Way South Philly - Austin, TX

A few days ago I reviewed the cheesesteak at Delaware Sub Shop with a theme based on Always Sunny in Philadelphia, both of which I am a big fan of.  I thought it was a good cheesesteak, the best I'd had in Texas in fact, which was true as of a few days ago, but which is very, very wrong today after a trip to Way South Philly.

I was naive.

I was blind.

Blinded by a two year absence from the City of Brotherly Love.

So first and foremost, to Charlie, to Mac, to Dennis, and of course to Sweet Dee (not so much you, Frank, you are a dirty, dirty little man), I AM SORRY.  You all have my sincerest apology in associating you with a sandwich, that while good, and while a cheesesteak, is not worthy of being a PHILLY cheesesteak.

Way South Philly, now THAT is what a Philly cheesesteak is supposed to taste like.   THAT is a Philly cheesesteak.

Delaware, I salute you for trying, and for making a good sandwich, but most of all for stimulating my appetite for a cheesesteak and getting me out there in search of Austin's best.  And as of right now, that Belt lies firmly around the bloated waist of a little trailer out on East 6th, Way South Philly.

For starters, the guy who runs the place is a Philadelphia transplant, hailing from just across the river in south Jersey.  And he's got a resume.  First off, his favorite steak joint in Philadelphia is Jim's, which is legit, less known to tourists, and a favorite of many locals.  Two, he's a good family friend of the folks who make arguably the best roast beef sandwich in the city, Tommy DeNic's at the Reading Terminal Market.  C.) when I started a conversation about pork roll, not only did he know what I was talking about, but he told me that he had some, having just brought it back with him from a recent trip.

So, enough about the man, let's talk about the sandwiches.  Proudly displayed on the side of the trailer is a sign stating that they serve their sandwiches on real Amoroso rolls, straight from Philadelphia, and the only roll that a Philadelphian will accept.  And they are every bit of it.  Buttery, light, soft, and toasty, these things hold that greasy, cheesy goodness more snuggly than a McPoyle holds his milk.

And the cheese.  First thing you see when you peer in the window is this...

Yep.  Wiz.  The real deal.

So, there are several combinations of cheesesteaks here that all looked incredible, but for comparison's sake, I settled on...

THE PAULIE

paul•ie  |ˈpôlē| - adjective – 1. Rocky Balboa’s brother-in-law : Paulie, it’s Thanksgiving, I got a turkey in the oven.  2.  a generous portion of seasoned grilled philly steak, sautéed with steamed onions and mushrooms, then topped with Cheez Wiz : Yeah, I’ll have the Paulie, wit wiz.

Two words:  incredible

Seriously, this thing was perfect.  You know the saying, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts?   Well, it applies to cheesesteaks.  That's for damn sure.  When all of those ingredients are put together on the flat top, and their juices and flavors combine, they become something much, much more.  The flavors change.  They become one.  It.  Becomes one.  It.  Becomes a cheesesteak.

I'm going to offer a comparison here for those who may not have had a real cheesesteak, but may have had one of these.  White Castle.  And I mean no disrespect to Philadelphia, I'm not comparing a White Castle to a great cheesesteak, this is purely illustrative.  Try to make a slider at home.  Good, right?  Now go to White Castle and get the real deal.  See the difference?  You can't find the lines between bun, onion, meat, cheese and bun, nor can you taste any individual ingredient.  It has become one soft, oniony mess, with a flavor all it's own.  And that's what you get with a good steak sandwich, and that's what you get at Way South Philly.  He nailed it.

Oh, before I finish up.  Tots.  Wiz.

Yup.

I think the picture says it all.

Summary

Atmosphere:  food truck, outdoor seating, smoking section, perfect for lunch, carry out

Food:  real deal Philly cheesesteaks

Crowd:  not-so-tough guys, guy in a tie, lady smoking a cigarette and drinking a Dr. Pepper, looked a little like Mac's mom

Dog Friendly:  yes

What to Order for the First Timer:  The Paulie

Best Time to Go:  lunch on a nice day, after the bars on a weekend

Top Notch Hamburgers - Austin, TX

Alll right all right all right...

I love them drive-ins...

Let me tell you what Top Notch is packin' right here, alll right...we got a 15-8 piece dark, No. 4 Longhorn Special, curbside service, 6 and 1 fried sides, no-doubt 390 cholesterol...we're talking some f-in' food.

Alright, alright...let's start with the fried chicken this stuff was G-O-O-D good, my man...I'm talkin' super juicy on the inside, ultra crispy on the outside, salty, plump...I don't know what they do to it, man, but they got to keep on doin' it, cause that chicken makes life worth livin', man.  L-I-V-I-N.

