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Food
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Wine
& Spirits
Restaurant
Events
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Openings
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Sunday
Brunch: Rob's Recommendations
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One of our favorite dining
pastimes is a leisurely Sunday Brunch. It can be laid back and
casual, or elegant and unhurried depending on our mood. The
good news is that Austin abounds with brunch choices at all
ends of the budget and ambiance spectrums. |
The
Café at the Four Seasons. A very expensive brunch at
$44.95 per person, this is one where you linger and savor. Everything
from sushi and sashimi to dim sum, salads, wonderful pates, Eggs
Benedict, killer waffles, fantastic omelets, and a variety of delicious
entrees. Book early for this one as it fills up quickly, price notwithstanding.
478-4500.
Green Pastures. Under
the steady hand of Executive chef Charles Bloemsma, this brunch
is $30. Always a serious prime rib with innovative and tasty salads
and wonderful pastas and the neatest Brandy Alexander punch in the
city. 444-1888
The Paggi House on Riverside
Dr. Chef George Thomas has innovated a southern style brunch with
fried chicken waffles and other kinds of stick-to-your-ribs yummy
fare. Price is $14.00. For another $14, you can belly up to the
build-your-own-Bloody Mary bar [limit four] 499-8835.
Iron Cactus on Stonegate
should not be overlooked in the brunch arena. For $13.95, you can
get cinnamon rolls and assorted muffins, fruit, bacon and sausage,
and custom breakfast tacos. Also an omelet and waffle station. 794-8778
The Hill Country Dining Room
at Barton Creek Resort is open to the public as well as members
and guests. $29.95 for a varied brunch along the lines of the fare
at Four Seasons. Great views from the dining room as well. 329-4000
The Oasis overlooking Lake
Travis is always a great spot for brunch. Theirs is an order-off-the-menu
affair with no set price. I love the piratas and the Tortilla soup
along with the Chimchanga. 266-2442
Fonda San Miguel may well
be the granddaddy of all the killer brunches in the city. Expensive
at $38.95, but you get an astonishing array of the marvelous cuisine
of Miguel Rovago. The Camarones de Ajo alone are wroth the prices
of admission. 459-4121
Moonshine Patio Bar and
Grill, Austin's homage to comfort food, offers fare from the
regular menu each Sunday. Favorite spot of the Bush sisters, Chef
Larry Perdido knows how to bring it. 236-9599
El Sol y La Luna. Wonderful
breakfast fare at this S. Congress institution. Very reasonable
prices. Say hi to Nilda when you go in. 444-7770
Hoover's Cooking. On
Manor Road with a new location just opened at Research and Anderson
Mill, Hoover delivers southern soul food with a flourish. And his
Sunday brunch also features a blond etouffee that will knock your
socks off. You will not leave here hungry. 479-5006
Freda's Seafood Grille.
$16 brunch that features darn near everything you can imagine from
breakfast fare to grilled oysters. Don't let the endless construction
deter you. This is worth it. 506-8700
T&S Seafood At 10004 N.
Lamar, the dim sum brunch runs from 11:AM to 2:30 PM Saturday and
Sunday. It is, flat out, the best dim sum in town. All the off duty
chefs go here, it's that good. 339-8434
Chez Zee. On 5406 Balcones.
Another brunch spot with classic lineage. Sharon Watkins and the
gang will cook you pancakes that will melt in mouth, Eggs Benedict
and the amazing Zee Migas along with the astonishing crème
brulee French Toast. 454-2666.
Y Restaurant
& Bar. We had a brunch last weekend
at the Y Restaurant and Bar in Oak Hill that was flat out delicious.
Marge tried the Lobster Eggs Benedict (yes, you read that correctly)
and they were fab. I had the Migas and they were moist, loaded with
flavor, and hard to stop eating. We also tried the Chicken Fried
Venison. Really nice flavors, and not at all gamey.
03/17/2006
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In
Town For South by Southwest? List of Downtown Area Eateries for
You
McCormick
and Schmick's: Stellar seafood at 4th and Congress.
La Traviata:
Intimate Italian at 3rd and Congress.
Eddie V's: Seafood,
steaks, and fun on 5th.
Roaring Fork:
Upscale cowboy fare. Great place.
Maiko: Sushi and Japanese on W. 6th.
Thai Passion:
Credible Thai on Congress: open late.
Manuel's: Mexican.
Wicked mole on Congress.
Thistle Café:
On 6th. Eclectic and worth visiting.
Truluck's: Popular
seafood spot in Warehouse area.
Saba: First of the
fusion restaurants. On 4th.
