Not sure why, but every time I drive by Red's Porch, my first thought is a vision in my head of Sam Elliott calmly stating, "I'm Red, and this here is my porch", while welcoming guests with a sweep of the arm and a crooked smile.
My second thought is always, "damnit all does that place ever look like a Citibank".
Well, to those who know, Red's is actually BEHIND the bank. Probably not hard to figure out, but just thought I'd clarify.
As far as atmosphere goes, this place is tops. A two story, indoor-outdoor structure with a fantastic second level bar and porch with an even better view of the canyon-like Greenbelt with a distant view of the hills of Westlake. Put simply, this is a small slice of vacation lake life without the lake. It beats a drive out to Lake Travis when you're just looking for that feeling, some food, and some drinks on a nice day, and want to avoid the crowds and the scantily-but-should-be-clad boaters stopping in for some more beer at Hula Hut or Abel's on the Lake (both great spots though in their own right).
My good friend Spike and I stopped in for a quick burger and beer yesterday after a muni round on a beautiful February day. High hopes for the atmosphere, and tempered hopes of a great burger, we were both pleasantly surprised by all, and had a great time.
I opted for the Manimal, upgraded for grass-fed, natural beef, topped with grilled onions, cheddar, swiss and homemade Thousand Island, and Spike opted for the Smokey Goat burger, topped with "deep" smoked bacon, fried onions, and goat cheese. And then we did what two dudes normally don't do in a public setting, we cut those suckers in half and traded so we could try each of them. In the name of reviewing. Glad we did.
Both very good. The grass-fed natty patty on the Manimal had a rich, moist, and beefy flavor, complemented nicely by sweet, carmelized onions. I'd have liked some more tang from the Thousand Island to balance the onions, as it erred toward the sweet side, though was well prepared and very good.
(picture a half pound burger on a sourdough bun with grilled onion, cheddar, swiss, and 1000 island here)
The Smokey Goat was excellent. Bacon was as advertised and cooked perfectly. Not crumbly and not chewy. Thin sliced and fried onions provided a crunch and sweetness, which balanced perfectly with the soft, tangy goat cheese. Smokey, sweet, salty, tangy, beefy. A great combination of flavor.
Fries came with both, and while not mind blowing, were pretty good. A bit on the cool side, and clearly just fried once, they came well seasoned with flaky kosher salt. Dipped in a self-made-at-the-table hot sauce laced ketchup, or the side of cilantro mayo that I ordered, they rounded out the meal, as did my Austin Beerworks Pearl Snap Pils, which was just one of a large list of local, domestic and import brews available for the taking.
This is a laid back, very Austin, perfect atmosphere, where you can spend countless hours on a nice afternoon drinking beer, a decent glass of wine, or a cocktail, keeping any worries the past week may have brought, or the current week may bring, far, far away.
Sometimes you eat the bar, and...well...sometimes the bar eats you. I'm good with either. And this is the right bar.
Summary
Atmosphere: relaxing lakeside bar just without the lake but fantastic views, laid back, outdoor seating, sit outside
Food: burgers, sandwiches, home-cooking and Tex-Mex. you feel like it, you got it.
Crowd: goooooood looooookin', young, old, beachy, swimsuits, tank tops, bare feet, canine, large groups, small groups, hotchicks, hipsters, and starving artists
When to Go: any afternoon when the weather is nice, brunch on the weekends
What to Order: whatever you feel like, you're there for the the atmosphere, the company, and the beer
Dog Friendly: absolutely, they'll have lots of friends
I'll let my previous postings on Dirty's speak for the place itself, but must post this to say that Dirty's has the best Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich in Austin.
For years I've stuck to the burgers and sirloin sandwich, which I believe are the best in town, but the other day I decided to stray from my normal orders and give the chicken fried steak a shot. Wow. Homemade and deep fried, this sandwich was the perfect blend of tender and crisp, with a great black pepper flavor, just the right amount of grease, a soft bun, and crisp iceberg lettuce and a cool, ripe tomato and mayo to balance it all out. If you're in the market for one, hit up Dirty's.
