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Thanksgiving at Austin restaurants
The November issue of Bon Appetit magazine dedicated its “Hot Ten” list to restaurant Thanksgiving spots, and Austin’s Driskill Grill (604 Brazos St. 391-7162, www.driskillgrill.com) made the cut:
“At this beloved farm-to-table treasure, free-range hot smoked turkey wows with quince puree and sourdough sage stuffing. There is lobster on the menu for those who don’t need the usual turkey.”
Here are a few more Austin restaurant options for Thanksgiving Day, which is Nov. 26. I’ll add to this list as more places roll in.
• Cannoli Joe’s (4715 U.S. 290 W., 892-4444, www.cannolijoes.com): Buffet includes turkey, pumpkin gnocchi, turkey cacciatore, candied yams, pumpkin cheesecake and its regular Italian dishes. $17.99, $5.99 for children 4-12, free for 3 and younger. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• The Carillon (AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave., 404-3689, www.meetattexas.com): Buffet features charcuterie, cheeses, smoked fish, roasted turkey, sourdough dressing, smoked duck pozole and more. $36.95, $16.95 for children 12 and younger. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Cru: A Wine Bar (238 W. Second St., 472-9463; 11410 Century Oaks Terrace at the Domain, 339-9463; www.cruawinebar.com): Three-course dinner. Appetizer choices include sweet-potato tortelloni and lamb tamales. Among the main courses are turkey, beef tenderloin, lamb, or salmon. Dessert options include pumpkin pie and chocolate lava cake. $32, half-price for children younger than 12. Noon to 9 p.m.
• Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant (834 Kramer Lane, 490-1426, www.fortuneaustin.com): Full dim sum cart service. Prices vary. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Four Seasons Hotel Austin (98 San Jacinto Blvd., 685-8300, www.fourseasons.com): Buffet options include salads, pastas, pastries, pates, crab claws, sushi, roasted turkey, prime rib, wild-mushroom dressing and desserts. $75 at Trio, $68 in the ballroom, $20 children 6-11, free for children 5 and younger. 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Hyatt Regency Lost Pines (575 Hyatt Lost Pines Road, Lost Pines, 512-308-4860): Buffet including turkey, ham, oysters, omelets and a dessert bar. $47, $23.50 children 4-12, free for 3 and younger. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• SWB (208 Barton Springs Road in the Hyatt Regency Austin hotel, 480-2035, www.austin.hyatt.com): Buffet with complimentary champagne. Choices include pates, cheeses, crab legs, shrimp, sushi, breakfast favorites, sushi, sea bass, prime rib, turkey and desserts. $52, $27 children 4-12, free for 3 and younger. 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• III Forks (111 Lavaca St., 474-1776, www.iiiforks.com): Options for the four-course meal include tomato-basil soup, III Forks salad, roasted turkey, Chateaubriand, pumpkin pie cake and bourbon pecan pie. $42.95, $14.95 for children younger than 12. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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25 Great Dishes: Coffee-rubbed New York Strip at the Carillon
READ THE 4-STAR REVIEW OF THE CARILLON HERE.
There are almost too many players in this dish from Josh Watkins, chef of the Colosseum-sized University of Texas hotel restaurant: roasted parsnips, candied garlic, mesquite syrup made in-house, caramelized lemon and thick, perfectly mid-rare slices of steak with a subtle roasty bitterness from the coffee.
But instead of tearing the dish apart, that roster of superstar ingredients makes a solid team, with the gossamer garlic as a cheerleader.
AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at UT, 1900 University Ave. 404-3689, www.meetattexas.com.
(American-Statesman photo by Ricardo B. Brazziell)
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On the radio at KGSR
What a great Thursday morning with KGSR’s Bryan Beck, KVUE meteorologist Mark Murray and Tasty Touring blogger Jodi Bart.
We talked about the Austin360 Dining Guide, food trailers (Hat Creek, Izzoz Tacos, El Primo, Sweetie Pies), eating snails and octopus, a drink that tastes like Pine-Sol smells, restaurant service and why it’s important to stay anonymous.
If you’re curious at all to hear the segment or to see my latest disguise, see the Tasty Touring report here.
Thanks, Jodi, Bryan and Mark. Can’t wait to do it again.
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25 Great Dishes: Costillas de Puerco at La Condesa
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
If this whole upscale Mexican street food thing doesn’t work out, La Condesa chef Rene Ortiz could always find work as a barbecue pitmaster.
