One of the frustrating things about the opening of the beautiful Hill Country Galleria mall in S.W. Austin was that there were virtually no places to grab a bit to eat. Shopping, si! Dining, no. But mercifully, in late September of last year, the Iron Cactus opened the doors of its most recent Austin location directly across from the Bee Cave City Hall and Library. And that made a lot of people, including the Balons, very happy. Aside from a killer Sunday brunch which this area sorely needed, Iron Cactus brought the full measure of its innovative Tequila Grill concept to daily lunches and dinners.

Iron Cactus Jefes: Gary Manley, Mike Pottorff, Bryan Soltis

The restaurant is tastefully appointed and comfortable and that's important because you're likely to be spending some time there. I would begin with the absolutely delicious Lobster Tacos. I never thought I would get excited about lobster presented in any other form than steamed in the shell with drawn butter. But I stand corrected. The fresh mini tortillas are stuffed with sautéed lobster meat (and lots of it), Monterrey jack cheese, a sweet red pepper coulis and tomatillo pico. The first bite said it all: amazing flavor!

The Crispy Chicken Flautas are just that, crispy, but most importantly, they are also moist and laden with flavor. Dryness is often the fatal flaw of the chicken flauta but not at Iron Cactus. And the queso that accompanies the dish strikes the right balance. And if you're looking for a salad that will light up your meal, try the Roasted Poblano Caesar Salad. The fresh romaine is crisp in the poblano Caesar dressing, and the crumbled cotija cheese, ideal for salad toppings works its magic along with the red chile and garlic croutons. Yum!

Among the Tequila grill favorites, and I could write the entire review on this section alone, is the Sweet Red Pepper Linguini with Chicken. This dish works because the pasta is sautéed with fresh garlic, roasted red peppers and fresh cilantro. Then it's bathed with tequila and a piquant lime butter sauce. I could eat this without the chicken: it's that good. Then you have to try the Iron Steak. It's a 10 oz NY Strip that has so much flavor it's liable to cause you to shout "ole" without forethought. It's perfectly grilled and seasoned and topped with three Chile herb butter. This is what the Tequila Grill concept is all about.

They've gotten a bit carried away with lobster at the Iron Cactus and I for one have absolutely no problem with that at all. The Chipotle Pesto Lobster Ravioli features chunks of lobster with queso fresco folded into beautiful raviolis and pan seared in chipotle lime and a cilantro pesto. Amazing!

The Cheese Enchiladas, a requisite offering at a place like the Iron Cactus, would make any enchiladista happy. The tortillas filled with blended cheeses and topped with chile con carne and melted cheese are spot on with regard to that hard-do-define flavor of this ultimate comfort offering. Kudos to the chef.

So come weekdays, weeknights, or Sundays for Brunch. But do visit the latest Iron Cactus at the lovely Hill Country Galleria. It's upscale casual dining at its very best.

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