Admittedly and regrettably I haven't posted many restaurant reviews lately as I've been cooking at home nearly every night and when I have stopped somewhere for a bite, it's been for the old standbys that I've already written about. That said, let's see if I remember how to do this.
Hank's Garage Belgian Pub
Hank's Garage Belgian Pub
Hanks Garage, Belgian Pub
I know, doesn't really seem to jive, does it. I'm afraid this place is suffering from location and identity issues. I've been wanting to check out this "Belgian Pub" for a while now, and finally made it there last week for a quick dinner and a beer.
I wasn't sure quite what to expect, but was hoping it was along the lines of a place called Vol de Nuit in the West Village of Manhattan, which I visited a few years back. Not having been to Belgium to see what a real Belgian Pub is like, I've got to believe that this is a pretty good replication...
...save for greasy tank tops, of course.
Small, intimate, secluded, dark only for the dimly lit red lights, dusty hardwood floors, fantastic Belgian beers of all sorts on tap, expertly executed fries, and mouthwatering mussels swimming in a flavorful broth.
Instead, we've got this...
...which doesn't look all that bad in these pictures, I realize, but just doesn't have that feel that I so expected and wanted. First off, the place is huge, and with windows across the entire front of the joint, exposed ceilings and concrete floors, an open kitchen, and a menu meant to look like a clipboard list of garage services and estimates, it just doesn't scream PUB at me. Give me dark. Give me scary. Give me food that comes from a mysterious room somewhere off the grid.
If the place isn't packed (and there were two other people there when I was there), sounds quietly echo
through the place, even over the horrific sounds of Brent Musburger ringing out from one of several flat screen TVs around the place. It's identity crisis starts with it trying to decide if it's a restaurant, a pub, or a sports bar, and with a location at Second and San Jacinto downtown, it's more likely to attract name-tagged convention goers than thirsty locals looking for a place to drown the beating of a hard days work in some high-octane beer.
Now, I get that the place has a history, and is in fact a former garage, as the bartenders will clearly point out, but it just doesn't seem to fit with the theme they're going for.
That said...despite the odd format, the menu looked excellent, and I would have had trouble picking out what to eat if not for my craving for fries that lead me there in the first place. Even with that, there are a lot options for fries, starting with regular or duck fat, and then a great list of dipping sauces including garlicky aioli, smoked paprika mayonnaise, dill creme fraiche, Sriracha mayo and Bearnaise. They've also got poutine, a north of the border delicacy known more commonly to American Northeast stoners and ski bums as french fries and gravy, which caught my attention quickly. They have a few different kinds, but I went with the classic, with brown sauce and cheese curds, and for no extra charge I added a side of smoked paprika mayonnaise.
Awesome. It was awesome.
Fries leaning toward the soggy side, a combination of cooking technique and gravy, without being greasy, a flavorful gravy, chewy cheese curds, and a wonderfully flavored dipping sauce.
I paired it with a Duchess de Bourge ale, which was the closest they could come to a sour beer I was looking for, and though a little on the sweet side for my taste, it was very good and went perfectly with the fries. I'd have liked to see a little more Belgian oriented beer selection, but I do realize this is Texas, so to survive they must have the basics. It was a little disheartening though to see Coors and Coors light at the top of the draught menu, and only after twenty beers ranging the gambit from American mass-produced to widely-distributed microbrews to German, Scottish and Irish lagers did they get to nine Belgians that they feature, half of which are made on this side of the Atlantic. That said, there's a taste on there for everyone, so if you're with a group looking for fries and beer, this is a good spot.
And it's a spot that I'll go back to. For the fries, a great beer, and Brent Musburger's opinion on whatever it is he feels like talking about, God help us all.
Summary:
Atmosphere: confused, sports barry, a little sterile, good for groups
Food: Belgian influenced, fries, mussels, burgers, sandwiches, and meat dishes
Crowd: two old guys in starched shirts (on my visit there)
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: happy hour, dinner
What to Order for the First Timer: Classic Poutine with Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise
Walked down to Counter Cafe this morning with the intent of getting breakfast tacos, one of the two breakfasts I tend to rotate between when I go, but after a quick discussion with my waitress, I decided to go with the special of the day, two sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches on homemade biscuits.