Seriously, his guava-glazed Costillas de Puerco are some of the best barbecued pork ribs in a city full of pedigreed pork ribs: three generous sections with a sweet, smoky glaze and meat that falls right off the bone, plated with dense, sweet plantains and a little bit of fresh white cheese.
400-A W. Second St. 499-0300, www.lacondesaaustin.com.
(American-Statesman photo by Deborah Cannon)
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Dining Guide glitch: Too many stars
UPDATE: The stars are back in alignment. The five-star glitch has been fixed.
The good news is that the Austin360 Dining Guide is up on austin360.com. The bad news is that a coding error has awarded five stars to almost every star-rated restaurant in the “25 Great Dishes” and “100 Places” categories.
And while I’d love to have a job covering that many five-star places, I haven’t awarded a perfect five to anybody just yet. Our Web people are working to get that fixed. I’ll keep you updated.
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25 Great Dishes: Counter Burger at the Counter Cafe
The sweet, buttery bun at this retro breakfast-and-luncheonette is so big it forms a toasty halo around the beef, like a toddler trying on Granddad’s porkpie hat.
Draped with melted Cheddar, the Rubenesque hand-formed patty works in juicy accord with Bibb lettuce, red onion and ripe tomato for a burger that can stand with the best in town. Try it with sweet-potato fries.
626 N. Lamar Blvd. 708-8800, www.thecountercafe.com.
(American-Statesman photos by Mike Sutter)
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25 Great Dishes: Raw oysters at Parkside
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
Raw oysters? Big deal. What does a restaurant — especially a minimalist wonder-bar and bistro like this — have to do to sell raw oysters?
You mean besides tracking down a dozen or more varieties of North American oysters daily, doing it in months with and without the letter ‘r,’ getting them shipped, cleaning the shells, shucking them and putting them on ice with horseradish and lemon?
How about making them (and champagne) half-price on Wednesdays? Done.
301 E. Sixth St. 474-9898, www.parkside-austin.com.
(American-Statesman photo by Mike Sutter)
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25 Great Dishes: Nynavae’s Tacos at Somnio’s Cafe
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
Two things come together well at the small and South Austin-funky Somnio’s: farmers’ market produce and rocking flavor.
Salads carry the names and personality tics of ‘Urban Cowboy’ characters. The waitress will open and pour the wine you bring from home. Carnivores and vegetarians get equal respect with custom stir-fry bowls.
But my kids and I fought the hardest over Nynavae’s Tacos, fresh corn tortillas folded around fried croquettes of chopped mushrooms, topped with crunchy cabbage and served with chips and fresh tomato salsa.
1807 S. First St. 442-2500, www.somnioscafe.com.
(Photo for the American-Statesman by Bret Gerbe)
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Forklore on KGSR this Thursday
Thursday morning (Nov. 5) at 8:15, I’ll be on KGSR (107.1 FM) talking with host Bryan Beck and Tasty Touring blogger Jodi Bart about the Austin360 Dining Guide, proving to both of them that I have a face for radio and a personality for print.
We’ll talk about Austin’s restaurant Newcomer of the Year, some of the 25 Great Dishes I’ve enjoyed this year, a few notable comeback stories and whatever else pops up about dining out in Austin. I may or may not wear a mask.
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Free fennel feast at Sagra
The menu includes a mixed-greens salad with orange and fennel, a fennel gratinati with cheese and potatoes a seafood stew called brodetto.
First-come, first-served. Dessert is $5, and drinks will be available for sale.
1610 San Antonio St. 535-5988, www.sagraaustin.com.
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Thanksgiving out: Restaurant dinners?
Is your restaurant planning a special dinner for Thanksgiving? Please e-mail it to me so I can get the word out to people who’d rather let someone else do the cooking. msutter@statesman.com.
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25 Great Dishes: Pastrami sandwich at Walton’s Fancy and Staple
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
A lot has been made of how actress and Austin regular Sandra Bullock is the money person behind this century-old stagecoach depot, restored and repurposed as a bakery, florist, coffeehouse and deli.
But you can’t slice fame and make a sandwich. You can, however, slice a big handful of lean pastrami and put it on some of the thickest, softest, crustiest rye bread in the city and wash it down with an artful cappuccino.
