Poke Austin Celebrates 1st Anniversary with Poke Bowl Competition

Posted by on Apr 8, 2019 in Hawaiian, News, South

Poke Austin had a celebration on Sunday, April 7th to mark their first anniversary. Customers competed to see who could prepare the best Poke bowl. Accompanied by Hula dancers, founders Jennifer Ling and Trent Schneiter oversaw the festivities. And your local food critic got to taste all the entries. Hula dancers at the celebration You […]

Founders Alan Lazarus and Scott Bolin sell long time favorites Vespaio and Enoteca

Posted by on Jan 19, 2019 in News, Rob's Blog

I first met Chef Alan Lazarus in about 1987 in the kitchen at the iconic Basil’s on West 10th, where he and partner Marshall had established an almost legendary restaurant. But Alan left a few years later to open Vespaio on South Congress with partner Scott Bolin. The upscale Italian cuisine at Vespaio was a […]

All You Can Eat Uzbek Buffet at Russian House

Posted by on Dec 11, 2018 in News, Rob's Blog

This could be a fun night, fellow foodies: an all-you-can-eat Uzbek buffet at the Russian House.   When: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 The Russian House 307 E 5th St. Austin, TX 78701 (512) 428-5442 www.RussianHouseofAustin.com

Pan Asian Tanuki Opens on on West 5th St.

Posted by on Nov 17, 2018 in News, Openings

I have‘t eaten at Tanuki yet but I am much looking forward to it. Got to meet with the brain trust a few days ago and they are pictured above. Like their ideas and I suspect I’ll like their menu as well. I’ll report soon on my first tasting! House of the Rising Tanuki-San 120 […]

Trio Becomes Ciclo: Check out the latest Dining out Austin Podcast

Posted by on Nov 4, 2018 in News, Openings, Rob's Blog

General manager Rob Hagelberg stands on the new deck outside the main floor cocktail lounge and above the outside patio. Click on this link to listen to Rob Balon and Don Pryor talking on their Dining out Austin Podcast at klbj.com about the opening of Ciclo at The Four Seasons Hotel.

III Forks Steps Up to Address Tap Water Problems Brought on by Floods

Posted by on Oct 22, 2018 in News, Rob's Blog

With a boil-water notice in effect today in Austin due to flooding (and many restaurants scrambling to accommodate customers or closing altogether) III Forks has issued this statement: “III Forks Austin has complimentary bottled water available for all dinner guests. All ice for consumption is being provided by a supplier located outside of Travis County. […]

New Deck off the Cocktail Lounge at The Four Seasons Heralds the Opening of Ciclo

Posted by on Oct 17, 2018 in Downtown, News, Openings, Rob's Blog

General manager Rob Hagelberg stands on the new deck outside the main floor cocktail lounge and above the outside patio. Things are happening at The Four Seasons Hotel downtown. Trio, the popular restaurant helmed by the extraordinary Elmar Prambs, will become the Latin-themed Ciclo in collaboration with the nationally known restaurateur Richard Sandoval and is […]

Belterra Village Brings Dining Diversity to Dripping Springs Area

Posted by on Oct 8, 2018 in News, Rob's Blog

When we moved to Highpointe off Sawyer Ranch Road and Hwy 290 a few years ago, we were initially despondent over the lack of quality dining options. Then we discovered Creek Road Café and later Homespun Kitchen and Bar. And things got much better. They got even better still this summer when Belterra Village opened […]

Upper Crust on Burnet Helps Fill the Void of Sweetish Hill’s Closing

Posted by on Oct 8, 2018 in News, Rob's Blog

Upper Crust Bakery + Café has always been one of my favorite spots in North Austin for cakes, pastries, cookies and sandwiches. Now, given the departure of Sweetish Hill on West 6th Street, Upper Crust finds itself in an unenviable position: the torch, so to speak, has been dropped, but Upper Crust must pick it […]

East Side Pies, #1 in our Pizza Wars, Opens North Store at 13265 N 183

Posted by on Oct 1, 2018 in News, Openings, Pizza, Rob's Blog

Noah Polk and Michael Freid, the honchos at my thin crust favorite East Side Pies are literally on a roll. They’ve opened a new store on North 183 and are about to open a location at the airport as well. Talk about spreading the crust. 🙂 Well, good for them and good for all Austin […]

Bozeman, Montana Restaurant Says “No Thanks” to Donald Trump, Jr.

Posted by on Sep 19, 2018 in News, Rob's Blog

The Midtown Tavern in Bozeman, Montana has cancelled a planned event featuring Donald Trump, Jr. hosting a Republican fundraiser. It’s surprising, as most restaurants don’t walk away from lucrative event business. And even more surprising given that Montana is definitely a red state and Trump, Sr. territory. But the manager is quoted as saying “We’re […]

Sweetish Hill Closes; will Reopen with New Name, Ownership

Posted by on Sep 10, 2018 in Closings, News, Openings, Rob's Blog

Larry McGuire continues to evolve his Austin food empire with the acquisition of the iconic  Sweetish Hill Bakery which will soon reopen as Swedish Hill Bakery Café & Deli as part of McGuire Moorman Hospitality. The idea is for the new Swedish Hill to serve as a baked goods source for McGuire’s other concepts like […]

Pastrami or Pizza? Tough Choices on the Menu at Pieous in Belterra Village

Posted by on Aug 31, 2018 in News, Pizza, Rob's Blog

So I went in to Pieous for pastrami and then I bumped into this pizza, the wonderfully named “Fat Queen.” Tough decision, but this was one hell of a pizza. Pieous is now open at Belterra Village on Hwy 290 W. By the way, they also have a blueberry pie that rocks!   Pieous Belterra […]

Meet Frankie Hoch, Pitmaster at It’s All Good BBQ in Spicewood

Posted by on Aug 29, 2018 in Barbecue, News, Rob's Blog

Does this guy look happy? He should. He’s Frankie Hoch, Pitmaster at It’s All Good BBQ. Frankie has been a weekend smoker and griller for years when he’s not fixing police cars for the city of Austin. He met his eventual partners at It’s All Good at barbecue competitions around the area. Dale Wieczyk, for […]

Josh Kaner at the Old Pieous Building Before the Move to Belterra Village

Posted by on Aug 28, 2018 in News, Pizza, Rob's Blog

When Pieous first debuted several years on 290 in Cedar Valley, it took the area by storm. Foodies that far southwest had never had genuine Neapolitan pizza before. And the word quickly spread about their tasty pizza pies and their amazing moist pastrami. Pieous has now moved to a larger location at Belterra Village off […]

Load More