Glad I did. Great batch of sausage today. Very fresh, cooked medium well, heavy on the sage and red pepper, giving it immense flavor and kick. Topped off with a over-medium egg and shredded cheddar.
Full reviews here, just wanted to share today's special with you...
Thought I'd share yesterday's photo from Dirty's since the lighting was better in the front room.
Went with the large cheeseburger, two patties with cheese between them, onion, tomato, pickle and mayo. Caught them on a good day too, the bun had just enough grease seep into it to be really good, but wasn't supersaturated as happens sometime.
For the full review, http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/03/dirty-martins-austin-tx.html
Yeah, Google Serranos and this is the first image that comes up. Relation to the chile or restaurant? I have no idea.
Now, I did find myself fascinated by this not-so-Mike-and-Carol family upon seeing this. A true pioneer, sometime in the late 60s, this not-Mike managed to piece together a little slice of Mexico, an FLDS third-wife, a scary little future serial killer, and enough butterfly collars and bad haircuts to fill his little California bungalow and make a pitch to the networks.
Thankfully, ABC didn't pick it up.
And thankfully, these people weren't at Serrano's on Red River when I went there for fajitas on Tuesday night.
There was however, a drunk man in his 60s that sat down next to me who, after offering the bartender extra money to make his margarita not sweet, asked me if I wanted to share enchiladas with him, to which I politely declined indicating that I had already ordered.
Ok, let's back up a minute. Found myself craving some fajitas the other night, and after driving by the packed parking lot at Polvo's, decided I'd try somewhere I hadn't been before. Advertising itself as the home of Mesquite Grilled Fajitas, I decided to give Serrano's a shot, despite a misguided preconceived notion that this place was run-of-the-mill and probably not very good. Now I've driven by the downtown location countless times, and always chalked it up as being one of those cool little spots with average food, that likely gets visitors more than locals, and might be a good spot for a bite and some margaritas, but not a place someone looking for great food would go.
Despite the downtown location, I was able to park right out front, and after helping a group of six ladies to understand that the reason the parking meter wasn't working was because it shut off two hours earlier, I ambled up the Austin stacked stone stairway, across the "amphitheater", where the Brady's or not-so-Brady's could play if the every did come, to the bar, where I ordered a margarita, chips and queso, and beef fajitas.
This is actually a cool little spot, which, on a day that's not 105 would be a nice setting to sit outside, particularly if they filled the little stone stage along the creek that flows through the place with mariachis.
So as I mentioned, I started with the chips and queso, which came out quickly and hot, thankfully, as it's congealation factor was an eight on the standard ten point scale. Not spicy, but flavorful and creamy, this was a perfect starter, but the real winner was the salsa. Red and chunky, almost a blend between fresh pico and standard salsa, it carried some serious heat, which I welcomed, and was also cool and refreshing.
I can't speak for the rest of the food there, but the fajitas hit the spot. Upon their arrival, I was disappointed that, though served on an iron platter, they weren't sizzling, there was just a lone serrano pepper, and the onions looked raw, lacking that caramelization and continued cooking that I love so much. The beef itself was lukewarm, and cooked medium to medium-well, but had great flavor. Not so much the flavor of the heavily seasoned Polvo's meat, but more along the lines of the nice grill-flavored Habanero Cafe cuts. Tortillas were clearly homemade, thin flour tortillas that were nearly see through and which were easily the hottest thing on the plate, which did well in transferring the refried beans, beef, onions, sour cream and pico de gallo from the plate to my mouth. All in all, these were very good, including the onions, and the place gets bonus points for being and easy-in, easy-out fajita fix.
Nothing to write home about on the sides, standard rice, which I had a bite of but no more, and pureed refried pintos, carrying an oxygen-affected crust on the top.
Summary
Atmosphere: old Austin, ample outdoor seating in a cool old setting, bar, good place to meet for a drink and a bite, good place for a group, decent place to sit and have a solo meal
Food: Tex-Mex
Crowd: drunk old man, family who demanded the Food Network be turned on minutes before leaving, couples, and families
Great seafood. Great raw bar. Great bar. Great cocktails. Great outdoor seating. Great place for dinner.