609 W. Sixth St. 542-3380, www.waltonsfancyandstaple.com.
(American-Statesman photo by Mike Sutter)
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Small bites: Rachael Ray, champagne, beer and charity
• Travis Poling will sign copies of his new book, “Beer Across Texas,” at the Draught House (4112 Medical Parkway) from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 7) as the Draught House celebrates its 41st anniversary.
• Music and wine personality Kermit Lynch will discuss wine and his new CD “Man’s Temptation” at Vino Vino (4119 Guadalupe St.) at 5 p.m. Monday (Nov. 9). $20. 465-9282.
• Roy’s of Austin, the Hawaiian-influenced seafood restaurant at 340 E. Second St., is hosting a five-course dinner with Moet & Chandon champagnes from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. $75. 391-1500, www.roysrestaurant.com.
• Elevation Burger, the Arboretum restaurant specializing in grass-fed beef and fries cooked in olive oil, will donate 10 percent of its proceeds through Sunday to the Junior League of Austin Fit program to supplement meals for schoolchildren. 9828 Great Hills Trail. 608-4054, www.elevationburger.com.
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Wine nights: Max’s and the Driskill
• Max’s Wine Dive at 207 San Jacinto Blvd. will host two events this weekend to raise funds for the Capital Area Food Bank.
On Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m., a wine dinner will pair multiple courses of food — including a lobster crepe, foie gras, scallop, rabbit cassoulet, short ribs and poached pears — with wine for $80.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, two tasting sessions (2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.) will include chances to sample more than 100 wines for $40 per session.
A combination ticket for the dinner and one tasting session is $110. Tickets at 904-0111 or www.austincellarclassic.com.
• A Night to Remember, a fundraiser for the Texas Wine and Food Foundation, will feature a four-course dinner plus hors d’oeuvres and wine pairings from chef Jonathan Gelman, winemaker Adam Lee and wine expert Ross Outon at the Driskill Hotel at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. $100. Reservations at 249-6300.
(American-Statesman photo by Mike Sutter)
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25 Great Dishes: Combination Noodle Soup at Chen’s Noodle House
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
Zhao Chen makes noodles by carving them from a living loaf of dough into boiling water, and no two are alike. The combination soup brings together pork, tofu, egg, black mushrooms, carrot, spinach, potato and cilantro in an aromatic beef broth in a big bowl with a low price.
8650 Spicewood Springs Road. 336-8888.
(American-Statesman photo by Mike Sutter)
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‘Yes We’re Open’ Report #4
• Open: Geaux Burger, a hamburger shop that until last week was Austin’s only Mooyah Burgers franchise. Owner Kyle McNabb said he ended his Mooyah affiliation to add what he calls a ‘sports package,’ with TVs and beer. The menu has grown to include grilled chicken sandwiches and different sauces, including honey-mustard and buffalo. In addition to using fresh beef, Geaux Burger has contracted with Sweetish Hill for custom-baked buns, McNabb said. 9070 Research Blvd., No. 303. 380-0990.
• Open: Garlic Breath Pizza Company, a take-out and delivery pizza shop with free delivery in Round Rock and more than 40 toppings, including such unusual options as Spam, sauerkraut and Doritos. 1711 N. Mays Street, Round Rock. 255-5500.
• Open: Apothecary, a coffee shop at 4800 Burnet Road, Suite 450. 371-1600, www.apothecaryaustin.com.
• Open: Spec’s, another outlet of the beer, wine, spirits and specialty food store at 13015 Shops Parkway in the Shops at the Galleria. 263-9981. www.specsonline.com.
• Open: Sprouts Farmers’ Market, a grocery store at 2805 Bee Caves Road. 439-5782, sprouts.com.
• Closed: Cookie Lounge, a bakery at 2222 Rio Grande St.
• Closed: Baby Greens, all three locations of the locally owned salad shop. On her blog, owner Sharon Mays said, “I haven’t given up on Baby Greens. This is only the end of this chapter. One never knows what the future may bring.”
(American-Statesman photo by Mike Sutter)
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25 Great Dishes: Blue Pizza from House Pizzeria
It’s a toss-up between the Margherita Extra and the Blue for the most alluring pie here.
Both have a crackling-crisp thin crust with just a little bit of chew and a firm edge.
If the margherita’s fresh basil, buffalo mozzarella and sweet tomato sauce were a pizza parlor Dream Team, then the Blue’s nutty twang of Stilton and sweet-and-sour notes of the port wine sauce would be the upstart Lithuanian squad.
And I love an underdog.