Katz's Deli: NYC
deli fare. Open 24/7. On 6th.
Opal Divine's: Pub.
Great scotches. 6th and at Penn Field
Moonshine: 3rd
and Red River. Super comfort food.
Doc's Motor Works:
S. Congress with noses and Tex Mex.
Waterloo Ice House:
At 6th and N. Lamar. Burgers et al. Good.
Austin Java:
On Barton Springs. Breakfast-dinner.
El Sol y La Luna:
S. Congress Mexican. Shrimp enchiladas!
Zen: Japanese fast
food on S. Congress.
Starlite: Wonderful
spot at 4th and Colorado.
Gurero's: Vintage
Tex Mex on S. Congress.
Z-Tejas: On w.
6th, Texas/Mex fare.
Castle Hill:
at 5th and N. Lamar. New American.
Taverna: on 2nd St. in entertainment district.
Aquarelle: High
end French across from Katz's.
Thai Tara: Home
made Thai treats on W. 6th.
Dan McKlusky's: Big
steaks and flavor on 6th St.
Chuy's: Austin Mex landmark on Barton Springs.
Paggi House: On
Riverside at S. Lamar. Small plates.
Driskill Grill:
High end emporium at Driskill hotel.
1886 Café: Soups/sandwiches and great cookies.
Finn and Porter:
Sushi and steaks at the Hilton on 4th.
Chez Nous: Country French on 510 Neches.
Boiling Pot:
Feast o' crabs on 700 E. 6th St.
Koriente: Healthy
Korean at 621 E. 7th.
Dona Emilia's:
Ultra-cool Colombian fare across from the Four Seasons.
03/13/2006
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Sushi
Master Nat Joins the Ranks at Beluga
Sushi Master Nat (I have no idea how to pronounce
or spell his Thai last name) has joined the staff at Beluga
in Round Rock. I have tasted Nat's work at his catering company,
Nat in the Kitchen, and he is an artist. This is a great move for
Beluga which has recently opened in Round Rock and is trying to
establish a nighttime clientele. With the exception of perhaps Smoky
from Musashino and Tyson Cole from Uchi, Nat can flat out bring
it when it comes to sushi and sashimi.
I strongly recommend that you head up
to Beluga (across from the Dell Campus) and avail yourself of the
sheer talent that this man possesses.
03/10/2006
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City
Council in Favor of Dogs on Patios: What Do You Think?
The City Council last night voted to allow dogs
on patios of restaurants. The dogs must be on a leash and the plan
is optional: restaurnts don't have to participate.
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I myself am a dog lover of
epic proportion. However, in my house the dogs eat dogfood and
that's it. She doesn't sit at the table with us, and I feel
no need to have her rubbing against my leg while I'm having
my hamburger. There are other more obvious sanitary problems
that can occur with our canine friends at local restaurants.
Does every guest have to bring a pooper-scooper and a plastic
bag with every meal? What about waiters who may inadvertantly
pet the stray pooch and then touch food? I could go on. |
But that's just my my opinion. What do you think?
Weigh
in with your opinion by clicking on this link and we'll publish
the results.
03/03/2006
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Click here to find archived
Openings, Closings, and Food News & Commentary
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Hill
Country Food and Wine Festival Returns to its Roots
The Hill Country Wine and Food festival, begun
21 years ago as a smallish regional party to celebrate the wines
of the hill country, has grown into something much larger over the
past few years. With the advent of Saveur Magazine as a major sponsor,
the last two festivals have had a national orientation with such
luminaries as Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay and Emeril Legasse strutting
their stuff. And you know what: I liked the smaller more Texas-oriented
affairs much better.
Well, they must have read my mind because
Saveur is out as this year's sponsor and the board has authorized
a return to a festival with a Texas flavor. We'll get to see a lot
more of our favorite Texas chefs like the Driskill's David Bull,
Elmar Prambs from the Four Seasons, Will Packwood, late of Emilila's
and 7, Robert Del Grande from the famous Café Annie in Houston,
and many more. There will also be over 60 wineries, most with Texas
roots, featured at the festival. Log on to www.texaswineandfood.org
and get your tickets today. The festival runs from April 6-9. See
you there!
03/07/2006
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Openings, Closings, and Food News & Commentary
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Sampaio's
Brazilian Restaurant Reopens on Burnet
Fans of Magda Sampaio's Brazilian fare will
be delighted to know that she has reopened her popular restaurant
on Burnet in the Rosedale district. The restaurant, formerly on
24th St. near the UT Campus, is as close as we have to authentic
Brazilian in Central Texas. It is not a churrascaria but it's
darn good. (512) 469-9988.