Now, with a thesaurus...
Great seafood. Splendiferous raw bar. Swell bar. Hunky-dory cocktails. Marvelous outdoor seating. Fabulous place for dinner.
In the second half of 2010 (2H2010 for you corporate folks) when I was commuting to Austin weekly and staying with friends down off of South Congress, I frequented this place for dinner quite a bit whenever I was feeling like seafood or a relatively healthy meal. Also, it's a fantastic place to have a solo dinner, with a spacious bar, knowledgeable bartenders, and other solo diners sitting at the bar ready to have a conversation.
The menu is huge, comprised almost entirely of seafood, split up into sections for the raw bar, which features no less than twelve different types of oysters on the half shell, appetizers, salads and soups, simple a la carte fish, seafood and non-seafood plates, sandwiches, and sides. The bartenders and waiters can tell you anything and everything about everything on the menu, and can help to get you the right meal for you.
My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo and I hit up Perla's for an early dinner last night for some drinks and some food to share, which is a great way to experience this place as it allows you to try several things. We arrived right around 5:30pm, which was clearly too late to get a table outside on this fantastic day, but in time to get $0.50 off oysters (each one) and some discounted drinks at their happy hour. I'd say there are twenty or more tables outside underneath the shade of awnings and a massive oak, and in addition is an outdoor "bar" to sit at, not an actual bar but a long, skinny concrete table which is perfect for bellying up, be you flying solo or on a date. So with the outside packed, we found two spots at the bar inside, which is my favorite place to sit for a meal here.
We started with some oysters on the half shell, and after talking with the bartender about the various oysters on the menu, decided on the Salutation Cove Oysters from Prince Edward Island. Shucked at the bar and served on a bed of crushed ice with a couple of lemon wedges, these were medium sized, slightly briny though not as salty as those from the northeast, and very good. They serve them with sides of cocktail sauce, horseradish, and vinegar/onion mignonette, all perfect complements and perfect acidity to cut through the oysters.
From the oysters we moved on to the Salt and Jalapeno Pepper Fried Calamari with Green Sauce and Marinara, which is one of the better renditions of fried calamari I've had. Not greasy at all, the rings and tentacles come out dry and crispy on the outside, plump and perfectly tender on the inside, and are mixed together with fried strips of mild peppers and okra. Both sauces are excellent, with the green sauce being a simple, smooth and creamy salsa verde with an adequate amount of heat, and the marinara being homemade with chunks of tomato and onion, served warm.
Our raw and deep fried boxes checked, we moved over to the Fresh & Simple Market Seafood section and debated between the steamed North Atlantic halibut, the pan roasted Texas coast grouper, and halibut cheeks, which were littered amongst eight to ten other simply prepared fish selections. Just for the halibut, we went for the halibut cheeks with a side of potato griddle cakes.
Let me start with the griddle cakes. These things are fantastic. Very thinly shredded potatoes, presumably with egg, cream, and mild seasoning, formed into one inch thick patties and fried before being topped with sour cream and chives. Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside with just a hint of tooth from the potatoes. I strongly recommend this as a side to whatever you're having.
On to the halibut, and first an educations. These beauties are halibut cheeks:
They cut them out of this ugly sucker, pan roast these delicate morsels, resulting in a paper-thin, lightly browned and crispy crust, and a tender, mildly flavored, and incredibly delicate interior. With these simple preparations, you get a broiled lemon for squeezing, an herbed breadcrumb stuffed roma tomato, and a choice of garlic drawn butter, salsa verde, red chimichurri or homemade tartar as a sauce. I highly recommend the red chimichurri, a take on the standard South American condiment based on oil, herbs and garlic, with this one adding what tasted like oven dried tomatoes, lending a great sweetness to the dish. It's incredible, and a perfect sauce for the fish, though it can stand on its own just fine.