Sides?  Yeah, man, any and all, all right...mashed potatoes and gravy...and this gravy was smokin', man...S-M-O-K-I-N...I'm talkin' thick, creamy, salty, peppery...dropped on top of those fresh-peeled-boiled-and-mashed spuds like a cheerleader on a quarterback, all right...


Fried sides?  Can't decide?  Get 'em all...you got to eat what Artie Gordo wants to eat.  Okra...fries...rings...you got to know they do it right here, man...hot, crunchy, salty...may even sop up a little of that chicken fat in the fryer for a little soul, all right all right...

Burger...grilled over charcoal, man, the only way to do it, alll right...this number four is the 1976 version of the Big Mac, my man, and what Ronald McDonald no-doubt wants that Big Mac to be to-DAY, man...I'm talkin' two charcoal grilled patties...ripe with flavor....melted American cheese, special sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion...this thing is hot, this thing is big, and this thing tastes great...just wish they had crisper lettuce and ripe tomatoes...I'd be a lot cooler if they did...but who cares, I'm not here for a salad.

That's what I love about these drive-ins, man.  I get older, they serve the same food...

Off to the Moontower

Atmosphere:  old school, mellow, cruise in, drive-in, counter service, indoor seating, sit-in-your-car-and-push-the-button seating, carry-out, throwback, place for a date when you're to young to hit Centennial, THE place to pick up redheads, all right all right

Food:  classic man, burgers, fries, rings, fried chicken and fixin's

Dog Friendly:  you got to do what you got to do

Crowd:  me, Randall Pink Floyd, Slater-son, little Mitch Kramer, and redheads, man, I love those redheads

When to Go:  lunch, dinner, anytime you want my man, anytime you want

What to Order:  you got to order what you want to order, but get the fried chicken or a number four, all right all right...

24 Diner - Austin, TX

Alright, this is long overdue, but I've had a chance to eat at 24 Diner a few times in the last three weeks, so here goes...

24 reasons I love 24 Diner:

24:  Wait for your table while browsing the vinyl at Waterloo Records

23:  Short walk from the bars of West 6th, and more importantly, from my house

22:  Full bar and a great value wine list

21:  Hotchicks

20:  One of the best weekend hangover brunches in town

19:  Square cups

18:  Bloody Marys and Micheladas

17:  Deviled eggs with bacon on arugula with lemon vinaigrette

16:  Full Bar

15:  Macaroni and Cheese

14:  Incredible scenery

13:  Chicken and Waffles

12:  Sassy yet classy service

11:  On-Site ATM

10:  Meatloaf Sandwich

9:  They willingly serve drunks...food

8:  Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Sweet Brown Gravy

6:  Grilled Cheese

You know what one looks like

5:  Egg Sandwich

4:  Full Bar

3:  Bar Seating

2:  Open whenever you want to go there


1:  Full Bar

Hey, nobody said I could count

Louie's - Dallas, TX

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.

http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/03/louies-dallas-tx.html

Summary

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.  

Capitol Pub - Dallas, TX

Friday was about perfect in Dallas as far as weather was concerned, so I grabbed the dogs and headed over to Capitol Pub again to meet a friend for lunch.  

Got the Capitol Burger this time, and I recommend you do the next time you go.

This burger is fantastic.  Thick patty of flavorful ground beef with a char-grilled flavor which oozes juice with every bite.  Served on a soft, toasted bun with dijon mustard, bacon, caramelized onions, with your choice of Maytag blue or Cotswold cheese.  I love a bacon and blue burger, but it's not often that you find the herb laced Cotswold offered on a burger, so I went with it and wasn't disappointed.  Onions are cooked to the point of being sweet and soft, which contrasts perfectly with the sharp cheese and smoky, crisp bacon.  

I think I've mentioned the fries here before, but I'll do it again because they are awesome.  Fried and tossed with parsley and fresh, chopped garlic, they scream with flavor, AND be sure to get a dipping sauce or two with them, they have several to choose from.  I opted for the french onion and the traditional curry.  The french onion was a very mild carmelized onion and sour cream mix, which was good but frankly think I'll reserve for potato chips.  The curry was an excellent blend of sweet and spicy with strong curry flavoring and the consistency of a whole grain mustard.  Went excellent with the fries and was a good option to slather on a bite or two of the burger.  

I wish Capitol Pub was open every day for lunch, particularly in this short window of nice weather we have down here before the heat kicks in.  But alas, only on Fridays during the week, so head that way and get your fill on Friday, and roll it into happy hour.  Selection of beers, both by the bottle and on tap are excellent, with a full range of styles and countries represented.  