5111 Airport Blvd. 600-4999, www.housepizzeria.com.
(American-Statesman photo by Mike Sutter)
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25 Great Dishes: Veggie burger from P. Terry’s
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
Veggie burger from P. Terry’s
Finally, a veggie burger with big flavor and robust texture.
The patties are made locally from real foods, including brown rice, black beans, mushrooms, oats, bulgur wheat, cheese, eggs and spices.
The mushroom flavor comes through, but the wheat bun (worth the extra charge), lettuce, tomato, pickle and American cheese make it taste like a meal.
404 S. Lamar Blvd., 473-2217. Also at 3303 N. Lamar Blvd., 371-9975; and 4228 W. William Cannon Drive, 358-0380. www.pterrys.com.
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25 Great Dishes: Hanger steak Benedict from Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
Hanger steak Benedict from Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
What would a list like this be without a dish you can get only three hours a week?
The tightly packed and slightly unwieldy Sunday brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is a grand tour of Lamberts’ Southern accents: deviled eggs topped with caviar, Cheddar-poblano grits, maple and coriander-crusted barbecued ribs and brown-sugar brisket.
The hanger steak Benedict is made to order, a perfect square of tender, smoky grilled beef on an English muffin, topped with a quivering poached egg ready to burst, crowned with creamy-hot Tabasco hollandaise. Save room. Stop and savor.
401 W. Second St. 494-1500, www.lambertsaustin.com.
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25 Great Dishes: Fried barbacoa tacos from Taqueria Chapala
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
Fried barbacoa tacos from Taqueria Chapala
Like three of those Jack in the Box tacos, which I like, only filled with shredded, slightly gamey beef. Such is barbacoa. I wanted three more after that.
Each taco is wrapped in two corn tortillas then deep-fried, ‘dorados’ style. Served with sweet grilled onions, chopped onions and cilantro and a sinus-clearing grilled jalapeno pepper.
2101 E. Cesar Chavez St. 320-0308.
(American-Statesman photo by Mike Sutter)
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25 Great Dishes: Roasted chicken from Zoot
The Austin360 Dining Guide will hit the Web and the paper on Friday, Nov. 6. Here’s a preview from the 25 Great Dishes section of the guide, gleaned from more than 175 places I’ve visited in my first year as the American-Statesman’s restaurant critic.
Roasted chicken from Zoot
Like Bruce Springsteen, Stewart Scruggs has a problem. No matter how good the new stuff is, all some people want to hear is ‘Born to Run.’ For Scruggs, roast chicken is ‘Born to Run.’
He’s ceded the actual cooking of the dish to chef Andreas Exarhos at the relocated Zoot, but it’s still spectacular in its simplicity. The skin is slightly crisp, the meat bubbling with juices. Underneath, bitter kale plays textural counterpoint to a custardlike polenta base.
11715 Bee Cave Road, 477-6535, www.zootrestaurant.com.
(Photo for the American-Statesman by Erich Schlegel)
Latest comments
Don’t worry folks, this is gonna be HUGE. I’ve been enjoying Jack’s fabulous food for about 20 years now. South Austin needs a cool fun place with great food, service and atmosphere, and I know that Jack Allen’s Kitchen will provide
... read the full comment by txharleyman | Comment on Jack Gilmore leaving Z'Tejas to open Oak Hill restaurant Read Jack Gilmore leaving Z'Tejas to open Oak Hill restaurant
You have GOT to be kidding. What kind of free-food special have they given you? I have never been to a restaurant with such good intentions of serving fresh produce and executing dishes so poorly, including the one you mention.
... read the full comment by AdamM | Comment on 25 Great Dishes: Nynavae's Tacos at Somnio's Cafe Read 25 Great Dishes: Nynavae's Tacos at Somnio's Cafe
I LOVE Walton’s bread and their sandwiches. So awesome. Their cookies are the best in town too. However, I was disappointed by on of their soups and also by their breakfast tacos. Also, I was there for breakfast today and they didn’t have any
... read the full comment by Jodi | Comment on 25 Great Dishes: Pastrami sandwich at Walton's Fancy and Staple Read 25 Great Dishes: Pastrami sandwich at Walton's Fancy and Staple
Haven’t tried Waltons. Bess was a bust both times.
... read the full comment by Jessica Stern | Comment on 25 Great Dishes: Pastrami sandwich at Walton's Fancy and Staple Read 25 Great Dishes: Pastrami sandwich at Walton's Fancy and Staple
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