As I have a tendency to do, I'm going to digress. I've had fat cheeks my whole life. Growing up I was sent to the principal's office on more than one occasion for dipping in class, which I wasn't. I've been asked by cigar store employees what brand I'm chewing, which I also wasn't. But my favorite story comes after a late night of drinking, and a even later night of food poisoning. We had this tiny diner that we'd go to after the bars in school called the Pitt Grill, next to the Days Inn (that reminds me, what does La Quinta mean in English? mull it over, we'll get back to it), which was run by a massive and generally angry lady who would let us get behind the counter and do what we pleased with the griddle, the stove, the deep fryer and the toaster, leading us to some awesome late night meals and second degree burns before turning in for the night. On one such occasion they had just gotten in a batch of spoiled eggs, which we only found out a few hours later when my roommate and I both woke up in cold sweats with our bodies doing everything in their power to expel the tainted goods. After spending most of the night on the bathroom floor waiting for the health center to open up, we finally made it over to see the doctor. While my roommate vomited continuously in the waiting area, I went in to see the doctor, an old army doctor who must of at some point taken some shrapnel to the head, and explained what happened, citing specifically the undercooked and underrefrigerated eggs, my symptoms as well as my roommates, and that I've had food poisoning before. After a careful study of my body and head, this genius put his hand to his chin and this thinking cap on, thought about it for two or three minutes before informing me that nope, I didn't have food poisoning, I had a full on case of the mumps.
"Are you kidding me?" I asked. "Why the hell do you think I have the mumps? My roommate ate the same thing as me last night and is out in the hall vomiting right now."
His answer was simple. "Your cheeks have very serious swelling."
(I digress from my digression here. Answer: nexttodennys. YEAH! I'll be here all week, folks.)
Anyway I asked for a mirror, took a look at him, and informed him that's how I looked every morning when I wake up and look in the mirror, but he didn't believe me and asked if he could call my roommate in from the hallway to attest, which he did. As soon as he asked the question about my cheeks, my roommate looked at me as if to say, "is this guy for real", then vomited in the trash can he brought in with him from the hallway, then said "yeah, his cheeks look like that all the time", and then vomited again.
What could the doctor do at that point but offer a second opinion? "OK, you have food poisoning."
Thanks. True story. Don't get me started on health care overhaul.
Anyway, all that said, here's my best halibut impression.
Did that ruin your day?
Summary
Atmosphere: casual/trendy fish house and raw bar, great bar to sit at, great cocktails, great people watching, great if you're flying solo, fantastic outdoor seating and lots of it, outdoor "bar" to sit at, great place for a date, great place for a group
Food: seafood, some of the very best in town
Dog Friendly: indeed
When to Go: happy hour, dinner
Crowd: businessmen, 20somethings, 30somethings, tourists, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of guys, groups of girls and guys, scantily clads, solo diners, seafood lovers
What to Order for the First Timer: oysters on the half shell, whatever pan roasted white fish they have with red chimichurri, griddle cakes
It's a beer store. It's a concert venue. It's a convenience store. It's a restaurant. And best of all, it's a bar.
What better way to spend the time mulling over the hundreds of beers they have for sale, than with a fresh draft beer in your hand?
Chances are, if you don't have one in your hand, someone will find you and make sure you get one. This is a convenience store on steroids, and an incredible one at that, with a concept that I can't believe hasn't been replicated a thousand times over.
We're not talking about getting a Bud Light or Miller Lite while you shop either. This place has between 50 and 60 beers on tap behind a long and deep bar, ranging from the basics to local brews, to microbrews, to Belgians, to imports, and the people working there know their stuff, so let them guide you. I didn't get one today, as I just stopped in to pick up a couple bottles of wine and a sandwich, but the last time I was in there, Dipak was incredibly excited about having just gotten some of Real Ale's Devil's Backbone Tripel on tap, and convinced me (not difficult) to have one. Glad he did, and I thoroughly enjoyed it as I glanced over the Belgium section of the store for a good, new beer to take home with me.