Summary

Atmosphere:  upscale pub, indoor and outdoor seating both covered and uncovered, bar seating, see and be seen, great place on a nice day, great place for happy hour, great place for beer, good for groups, good place for a visitor to grab a bite and drink solo

Food:  upscale pub, appetizers, burgers and sandwiches

Dog Friendly:  yes

When to Go:  lunch (Fridays and Saturdays), happy hour, dinner, late

Crowd:  20somethings, 30somethings, trendsters, yuppies, douchers, cougars, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of dudes, mixed groups, students

What to Order for the First Timer:  Capitol Burger with fries

G'Raj Mahal - Austin, TX

For you to really appreciate this review and my feelings on this place, let me give you a brief history of my life.

I grew up in the slums of Mumbai with my brother, got locked in an outhouse, dove in poop, met a movie star, got his autograph, met a girl, ran away from cops, lost girl, got a hundred bucks, drank a Coke, found girl, begged for money, almost got my eye burned out, lost girl, rode on top of trains, found girl again, worked for her boss, lost girl again, worked for Time Life books, found girl again, got on a game show, got tortured, won twenty million rupees, met girl again at train station, danced with strangers, moved to Austin.  So you can imagine how excited I was to find G'Raj Mahal here in Austin, where I could finally get some good Indian food in a city with working plumbing.

Well, anyway, enough about me.

I finally made it over to G'Raj Mahal the other night, after hearing really great things about it.  Over in the Rainey Street district, this place is a food truck, but is much more a restaurant.  Entirely outside, with covered and uncovered tables, this is not one of those trucks you just walk up to and order at.  Rather, you see the hostess, she seats you, they bring you a menu and water, your order, they bring your food to the table, you eat, then they bring you a bill.

As far as atmosphere, this is the cream of the crop of Austin food truck scene.  Like I said, it's really more of a restaurant.  The trailer in back is visible, with a few long tables out front of it with the register, hostess, water, waiters, and all of the other things you'd find at a restaurant.  The "dining room" if you want to call it that, which I will, has a plethora of tables, each with a lit candle on it, in a nice setting under a silk curtain lined roof complete with ceiling fans.  It's an awesome spot that is fine to eat at, rain or shine.

As for the food, the menu contains a full range of authentic Indian appetizers and entrees, with your selection of meat for the various curries and kabobs, which are all very well described on the menu.  I opted to go with some garlic naan bread, lamb rogan josh, and a side of their raita, a seasoned homemade yogurt with carrots, scallions, cucumbers, and things of the like in it, which is similar to a Greek tziziki.

I've heard complaints about price and portion size here, but I have to disagree, I think it's a fine ratio, albeit pricier than I had growing up with mom and Jamal.  All of my food came out at once, which was great because it was all eaten together, and it was slightly more than I could comfortably eat by myself.

The garlic naan was fantastic.  Thin, light and crisp, this flap of dough was perfectly pan grilled, and covered, just covered, with chopped fresh garlic.  It worked perfect as a carrier for the rest of the meal, and I recommend at least a couple orders of it for the table.

The rogan josh was served separate from the rice in a styrofoam bowl, with the rice coming in a separate bowl of the like in equal proportion.  I ordered mine really spicy, and they, unlike so many Thai places around that don't, were more than happy to oblige, and they did an incredible job of nuking this stuff with Indian peppers and spices.  Chiles are eaten across the world in hot weather climates to cause you to sweat, thereby cooling your body down, and this dish did just that.

The flavor and heat of this dish was just excellent.  I don't know just how many ingredients go into rogan josh, but you can tell it is quite a few, which comes together in perfect harmony with incredible layers and depth of flavor.  My only knock on it was the lamb itself.  While having that unique lamb taste, the meat was like little bricks.  Lean and dense, but not chewy at all, it was not like the tender slow roasted melt in your mouth kind that I like and would have expected.  Still though, the flavor of the dish itself overcame the execution on the meat fivefold, and you won't hear any complaints out of me, nor will this keep me from getting it again.  I would recommend to anyone getting this to also get the raika, as it has a cooling effect, both in temperature and spiciness, while also adding some crunch if you drizzle it on each bite of naan-scooped rice and josh.  Perfect combination.

They do offer desert, and as sweat poured from the top of my head, I decided to go with some of their homemade cardamom ice cream, which came out in a pre-packaged little plastic container with some nuts and dried fruit crumbled on top.  The flavor was great, very mild, but the pre-packaging and refreezing did it no justice, as it combatted fiercely with my biodegradable spoon.  The temperature and packaging did it no justice and doesn't allow you to really appreciate the subtle flavors, as it never really gets soft, getting soupy on the outside and staying rock hard in the middle.  If it's ice cream you're looking for and craving, you'd be better off venturing over to Amy's, but this is a nice thing they offer to help you regulate your temperature after a spicy Indian meal.

