(March 7, 2008)

You know back a few years ago, this entire retail and restaurant complex on Slaughter Lane was a gigantic music venue called Southpark Meadows. Well, time marches on and as you can see, it is now a very busy mall teeming with shops, stores, and eateries. I really like the idea of outdoor music with indoor dining. So for me, and all those folks who live south of Town Lake, it's a pretty cool deal to be able to hang out at the new Austin Java here. And speaking of music, in a few weeks, the Grove concert series will begin every Friday and Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

Austin Java, Southpark Back Patio

Extending the music analogy, the thing that I like about Austin Java is that they rock all day long. And you can get their excellent coffee and breakfasts all day long. I almost always have to have the seriously good Breakfast Tacos. They are moist, and have that beautifully integrated flavor that characterizes the best of the breed. I get mine with turkey sausage, eggs, cheese, onions and jalapenos on whole wheat tortillas! Now how cool is that? I also love the Egg in a Hole: another treat unique to Austin Java. You start with a thick slice of farmer's oaf bread with an egg in the middle cooked to you taste. The key is to get it over easy so the yoke can then spill onto the bread. Film fans will remember that Olympia Dukakis had a scene from Moonstruck where she made something similar Cher for breakfast. And lastly, one has to mention the serious Blueberry Pancakes. I've stopped in on many a late night craving some carbs and these cakes always make it happen for me. They are dense, but not overly so with a pleasing texture.

Moving on to non-breakfast fare, I love the Crawfish Quesadillas. AJ uses real American crawfish here, not the Chinese imports. For me, the green onions, jalapenos, and the remoulade dipping sauce really set this dish off. And you must try the Southwestern Corn Pico de Gallo Dip. This southwestern black bean and corn salsa will zap your taste buds and cause you to consume more tortilla chips than you normally would. Great dip.

And I really like their Cajun Blackened Crawfish Pasta. I just can't get away from this dish, and I've tried to. But like the moth to the flame, I'm there. Why? Because it tastes so damned good. The cream sauce is just right and it accents the crawfish almost perfectly. And on the burger/sandwich side, try among others, the Honey Ham sandwich. This one just jumps up and commands attention. Mellow taste but with a little kick from the honey Dijon, this make a great lunch or dinner choice. Another solid choice is the Smoked Gouda and Bacon Cheeseburger. I'm not as a rule a Gouda fan but it definitely works in consort with the bacon and fresh ground chuck. And the roll, as it always must, is a critical factor in burger goodness. AJ gets it right.

Nestled comfortably between Amy’s Ice Cream and Mama Fu’s, Austin Java Southpark just oozes Austintatious hospitality. Music, food, and fun aren’t a bad triumvirate and AJ delivers on all three levels. Take the Slaughter exit off I-35 S. and you’ll see the mall.

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