This place is a beer and wine store first and foremost, but nearly equally as much a restaurant and bar specializing in draft beers and Indian food. Nestled between the register and one of the coolers is a sleek polished wood bar behind which tower taps from brews all over the world. Choose from the taps or choose from the chalkboard which changes daily and is arranged by beer type, and pull up a stool, but don't take your cell phone out, they are forbidden at the bar. Somewhat annoying in today's age, but truly captures the historic spirit of a bar, where you and the bartender strike up a conversation and a relationship taking you away from the problems of the world for a few minutes at least.
The food, also on chalkboards above the bar, is Indian based, with Austin twists incorporating local meats, chili, and sandwich combinations, some of which change daily and weekly, with some constant staples that keep people coming back. As tempting as it was today, I opted not to go with the lamb beeryani, made with mushrooms, carrots, and both Saison and Abbey Brown ales, and instead opted for one of their hot sandwiches, the SoCo. House made gingered roast beef, pepper chutney, and gorgonzola, folded up in fresh naan bread and grilled.
Doesn't look like much, I know, but it was good, with my only knocks being that it was a little on the dry side, and I wish it had been oozing with gorgonzola, which was only sparingly used. The beef had a great fresh roasted flavor, the gorgonzola added a little flavor and salt, and the pepper chutney added a nice sting to the tongue.
As I waited, I took a look at the wines, and picked out a Sardinian and a Tuscan white to take home to My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo, and I took a deeper look at the menu, which will have me coming back. A few of the highlights that I'd like to try include that lamb, the Woodland naan sandwich with tequila pulled pork, spicy mango chutney, and feta cheese, the "Whip In-dianized" Beef and Beer Chili Curry, the Indjun gingered chicken fried steak with garlic gravy (dinner only), and the bison and porkbelly meatloaf (dinner only).
Though it's a beer store, the bar is a comfortable place to sit for breakfast, lunch or dinner, as is the small indoor dining area and the picnic tables in an enclosed courtyard next to the parking lot, which is where the stage is, featuring local music most days of the week. If you're a beer connoisseur, this is your place to shop, second to none, and if you're hungry, it's a great spot to pick up lunch or dinner, or dine there with a recommended beer pairing.
Summary
Atmosphere: bar, beer and wine store, outdoor seating, good if you're flying solo, good for a group on a nice afternoon or evening, fantastic beer selection, for drinking there or taking home, great wine selection, tv behind the bar, and friendly staff
But that has zero bearing and nothing to do with this review, terribly that just happens to be the song that's stuck in my head right now. Not sure what I did to deserve this.
South Congress Cafe
This is a place on my "must go to" list for anyone going to Austin for short visit, particularly for a weekend. Specialties: dinner and brunch. This place embodies Austin culture in a nice, clean setting better than anyplace in town, and with more than just the food. A funky little spot on the continually growing South Congress strip, it offers a true taste of Austin featuring game, southwestern fare, and innovative creations with bold flavors. It's also a fantastic place to belly up to the bar and have a drink and a meal. AND, don't quote me on this because I'm not sure if it's still true, but if you sit at the bar, it's 20% off. I'm not sure there is a better place in town for a morning after a long night for a bloody mary and some grub.
Let me start with brunch, because that's where I found myself on Saturday morning. First off, YOU WILL WAIT for a table, but maximize it. My recommendation is to pack yourself into the bar area and start with a bloody mary, or a beer, or a poison of your choosing. It's tight, but there are seats for waiting around the bar area which you can snag if you're lucky. On a nice day, if you don't feel like starting with booze before food, sit outside and watch all of the people, it's some of the best people watching you'll find in the city, with all walks of life, or stroll up and down and stop in the shops and outdoor stands filled with funky art, furniture, vintage clothing, costumes, and all sorts of crap you don't need.
So, the brunch menu features all sorts of incredible entrees ranging from breakfast to lunch to dinner to appetizers. I'd recommend starting with some chips and salsa or queso as well as the prosciutto wrapped quail while you figure out what to order. The breakfast options lean toward the savory, and include three to four omelets, three to four different benedicts, a smoked briskey hash, and the standard Mexican migas, and the lunch-type options range from burgers to venison meatloaf to fish.