I'll be returning here often enough to try out other items on the menu, revisiting the rogan josh fairly regularly though.  Last night was an early dinner, and I was flying solo, so I didn't have anything to drink, but like most food trucks in town, this one is BYOB but with a much better atmosphere to enjoy it in, and I can't wait to revisit with a bottle of good wine.

Summary

Atmosphere:   food truck/restaurant, outdoor seating both covered and uncovered, good for a date, good place to start or end an evening of drinking at the neighboring bars, good for groups

Food:  Indian

Dog Friendly:  yes

When to Go:  dinner, late

Crowd:  hipsters, 20somethings, 30somethings, old people, REAL Indians

What to Order for the First Timer:  naan bread, rogan josh with meat of your choice, raita

Haddington's Menu Update - Austin, TX

Stopped into Haddington's last night to have a cocktail, with the primary purpose of checking out the new menu.

I was relieved to see the menu hadn't changed all that much, it's the same high end pub food consisting primarily of meats and fish with just minor modifications.

Gone are some of the more UK items like lamb pie, lamb sandwich, rabbit fricassee, British meatballs and much to my dismay, the foie link, replaced with some more traditional additions of fish, including a fish of day, and more American meat like beef, pork and chicken.  While all of those others were absolutely fantastic, I'm guessing they didn't appeal to all customers, and were therefore slow movers, so no doubt they are making room for dishes of the same quality but which may be more popular here.

The toast pots, Scotch eggs, fish and chips, and strip steaks are all still there, as well as the stew of the day and the soup of the day, so my opinion of this place hasn't changed a bit.  It's still fantastic.

Also, as they do periodically, the drink menu has some new items on it, and I was happy to see Tiffany's Stranger on the Highway has officially hit the menu.  A rye based concoction with marischino, bitters and a couple of other tasty ingredients, this drink is as smooth as Mr. Bean in a psych ward.

Cheers.

Summary:

Atmosphere - good place for the solo traveler, good place to belly up, good place to go with a group, good place to take a date, good place to meet after work, good place to meet new people, no tvs

Food - Excellent, Upscale English

Time to Go - happy hour, for dinner, or after dinner for drinks

Crowd - primarily 20somethings and 30somethings, groups of dressed up girls, groups of dressed up guys, mixed groups, attractive affluents, hotchicks, Irish hooligans

What to Order if You're a First Timer - Foie Gras Link, Duck Meatloaf, Fish & Chips, Duck Liver Mousse Toast Pot

Dog Friendly - most likely not despite outdoor area which you have to go inside first to get to

Zig Zag Cafe - Seattle, WA

Down some stairs toward the Puget Sound from the famous Pike Place Market...

...is the Zig Zag Cafe.  Home to this man, Murray Stenson, Best Bartender in America last year as named by his fellow bartenders around the country...

My teriyaki lunch came at around two in the afternoon, so dinner was going to be a later one.  At the recommendation of a friend, I wandered around until I found this place, to grab a cocktail or two before dinner.  The evening started out a little shaky.  With my iPhone in hand and Google Maps on the screen, I swear I was standing in the place, but I was out on the street in the pouring rain with no sight of a bar in sight.  It took the website to figure out which stairs to walk down, which I finally found.  Opening the door, I was first greeted...well, blocked actually...with a velvet rope, and a "how many?" while I continued to stand outside in the rain.  Looking past the gentleman at the door, through the red glow of this cocktail bar, I could see it was a good crowd, but certainly not packed.  I rolled my eyes, answered "one", and was told to hang on for a second.   The attendant surveyed the room, and invited me in, indicating that he had a seat for me available.  The "seat" was a standing spot at a short wooden table, more like a rail, with four complete strangers, all of which were just as oddly struck by this procedure and their seemingly final destination as I was.  Unsure of whether or not to walk two feet to the bar, or wait for a waitress, I was about ready to abort, when I was greeted with a cocktail menu and a "what would you like?".

I ordered one of their house cocktails, a mixture of rye, cherry heering, and Angostura bitters.  As I waited for my drink at my little spot of rail, I was once again approached by the velvet rope keeper and was informed that should I want it, they had a spot at the bar reserved for me.  Hell.  Yes.

I was greeted by Mr. Stenson at the bar and had nice conversations about a variety of spirits and cocktails.  Given my affinity for absinthe, he introduced me to a couple that I hadn't had, allowing me to sample an original recipe from Pernod, as well as a local absinthe made in Washington state, and then made me an absinthe julep, which is a relatively unknown use of absinthe but was popular a long, long time ago.

