Foodie Survivor Tips for SXSW
The annual carnival known as South by Southwest comes to town this week, which means a significant disruption of the downtown dining we locals are used to. Tip #1 You can’t navigate anywhere downtown so don’t even try. Drive your car to the closest point and then arrange for Uber to pick you up. And […]
Weekend Brunches Around the River City
Who doesn’t like a tasty weekend brunch? Unlike weekday dining, weekends have a sense of liberation to them, and brunches really seem to fit well with relaxed attitudes. Here are some of our favorites. District Kitchen + Cocktails This newish bistro at Escarpment and Slaughter has a really interesting brunch. Eggs Benedict that stand out […]
Pizza Wars 2014: The Best Pizzas in Austin
According to our pizza pals, the week after Valentine’s Day is traditionally a good one for pizza restaurants in Austin. Guess everyone went broke on Valentine’s Day, or some such reason. Nonetheless, here’s one of our favorite pieces of the year for your enjoyment. As many of you may know by now, I grew up […]
Korean Food Ramping Up in Austin
I’ve loved Korean food since I first tried Bulgogi and Kimchi at a friend’s house back in the 70’s. It took a while for the local restaurant scene to plant their flags, but things are moving forward. Reading Melanie Haupt’s excellent piece in the most recent Chronicle brought back a flood of flavor memories. The […]
Another Austin Original: Margarito Maldonado
Think about how many restaurants in Austin have opened within the past 10 years. Then, regrettably think about all of those that have closed in the same time span (way more than you might think). So when you reach the point when your place is celebrating a 10th anniversary, you have really accomplished something. Margarito […]
An Austin Original: Freda Cheng
I was having lunch at Chinatown Bee Caves the other day when I ran into an elegantly dressed elderly Asian woman with a friendly yet dignified air about her. We shook hands and I asked for her daughter. “What else new?” she said. “She working.” The woman was Freda Cheng’s mother, matriarch of the Cheng […]
An old Austin Food Year Passes, and a New One Awaits!
It is hard to put the enormous changes in the Austin food scene over the past year into perspective; and harder still to anticipate what impact the 2015 openings will bring. Bottom line, we are as on point food-wise as I’ve ever seen us. And it makes my job all the more pleasurable. While we […]
Austin Bar/Restaurant Owner on Undercover Boss
I first met Doug Guller about ten years ago as he was readying his first Bikini Sports Bar and Grill for opening at IH-35N. The concept is simple: girls in bikinis serving drinks and comfort food, and lots of sports on TV. Doug even coined the term “breastaurant.” Since then the business has grown to […]
Rob’s Christmas and New Year’s Dining Options 2014
For your convenience, we’ll be compiling many recommended restaurants’ hours of operation for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Enjoy, and don’t forget to generously tip your servers over the holiday season. We’ll be updating this list as we approach the holidays, so check back with us daily for more […]
Michael McNeilly new Chef Partner at Fleming’s Domain
Just heard from head honcho Darryl Wittle at Fleming’s at the Domain. The official announcement of the new chef partner has been made, and it’s Michael McNeilly. Michael is quite talented as I discovered tasting his cuisine at Trattoria Lisina out in Driftwood. This should be a great match for Fleming’s and their patrons. He […]
Rob’s Favorite Tex Mex Places
When I first came to Austin over 30 years ago, I had never heard of Tex Mex. But I was a fast learner, and soon we had become addicted to the unique flavors of true Tex Mex. Your cardiologist may not approve, but I look at this as a guilty pleasure more than worthy of […]
Sunday Brunch at Cedro
I was initially a bit skeptical about how a classic Italian restaurant would handle a mid-day Sunday brunch. That changed quickly after my first brunch at Cedro in Lakeline Mall (across from the Alamo Drafthouse). The Eggs Benedict were a study in flavor and texture. Very nice hollandaise, as well. The Breakfast Pizza was a […]
Thanksgiving 2014 Dining Recommendations
Next to Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving is Austin’s other favorite dining out day. And as always, we’re posting a list of restaurants that will be open for Thanksgiving and contact information for those restaurants. We’ll also be updating our list with Thanksgiving menus as they come in. Book your reservations early: whether it’s for a higher […]
Big Reds and Bubbles: What You Missed
The Driskill was buzzing last Thursday night as the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas staged their 12th annual fundraiser Big Reds and Bubbles. Guests were noshing and sipping a variety of restaurant food offerings, and of course some wonderful Big Reds. A particular favorite was from Angelo Sassetti Pertimali: a 2008 Brunello di Montalcino […]
Eden East Continues To Blaze Trails
When I first walked into this totally Austintatious food emporium on Springdale, I was taken aback by the trailer-like ambiance. It reminded me of a much larger version of Bryce Gilmore’s early days at the Odd Duck. But the food and the prices had nothing trailer-like about them. This was keeping Austin weird at its […]