I opted for the Italian omelet on this most recent trip, after a really tall bloody mary garnished with celery, olives, and a pepperocini. The omelet was a fluffy egg disk stuffed with wild boar Italian sausage, a spicy pepper and onion mix, fresco, panela and asadero cheese, and was topped with a creamy tomato gorgonzola sauce, which was incredible. Awesome combination of flavors, very savory, and served with a smoked gouda potato pancake with a dollop of sour cream, which is worth ordering in and of itself.
On the dinner side, I particularly like the mesquite smoked pork chop, the jalapeno-venison meatloaf, and most of all the barbecued quail, which is served on a bed of goat cheese bacon grits. Yeah, that's right. Goat cheese and bacon. But choose what sounds good to you, as the menu is a great mix of steaks, pasta, and seafood, all of which are no doubt flavorful and well prepared.
This is one of my favorite spots to hit up if I'm looking for a good, casual dinner and am by myself. It's the kind of bar you sit at, and will have conversations not only with the friendly staff, but with the locals as well who are also bellied up. As I said from the get go, a must stop to experience Austin on a short trip for a short trip.
Summary
Atmosphere: truly Austin, funky, great bar to sit at, fantastic place for a weekend brunch, good for groups, great if you're flying solo, great people-watching, nice place to take a date or meet a friend, great spot for meeting new people
I'm normally a happy hour guy here, because it's one of the best deals in Austin, but on Friday, a friend of mine was in town so we ventured over there shortly after the happy hour for a dinner off the regular menu, which thinking back on, I've never done.
We started with the roasted green chile queso while we perused the menu, and while it was good, it congealed quickly and became almost paste-like. While that may cause problems with your average tortilla chip, not here. Theirs are thick and deep fried, and have a great crunch as well as the necessary strength to cut the cheese, just like me. Despite its moniker, there wasn't a lot of flavor in the queso outside of the cheese, and virtually no heat. Not terrible, but not great, and probably not something I'll order again given other appetizer, salad and side choices.
For the meal, I opted to go from the wood-grilled section of the menu instead of the barbecue side, and went with the bone-in Niman Ranch Pork Chop, coincidently one of the cheaper options on the grilled side at $26. At least you get some mashed potatoes and vegetables with it, though that didn't stop us from going a la carte on family sides, splitting the brussels sprouts and the macaroni and cheese.
The pork chop was very good, not great. The glaze on it was a little sweet for my taste, though it was cooked perfectly, was very juicy, and was given a nice crust on the fatty portions. While I like something sweet on the side with pork, such as applesauce or something along those lines, I prefer my pork chops a bit more savory. To each his own. They certainly know how to cook.
The Brussels sprouts were the real winner at the table. Roasted with bacon and drizzled with brown butter these things were perfect. Sometimes the pungent taste of these sprouts can be overpowering, but not here. They were cooked to the point of ultimate tenderness while still maintaining their integrity, which really mellowed the flavor, which was cut further by the nutty brown butter they were served in. While basic, simple, and somewhat common, this is one of the better preparations of Brussels sprouts I've had.
Macaroni and Cheese was very good, and like the queso, thick and paste-like after a few minutes. Not much to report other than the flavor was very rich, and very good.
Not one of my better trips to Lambert's but this is still an incredible place that I'll be back to again and again, primarily for the happy hour. I don't think any less of it after this, I just learned a bit about what to order. Great atmosphere, as usual, and I'll defer to my prior post on Lambert's for an overview of it.
I will however, mention that a few weeks ago I was fortunate to be able to see one of my favorite artists there are the upstairs bar, which is a great small venue to see a show if you get the chance. Mishka. If you don't know him, get to.
Summary
Atmosphere: understated classy, Austin, two bars with plenty of seating, concerts at the upstairs bar, good for a nice dinner, great for happy hour, good for groups, good for a date, good for shooting the shit with strangers, good if you're flying solo, outdoor seating
Food: upscale barbecue and grilled meats
Dog Friendly: maybe outside
When to Go: happy hour, dinner, lunch
Crowd: locals, regulars, out of towners, groups, families, couples, hotchicks
What to Order for the First Timer: barbecue plate, green chile cheese grits, Brussels sprouts
Met My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo and a friend of ours, we'll call her Miss X, at my favorite place on this planet Tuesday night. Louie's.