He's the kind of bartender that loves to size up your tastes, and can, and then whips you up a classic cocktail that fits the bill.  My next drink was just that.  Morning Glory.  Rye, sweet vermouth, cognac, orange curacao and absinthe.  Sweetness of a Manhattan, smoothness of a Vieux Carre, and bite of a Sazerac, all wrapped into one.  He nailed it.

Oh, and here's a funny side note.  In our conversations, I mentioned I lived in Austin, and he asked me if I'd been to Haddington's, that he'd heard great things.  For those of you new to the blog, yes.  Haddington's is one of my favorite watering holes, and I'm glad to see that it's getting recognition not only from 2,500 miles away, but by somebody in the know, the best bartender in America.

As far as food, there is some, along the lines of appetizers and sandwiches, but go here for the cocktails, and try to get a seat at the bar.  Great atmosphere and great drinks.

Summary

Atmosphere:  classic cocktail bar, good for a pre- or post-dinner drink, good place for a date, good spot to belly up

Food:  cocktails

Dog Friendly:  no

When to Go:  happy hour, late

Crowd:  young and old, somewhat dressy, locals, only a few touristy types despite the location

What to Order for the First Timer:  talk to Murray

The Peached Tortilla - Austin, TX

Oh Wow

Is this place ever incredible. This is a food truck to seek out, at any point but it really hits the spot after an evening at the bars and you can usually find it late on weekend evenings parked inconspicuously behind Star Bar on west 6th. The first time I saw this and had it was several weeks ago when some friends were in town and we were imbibing at it's next door neighbor. A combined 700 pounds of us (just three of us) were in desperate need of a food fix and The Peached Tortilla was a convenience call, and I had full expectations of it serving up overpriced and underwhelming food trying to capitalize on the trendy drunk freespenders of this upscale watering hole.

WRONG

My hopes heightened when I looked at the menu and saw it full of incredible combinations of half snack, half meal items focused on tacos, sliders and fries all of the fusion persuasion, though no set genre. Still though, I couldn't help but think, are they just teasing me with items like pork belly tacos and sliders, pimento cheese fries, and brisket tacos, or would they produce. Well they produce. They produce some of the best trailer food in a city full of trailers, which is why last night in a haze of Makers Mark I dragged MLWMG out of our way to go there for some tasty treats. Once again, they did not disappoint.

We started with an order of Belgian Fries, and I left it to them as to what to serve or toss them with...peach mint, truffle mayo, bacon ranch, smoky roasted peach BBQ, sriracha mayo, or their own pimento cheese spread. They chose the latter. Dark deep fried fries not overly doused with a terrific pimento cheese spread and served in a cardboard tray perfect for eating on the run. These things were incredible and the perfect way to sop up any excess liquor still trying to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

From there we opted to sample a few of the other items, first and foremost the bahn mi tacos. Vietnamese braised pork belly with pickled daikon and carrot salad, sriracha mayo and cilantro. The pork was incredibly tender and flavorful and though certainly laden with fat, not greasy or fatty feeling at all. The daikon and carrot salad was a perfect compliment to it, adding a crisp, fresh, and cool crunch to the taco, as well as a cooling effect to the spicy sriracha mayo. I daresay this is probably the best trailer item in town. Mrs. Gordo was very impressed, as was I.

We decided to compare it to the slider of the same name, which was exactly the same, with same great flavors and textures, but served on a small, fresh, warm bun. Incredible too, though I think I'm partial to the taco version. We rounded it out with the BBQ brisket taco, a mix of tender-as-all-hell beef brisket, creamy slaw and a smoky roasted peach BBQ sauce. Do I really need to tell you how it was? Alright I will. IT WAS DAMN GOOD!

These guys really know what they're doing, and I urge you to hit their website, figure out where they are, and seek them out wherever they are when you're in the mood for a sampling of highly innovative and perfectly executed cuisine for lunch, dinner, snacking or late night. I know there is fantastic food truck fare in Austin, but for all I've had so far, this one marks the top of my list.

Summary

Atmosphere: food truck, no seating

Food: southern, Mexican, BBQ, Asian, Belgian fusion

Dog Friendly: it's a truck

When to Go: after the bars, lunch, dinner

Crowd: the sober-challenged, locals, trendsters, hipsters, 20somethings, 30somethings

What to Order for the First Timer: bahn mi tacos and pimento cheese fries

Bar 96 / Ms. P's Electric Cock - Austin, TX

Two Words:  Tailgate.  In.  A.  House

Yep.

Skee Ball.  Ring Game.  Cornhole.  Dogs allowed inside and out.  Hotchicks inside and out.  TVs inside and out.  Fried chicken.

All we're missing is the game.  Which is just fine.

