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Openings
Closings
Question
of the Month
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Heard
on the Street
In
Trouble
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Transitions
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Archives
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Tokyo
In Westlake, at 3201 Bee Caves Road, a new
Japanese restaurant has risen from the ashes of the former Boston
Market. Ambitious Sushi menus along with a variety of tempuras,
teriyakis, and Udon noodle soups. I tried the egg rolls which were
good but a bit on the bland side. Also had the Seafood Yaki Udon
which features shrimp, squid, and fish cake in the soup. Now that
was quite tasty! A rich, full broth, full of satisfying flavor.
We'll have a more formal review for you in the next 3-4 weeks.
For more information, call 306-9191.
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Zen
Continuing the Japanese trend, on 2900 W.
Anderson lane, Suite 250, Zen serves up Japanese fast food. Haven't
been there yet but I've received quite a few e-mails about the food,
virtually all positive. We will also have a review out soon. In
the meantime, call 451-4811 for information.
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| Lucky
Dog
You haven't lived until you've tried a Chicago
style Hot Dog or Sausage sandwich. The "dogs" have a unique
style and flavor all of their own. The bun will usually combine
pickles, peppers, tomatoes, relish, onions, mustard and celery salt
along with a Vienna dog. Owner George Moudry, a transplanted Chicagoan,
missed his local fare so much that he opened up a shop here in Austin
on Spicewood near Mesa. A second store in Pflugerville on Pecan
Street West followed this June. For more information call 989-3647.
I've tried the food. Trust me on this…you gotta go.
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| The
Vineyard
Newly opened on Highway 620 near Starbucks
[in the Lakeway area]. The Vineyard features Mediterranean fare
with a menu [so I've been told] that's in the same league as Café
Bleu, yet another new Mediterranean restaurant recently opened at
Volente Beach. This new "M" trend is fine with me as I've
always been fond of the cuisine. So here it is, a free dinner to
anyone who can tell me exactly what babaganoush is. E-mail me and
the first correct entry wins! For more info on The Vineyard, call
402-9855.
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| Waterloo
Brewing Company
Sad times for local beer lovers. Waterloo
Brewing Co. closed its doors the first week in September. Said to
be the first of Texas' microbreweries, Waterloo has been plagued
with street construction and other civic hassles. I will miss this
place.
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Lone
Star Café
The Lone Star Cafés filed for
Ch.11 Bankruptcy protection August 22nd. The chain, with six restaurants
in the Austin area, and four others across the state, is seeking
time to reorganize while keeping its creditors temporarily at bay.
It will be business as usual for the Austin locations in the meantime.
They will be open and serving up their usual blend of popular family
fare. The chain has a lot of fans in the Austin area. So here's
wishing them the best.
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The
Low Down on Sake
O.K. For those of you would be Japanese
food snobs who think sake is a wine, guess again. It most certainly
is not. Sake is brewed, much like a beer. And a number of American
sake "breweries" have sprung up over the past several
years. Another sake fact: avoid drinking it warm. Always ask for
it cool or at least at room temperature. The only reason sake was
ever consumed warm in the old days was to mask imperfections in
the brewing process and the taste. Isn't it funny how obscure traditions
carry over though?
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I
Only Read it for the Articles
If you are a male
of the species, unless you've been suffering from premature brain
death, you've undoubtedly noticed a plethora of so-called 'Gentlemen's
Clubs" in the Austin area. And you may have even ventured in
a time or two. When this behavior has been challenged by your significant
other, you've undoubtedly mentioned that since the luncheon specials
are so good, you just had to take your client there. To which she
likely responds… well, you know what she responds.
The irony of all this, however, is that at least at several area
clubs, the food IS actually quite good. Which ones? Ah, thought
you'd never ask. Based on a combination of exit interviews [just
kidding], the leaders are Sugars and The Yellow Rose [under Chef
John Randell]. They're followed closely by Expose. Good fare at
all three. Great lunch specials. Honest!
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Sea Island
One of my favorites, Sea Island Shrimp
House on N. Mopac north of Parmer, is celebrating its 5-year anniversary.
Located near mega electronics store Frye's, Sea Island is a great
little spot for genuinely tasty and authentic seafood. The shrimp
salad is absolutely to die for. And the Jumbo Shrimp stuffed with
crab is a blast. So get by and help 'em celebrate! For more info:
255-5035.
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Paul
Clark Materializes at B.D. Riley's
Paul Clark, late of Star
Canyon, and a great cook, reappeared at B.D.Riley's on 6th St. Apparently
he consulted owner John Irwin on some menu items. Went to a function
there for Binion's Casino the other evening and Paul put out a spread
that was world-class. This is a pretty neat little spot anyway and
I suggest you go down, have a Harp's, and kick back. Now if only
they could get Paul to cook nightly?
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Readers: Do you have suggestions for this
list?
Drop us an e-mail
and we'll share your opinions next month.
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Question
of the Month
Mike Mason,
of Austin wrote: "We are all acutely aware of the downturn
in the local economy. What impact do you think this will have on
the high-end restaurants? We have several favorites that we'd miss
greatly."
Good question Mike. The upscale restaurant
scene in Austin took off like a rocket several years ago. Virtually
every day it seemed, a newer and more elegant restaurant came on
the radar screen. The only problem is, the true upscale restaurants
are supported by a relatively thin percentage of the population
[around 3%]. This is truly discretionary dining at this level. And
perhaps more due to psychology than actual circumstance, some of
the patrons at this level have been staying home, or "dropping
down" to less expensive eateries. Then too, the legislature
is out of session and the lobbyists, regular patrons of the high-end
scene, are out as well. And, some of the high-spending "techknows"
that many restaurants grew accustomed to, have found themselves
with less available spending loot. All of this has resulted in a
situation where many restaurants are running behind last year's
grosses.
So, will we lose some? Perhaps. But I happen
to think Austin's downturn is already beginning to bottom out. I
look for a major rebound in 2002. In the meantime, the upscale restaurants
are going to have to concentrate on one key word: value. Sophistication
and cachet may have made it last year, but value is the watchword
now. Those that deliver it will live to again reap the benefits
of an improved economy. Those who dwell in the past, waiting for
the banquet room to fill up with dot com zillionaires drinking pink
DP, are in for a long wait.
I wish these restaurants, as I'm sure you
do, all the best. A diverse city needs them. To paraphrase the immortal
words of Rene Zellwegger in Jerry Maloney, they complete us.
I'm Rob Balon and I'm out of here.
IF YOUR QUESTION IS CHOSEN FOR PUBLICATION,
YOU'LL RECEIVE A DINNER FOR TWO AT ONE OF OUR FEATURED RESTAURANTS.
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