With travel back and forth between Dallas and Austin, it has been over a month since I've been there, which is absolutely too long, as I'm typically there one to two nights a week. I figured it was a great night to be in a Chicago bar given the lineup of the Bulls-Pacers playoff game five, and the seventh game of the Blackhawks-Canucks series, and I was right, and also was fortunate enough to leave before the end of the Blackhawks game, and subsequent end to their season in overtime.
When I got there I saw something that really excited me, the chalkboard specials. For the first time in all the time that I've been frequenting Louie's, he had lamb on the menu. Shocking to me that this was the first time given the family's rich Greek history (just ask Louie, and he's happy to go into his family's lineage back to the 300 Spartans who defeated the Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae), and so as a lover of all things lamb, I was as ecstatic as the woman on the men's room wall.
Alright, I'm going to get sidetracked here. I hate this lady. She's relatively new and was drawn over perhaps the greatest men's room graffiti I've ever seen and my all-time favorite. "Does Fecal Matter". Sad day indeed when some bonehead decided to get rid of that for the large and completely out of place peeper that is now there. That said, Louie's still features some of the best graffiti in this part of the country, including among others:
"Go home Dad, you're drunk."
"Fat kids are harder to kidnap."
"Jesus Saves, Gretzky Scores"
"REMINDER THE ALAMO!"
"Wang Chung"
and "34 will always be better than 22. Go Bears!"
OK, sorry. Back to the food. I started with my standard olive and juniper berry appetizer
and from there moved on to a Caesar salad before getting to the main meal. I've learned over the years to take advantage of the specials when he's got them, particularly any fish or meat that is grilled. Clearly it was time for me to try the lamb, which I ordered with a side of his poblano mashed potatoes.
Wow. Were these things ever incredible. They have the same fantastic char flavoring that his well seasoned grill cranks out on a daily basis, resulting in a caramelized and nearly crispy, without any chewiness, exterior which seals in all of the natural juices of the meat, which, with help from the bone, keep the meat inside incredibly juicy and flavorful when cooked to the recommended medium rare. Topped off with a buttery glaze, these four chops imparted their flavoring to the starchy next door neighbor and made for a really, really great meal.
MLWMG opted for one of her rotating staples, the grilled pork chop, with a side of broccoli.
I'm assuming he brines his pork chops overnight, because as usual they came out perfectly, and incredibly moist despite being fully cooked. And I'm not a huge broccoli fan, but the way they do theirs is simple and fantastic. Steamed to perfection and drizzled with a little butter, it's not as healthy as it could be, but the flavor and texture could not be better.
And last, Miss X. She ordered incorrectly, asking for the chicken meaning the chicken breast, but instead got the half chicken with a side of homemade chipotle sauce, which may change her mind on future orders. Also likely brined, the chicken comes out as a whole half chicken, with all of that flavor and juice trapped inside a perfectly edible and flavorful skin. Like the lamb, it's a win win with that oozing out on to the potatoes with the first cut.
I can't say enough about this place, other than it would be my last meal if I had to choose it, it's the best bar to go to in Dallas, and whenever I'm back in Dallas it will be a mandatory stop on my schedule. Hell, I may even make a trip to Dallas just to hit it and stock up on supplies at Jimmy's Food Store, Dallas's finest and best Italian grocery store.
Atmosphere: hole in the wall, Chicago style tavern, good place to watch the game, good place to belly up, good place for a date, good place for a group, good place to meet people, good place to meet new people, good place for a drink
Food: pizza, Italian, Greek, American
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: dinner
Crowd: regulars, journalists, families, angry old guys, Cubs fans, 20somethngs, 30somethings, groups of dudes, groups of girls, mixed groups, no douchers or tight shirts allowed, hotchicks, me
What to Order for the First Timer: I'll be very specific here. Start with a large Greek or Caesar for the table, as well as sauteed oysters and a large sauteed onion, jalapeno, and sausage pizza, then make sure someone gets the pork chop, another the spaghetti with oil and garlic, and another the fettucini alfredo. Report back to me about just how good it all is.