Yeah, this place is great.  Down in the Rainey Street district, this is a fantastic bar to sit outside, drink beers, play games, and watch whatever games are on.  And while it may not look like there's food available, there's plenty of it, with Ms. P's Electric Cock serving up fresh fried chicken and upscale country sides out back, Mexican food across and down the street at Lustre Pearl and El Naranjo which you can bring in, as well as G'Raj Mahal (Indian) and Cazamance (African) on the same block, also able to be brought in while you enjoy your drinks on a great outdoor porch surrounding a renovated old house turned bar and watch whatever is on the tube.

Dogs.  This place and the people who run it and work there love dogs.  And here are ours enjoying their evening there, sober of course...

They're welcome inside and out, they set out water for them and have a canister of treats, and the place sets up well for them.  After a decent walk to the place, if that's what you choose, your pup can conk out on the wooden deck without getting covered in dirt.  Head out back and there is a large dirt lot where the cornhole games are played and picnic tables are set up, and your dog can run a round a little and get dirty.

And this, folks, is where Ms. P and her Electric Cock trailer is set up.  So look left, look right, make sure you don't get hit with a flying bean bag, and head over to put in your order.

We decided earlier to go with something healthy for dinner, but opted instead for convenience, and split a three piece dark with some truffled macaroni and cheese on the side.  Truffled macaroni and cheese seems to be at a whole lot of places these days, which as a macaroni and cheese lover, I am grateful for, but most seem to be of the white cheese variety.  Ms. P's, however, has that rich sharp cheddar flavor with even an underlying hint of worcestershire or something of the sort giving it almost a meaty, hearty quality, with a drizzle of truffle oil rounding it out.  Listed on the menu as breaded, deep fried, and served on a stick, ours actually came in casserole form, topped with breadcrumbs, and if I were Ms. P, I'd keep it just like that, because it was excellent.

WARNING:  This chicken is not crispy.  But then again, neither is the Colonel's, and how many heads has he chopped off in his tenure to please his adoring public?   Simply put, it works.  Why?  Great flavor and plenty of meat.  This meal takes you right back to that tailgate, and hits the spot after several beers in the hot sun.

Additionally, Electric Cock t-shirts are available for just $5, so come on down, have some beers, eat some chicken, get your t-shirt and wear it around town to help Ms. P's marketing campaign.  She's a great lady serving up some good food.

Summary

Atmosphere: renovated old house turned bar, games, televisions inside and out, plenty of outdoor seating  and space inside which is really open to the outside just sheltered, good for groups, good for an afternoon of drinking, good place to meet up with old and new friends, good place to hit on a bar hopping tour of Rainey Street, and a good place to belly up alone

Food:  fried chicken

Dog Friendly:  buddy, more than you can imagine

When to Go:  happy hour, dinner time, late

Crowd:  mix of hipsters, preppies, old guys, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of guys, groups of girls and guys, drunks

What to Order for the First Timer:  fried chicken and macaroni and cheese

Capitol Pub - Dallas, TX

Eighty and sunny last Friday, so I took the dogs and met a friend of mine for a late lunch and afternoon beers at this mainstay of the up and coming Henderson restaurant and bar district.  

Great spot for a Friday afternoon.  Large porch with ample seating, and unlike most of the places with outdoor seating in Dallas which are hampered by certain ordinances and procedures that DON'T allow dogs, this place welcomes them with open arms and bowls of water.  The outdoor seating around the side is covered, and also had a tv if you want to catch a particular game.  Inside, there are a variety of tables, community tables, bar seating, and dart boards, so there is something here for everyone, rain or shine.  

This place has a great pub feel but comfortably accommodates the crowds that hit it on the weekends.  They've got a great selection of beers on draft and also in the bottle, and feature upscale pub fare which has never disappointed me.  

I've been on a Belgium kick the last several months, so started with a Maredsous 8, which they've got on tap and serve in the proper glass, and then I focused on what to order, which was a difficult task because this is a good menu.  What I did know is that I wanted whatever I got to come with fries, because their fries are awesome.  Lightly seasoned, fried perfectly to the point of browning, with a soft crunch on first bite and then a steaming soft center, topped with kosher salt and parsley and served HOT.  So I narrowed it down to the Cuban Sandwich, the toasted Ham and Gruyere, and the Reuben, and stopped all decision-making at that point and let our waitress surprise me.

What I really wanted, and what I'd recommend anyone visiting for the first time get, is the Capitol Burger.  They do it really well.  A sirloin burger with hickory smoked bacon, caramelized onion, dijon mustard and choice of Maytag blur or Cotswold cheese, cooked to your liking and served with those fries.  After my last couple of weeks of eating though, I just couldn't bring myself to go with a gut-busting burger.  