03/30/06
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Prego!
Damian Mandola’s Italian Market Opens at 47th and N. Lamar
You’ve seen him on TV in the popular PBS show
Cucina Amore and if you’ve ever been to a Carrabba’s Italian grill,
you’ve gotten a sense of his culinary style. Now Damian Mandola,
after a couple of years of development, has brought this concept
of an Italian market and eaterie to N. Austin.
Mandola, a Texan through and through, went
to Sam Houston State and opened the renowned Cucina Italiana in
Houston, the first in a string of successful restaurants. His
latest venture, in the so-called Triangle Development, is designed
to make patrons get the feel of an old-style Italian grocery.
03/23/06
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Edible
Arrangements Opens at 10225 Research
In the “why didn’t I think of that” category,
a new service has opened on 10225 Research. It’s called Edible
Arrangements and it features fresh fruit cut up to resemble a
floral arrangement. You call your order in and they deliver to
your office or home. A really neat and tasty idea. Go to their
website at www.ediblearrangements.com.
03/23/06
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Openings, Closings, and Food News & Commentary
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Dorsett’s
221 Café, a Landmark in the Truckstop world, closes
In the world of truck stop diners, the 221 Café
(named for the exit of I 35) was almost legendary. It had a national
reputation and a killer chicken fried steak. But alas, it is no
more. The demise of the property seemed to occur simultaneously
with the massive road construction that resulted in Kabella’s Superstore.
Here we go again, huh?
03/28/06
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Little
Texas Bistro in Buda will close on April 1
Chef Paul Pederson has informed me that Saturday,
April 1, will be the last night of operation for the highly successful
Little Texas Bistro in Buda. The name, unfortunately, says it all:
little. Not enough room to make the thing work at the right financial
level.
So Pederson and some investors are going shopping
for space in Austin. Perhaps on S. Congress or on the East side
I’m told.
We’ll keep you posted as always on how
Paul makes out. Perhaps next time they’ll call it the Bigger Texas
Bistro.
03/28/06
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Click here to find archived
Openings, Closings, and Food News & Commentary
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Events You Might Have Missed:
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Let
Rob Pour Vintage Wines for You at the Mobile Loaves and Fishes Fundraiser
Mobile Loaves and Fishes
is one of the premier charities in the Austin area. They actively
seek out the homeless and feed and minister to them. There’s no
pretense here: just hard work and an inexhaustible need for food
and supplies.
Saturday, April 1, Rob Balon, Kristin Armstrong, Reed Clemmons and
other Austin well-known Austinites will be the pourers for a vintage
wine tasting at the TDS Wild Game Ranch in Creedmore. The proceeds
all go this wonderful charity.
You can log on to www.mlfnow.org
and purchases tickets to the vintage wine tasting ($200) or for
the general event and auction ($75).
03/31/2006
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Texas
Food, Wine, Women and Their Music Premieres at Y Bar & Restaurant
on Mar. 30
Texas Food, Wine, Women
& Their Music premieres at the Y Restaurant & Bar in Oak
Hill on March 30th.
This weekly event highlights a featured Texas
menu item, Texas wine and talented Texas female musician each week.
This is the second year for the highly successful event, which is
co-sponsored by the Y Restaurant &Bar and Country Line Magazine.
In April, the featured wines will be provided
by Alamosa Wine Cellars – the top of the Hill Country.
Thursday, March 30 - 7 PM
Menu: Venison Osso Bucco
Wine: Red - 2002 El Guapo Tempranillo
White: - 2004 Jacques Lapin (Chenin Blanc)
Musician: Allie Danielle
03/28/2006
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Big
Red Reserve Wine Tasting at Dona Emilia's, Mar. 22
On Wednesday March
22, 2006 at 6pm-8pm, Dona Emilia's South American Bar & Grill
will host a Big Red Reserve Wine Tasting. Join them in tasting the
award winning Big Red Reserve Wines and sample some of their delicious
Latin appetizers. Throughout the evening, guest speaker Sonja Schluchter
will share her expert knowledge of six Reserved Red Wines from Chile
and Argentina
This event is limited to 50 participants and
tastings at Don Emilia's often sellout, so make your reservation
by calling 478-2520. The cost of the event is $20, with a portion
of each ticket sale going to support Arte Sana, which helps survivors
of violence by promoting healing and empowerment through the arts.
Click
here for details.
You can also get information and tickets at
their website donaemilias.com.
03/21/2006
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Openings, Closings, and Food News & Commentary
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