Mesa Ranch
January 9, 2009|
8108 Mesa Dr. #C100 Austin, TX 78759 (512) 853-9480 |
Mon-Sat: 11am-2pm Mon-Sat: 5pm-10pm Sun: 11am-3pm |
MENU mesaranchaustin.com |
Mesa Ranch
Mesa Ranch is a classic Texas restaurant which features mesquite grilled steaks and wild game along with an interesting and creative assortment of dishes with a Mexican influence. Mesa Ranch opened at Mesa and Spicewood several years ago to an enthusiastic crowd.
It’s got a rustic, Texas kind of ambiance. And the place is just downright comfortable. I always like to start with the Texas Fried Cactus. The cactus strips are marinated in Tequila and fried in a batter made from Shiner Bock.
The texture of the strips is very appealing and the taste is unique. And try the Gulf Coast Oysters. As with most dishes at Mesa Ranch, it has a distinct interpretation. The pico de gallo and avocado salsa create an entirely different flavor profile than one usually sees with this appetizer. I find it to be very frsh and singularly tasty. Another appetizer that sets apart the new Mesa Ranch is the Elk Sausage Skillet. The key to this dish is the Jalapeno cheese elk sausage and the house prepared BBQ sauce. Finished off with mixed cheese, pico de gallo and cilantro the elk comes off with an exceptionally tender texture and a very mild flavor.
There are many specialty dishes at Mesa Ranch that are hard to look away from. The Cabrito Quesadilla is a show stopper. It’s a dish that I believe is unique in the city. And if you like goat, well then this is for you. The tender roasted morsels of goat are blended with Rattlesnake bite relish and mixed cheeses. The first bite gives you that classic cabrito flavor: a little smoky with a tad of back bite, but beautifully cooked. I’ve had this three times already and can’t stop ordering it. And it’s a steal at $9.
The Mesa Ranch Chicken enchiladas are another favorite. This has got some of that old King Ranch flavor to it and what true or faux Texan can resist that. The enchiladas are moist and nicely layered and measure up to what one might expect from a glance at the menu.
And the steaks! Can I mention the steaks? There’s a lot to be said for the Mesquite Grilled approach. The 12 oz Ribeye is a statement dish that calls out what Mesa ranch is all about. The Ribeye is nicely marbled, and that’s one of my biases, but the mesquite ads an entirely new level of flavor. If Ribeyes are not your forte, the 8oz Filet resonates with a different yet no less preferable series of tastes. In fact, the same could be said for all the steaks.
Steve and Lane Ray are passionate owner operators: they live and breathe their restaurants. This type of attitude usually manifests itself in unique and memorable dishes. And indeed that is the case at the Mesa Ranch.