I was happy with her choice for me, the Cuban:

Slow roasted pork, bacon, pickles, cheddar, swiss and spicy mustard on a pressed hoagie roll.  Ok, so it's not perfectly authentic and doesn't have the caribbean hot sauce served with it that I love so much, but this is a good sandwich.  There are two things that I particularly like about it.  One, they advertise it as slow roasted pork, which lots of places serving Cubans do, but rarely deliver on.  While the sliced pork loin may have been slow roasted before it was packaged and shipped to other places, this place appears to do it on their own, and from the fattier shoulder as opposed to the loin.  This sandwich contains good sized pieces of seasoned pork, which appear to have been slow cooked, pulled, and then seasoned with thyme and some other things and finished on the flat top.  It could have been a little more tender, but it was good for this sandwich nonetheless.  The other thing I really liked was the pickle.  Normally on these types of sandwiches you end up with the lengthwise sliced, soggy dill that you find on the shelf at the grocery store, but at Capitol Pub they go over to the refrigerated section, grab the never-heated, always cold processed, crispy Claussen dill pickle chips.  And they.    work.    great on this sandwich, providing a refreshing coolness and crisp snap to every bite, they break the monotony of the heat and meltyness of the meats and cheeses on this thing.  Oh, and the bread is great here too, not too generic, not too soft and not to hard, and makes this thing something worth ordering.

Summary

Atmosphere:  upscale pub, indoor and outdoor seating both covered and uncovered, bar seating, see and be seen, great place on a nice day, great place for happy hour, great place for beer, good for groups, good place for a visitor to grab a bite and drink solo

Food:  upscale pub, appetizers, burgers and sandwiches

Dog Friendly:  yes

When to Go:  lunch (Fridays and Saturdays), happy hour, dinner, late

Crowd:  20somethings, 30somethings, trendsters, yuppies, douchers, cougars, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of dudes, mixed groups, students

What to Order for the First Timer:  Capitol Burger with fries

Czech Stop - West, TX

At Exit 353 between Dallas and Austin straddling I-35 lies a small Czech community which contains perhaps the best snack in the state of Texas.

For a small town touting several authentic Czech bakeries, the single best item is at a gas station, right off the interstate.

I give you...

...drum roll please...

...the Hot Chubbie with Cheese

Don't even get me started on the name.  It's one of the reasons, but not the reason, that you order it with cheese, so that you don't have to say to the girl behind the counter, "give me a hot chubbie"...which may leave you wondering..."IS IT, OR ISN'T IT"?

These things used to have a name you could be proud of, Czech Stop Hots, which were nearly identical to the Chubbies, but the sausage was cut in half lengthwise, so you just got half.  Somewhere along the line, the old Czech ladies making these things got lazy, stopped cutting them, upped the price, and changed the name to something quite ridiculous, despite the fact that the CSH's half-sausage made that kolache the perfect size, gave it the perfect meat to cheese to pastry ratio (M:C:P), and helped the whole thing stay together better.  (I've raised this with them, and it was very, very clear that they didn't give a damn what I thought)   Anyway, sorry...the real reason you order it with cheese is because the cheese is the some of the most perfect processed American cheese that I've ever had.  I don't know whether it's Velveeta, Land O'Lakes Extra Melt Yellow, or some top secret government cheese that they've gotten their hands on, but it stays melted once heated and provides the perfect flavor and texture to go with the sweetness and softness of the buns and the snap and the heat of the sausage (WHOOOOAAAA!  IS IT, OR ISN'T IT?)

And the cheese isn't the only great part of these things.  One of the things that really makes a Chubbie are the sweet, soft buns (what?), which despite being melt in your mouth soft, do really well in contain the spicy sausage (huh?).  The sausage is homemade, and has great flavor and pretty substantial, but not overbearing, heat.  These ingredients come together perfectly, and it's the ultimate road food too.  This Chubbie is self-contained, not messy at all, and fills you up.  If you're going to eat it on the road, ask them to heat it up, but you can also get them boxed up to go, or even frozen.  They're all great, and allow you to have a Chubbie at home!

Now, as many times as I've stopped in this place, I've had a chance to try most of their kolaches.  Here's what they've got:

From a traditional fruit kolache point of view, I'm guessing you're going to get more authentic and probably better kolaches a half mile away in town, as well as some of the traditional non-fruit kolaches.  Try them here if you want, but don't come here for them.

Simply put, when you stop here, get the Hot Chubbie with Cheese.  There are other ones that are pretty good, and which I still sometimes get in addition to a HCwC...poppy seed, sausage swiss and kraut, jalapeno sausage with cheese, sausage with cheese, and breakfast sausage with cheese (runner up to the HCwC, and one I get on morning drives)...but I always come back for a Chubbie, which stands much taller than all the rest.

