he will be missed. His restaurant was a haven for great food (best Chicken Fried Chicken ever) and wine but most […]
Rob Has a Lithuanian Feast
One of the occasional pleasures that comes along with being a restaurant critic is to enjoy some ethnic cuisine that is not commercially available in Austin. Such was the case last weekend as we dined at the home Audrey and Dan Lunecki in Barton Creek West. Audrey’s mother Lydia had once owned a Lithuanian restaurant […]
Ciola’s in Lakeway Sold
The popular southern Italian restaurant in Lakeway that Dan Ciola began almost 10 years ago has been sold to new owner Dave Staab, a veteran of the hospitality industry. Ciolas’s has been a beacon for quality dining in Lakeway since its opening and has many regular fans across the area and beyond. And Staab told […]
Popolate Taqueria to Open Next to Amy’s and Phil’s Ice House on South Lamar in July
I’ve long admired the work of Sergio and Eric Varella of Azul Tequila on Ben White. Both worked their way up through the ranks of Austin’s restaurants all the while experimenting with recipes from their native Mexico. Azul Tequila has been rock solid since its debut in 2001 and now the brother are launching a […]
Food Network Canada Shooting the Austin Trailer Scene
Austin’s recent surge of food trailer openings has not gone unnoticed by the national media. But the international media? That’s right, the Food Network Canada was in town this past weekend filming trailer chow. And they called me down to 6th and Waller for an on-camera interview in front of Lucky J’s new location. The […]
Saba on 4th St. Segues into M Two
After almost ten years in business the popular Saba Blue Water Café has segued into a new restaurant called M Two. With Chef Mat Clouser at the helm, the innovative menu includes such interesting items as the Thai Melon Salad (sweet meets tart), the Eel Bacon with fried bread (delicious) and the Pulled Lamb Sandwich […]