Summary

Atmosphere:  gas station, bakery, cleaner bathrooms on the bakery side, better drink selection on the gas station side

Food:  kolaches, pastries, sandwiches

When to Go:  every single time you get to exit 353 on I-35

Crowd:  it's a gas station, does it really matter?

What to Order for the First Timer:  Hot Chubbie with Cheese, or two

Lucky's Puccia - Austin, TX

Ended up at Lucky's last night after a failed mission to Whole Foods, which was a lucky break for us because it was a nice evening out, and Lucky had The Black Shades playing on the stage next to him.

So here's why we ended up there.  I decided that I was in the mood for some sort of salad or something of the sort, which is completely out of character for me, but which I felt like was necessary given the damage SXSW has done to me this week, and the fact that I'd had Dirty's for lunch.

My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo was in the mood for noodles, so we decided to walk over to Whole Foods to tackle their salad bar and udon/soba/noodle bar.  We started by checking out all of the food joints inside of Whole Foods and that's when we noticed a creature that we've seen before at other Whole Foods and Central Markets, the Brontosampler.

Easily identifiable, these are generally disheveled looking, often overweight beasts who push a completely empty cart around the various food bars sampling different food items, which in the eyes of the law and of the Whole Foods corporation probably is illegal, but is certainly frowned upon with extreme prejudice.  Generally these beasts are harmless, exercising sanitary procedures of using different cups, plates and utensils to sample each item.  The one last night was a bit different.  When we caught her, she had a small plastic 1.5 inch diameter translucent plastic cup with at least a half a pound of mashed potatoes in it.  Clearly there to get her fill, we followed her to the soup bar as she finished her starch and watched as she perused the soups evaluating her next kill.  She settled on a creamy mushroom soup and to our utter dissatisfaction, she opted to do the environmentally friendly thing and reuse her cup and spoon.  This wouldn't have been a huge issue except that with her massive front legs she filled the cup over the soup kettle until it was full, but then kept going, spilling large amounts of it back into the kettle.  Part two of this disgusting act included her bringing the overflowing cup to her mouth where she licked the entire outside of the cup over the soup kettle.  Who knows how many other times she'd done this prior.   At this point we decided to wander, checked out the entire store, and then came back, where she was at the salad bar at it again, with the same cup and spoon, albeit now with a small audience of security and employees passively trying to give her the hint that she shouldn't be doing this.  Thankfully, she recognized this and got a plate, where she loaded up on mashed potatoes and other hot food, which she continued to graze without paying before sneaking out.  With all of this we opted not to graze on the bars where she'd been, and headed to the noodle stand instead, where they were taking out the trash, which is when we said to ourselves this just wasn't right, and headed across the street to Lucky's.

Much better.  I opted for the off-the-menu pastrami special, with a gooey mix of four cheeses, mushrooms, and onions pasted with chipotle aioli.  MLWMG opted for the lighter and equally as good Lucky's Puccia, stacked with prosciutto, fresh mozzerella, tomato, and greens with basil oil, served on the same fresh baked pizza oven bread, which is what makes these sandwiches so good.  As usual, these were fantastic, and fit the bill of what we were looking for.  Thank you you massive beast, for forcing us out of the grocery store and toward a great dinner, which we enjoyed with cheap beers from the Tiniest Bar in Texas while listening to some great live music outside.

Summary

Atmosphere:  food stand, outdoor bar seating with live music

Food:  authentic, oven baked Italian sandwiches

Dog Friendly:  yes

When to Go:  lunch, happy hour, dinner, late

Crowd:  music lovers, mixed groups, hipsters, neighbors, no dinosaurs

What to Order for the First Timer:  pastrami puccia, lucky's puccia

Happy St. Patrick's Day - Austin, TX

Today's review of last night's celebratory fish and chips dinner at Haddington's comes to you from a good friend of mine from northern Ireland:

Gaelic for "that was damn good"

Summary:

Atmosphere - good place for the solo traveler, good place to belly up, good place to go with a group, good place to take a date, good place to meet after work, good place to meet new people, no tvs

Food - Excellent, Upscale English

Time to Go - happy hour, for dinner, or after dinner for drinks

Crowd - primarily 20somethings and 30somethings, groups of dressed up girls, groups of dressed up guys, mixed groups, attractive affluents, hotchicks, Irish hooligans

What to Order if You're a First Timer - Foie Gras Link, Duck Meatloaf, Fish & Chips, Duck Liver Mousse Toast Pot

Dog Friendly - most likely not despite outdoor area which you have to go inside first to get to