Update – Various Topics #2

This will be a quick post to provide an update on various topics… I think I’ve tweeted about these topics, but this post will provide a little bit more detail and I’ll update earlier posts related to each topic…

A bartender told us about Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, so we immediately bought a bottle or two or three of this delicious adult beverage.  We found it at Twin Liquors #9 on Burnet Rd, and I have also seen it at SPEC’s (along with other brands of sweet tea vodkas) … Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka is a tasty drink simply mixed with water, ice ,and a lemon or lime slice, but we also look forward to mixing it with many different beverages/flavors…

When the restaurant Mars closed on South Congress, we heard that a causal seafood restaurant would open in its place – we were very excited at the possibility… Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar has opened in the Mars space, and we finally went for brunch, and then last night for just oysters and cold beer… Bottom line – we love this place – My reason for saying we love this place this early in the post is because we have heard there have been mixed reviews and I didn’t want you to wonder what we thought… At brunch we had a dozen oysters, a fried soft shell crab BLT sandwich, and a shrimp po’boy – everything was very tasty… Last night we had one dozen of one type of oyster, and then a second dozen of another type of oyster – both were delicious and the beer was cold and tasty… Did I say we love this place…

A couple of Saturdays ago we finally went to the Screaming Goat Tacos y Cerveza for lunch… We like this place a lot… Very cool Austin vib… We had guac and chips and tacos stuff with different meats – everything was great… go to the link and checkout the menu – they also have burgers and other tasty treats… and daily cold beer specials too…

That’s it for now… as always comments are welcome… and enjoy Austin, TX…

SXSW09 – 20 Days Till SXSW – More Cool Places Near the Austin Convention Center (A Little Longer Walk)

Eddie V’s – Great Seafood and Steaks

Carmelo’s  - Old School Italian

Casino el Camino – One of the BEST burgers in town – go hungry, they’re big – My favorite Sixth St. bar.  Great bar for hanging/drinking with friends.

Enjoy, be safe, and have fun….  Comments welcome….

A Great Way to Spend a Saturday Afternoon in Austin, TX

For the first time in several months we went to the Continental Club yesterday afternoon for the 3PM matinee show. Redd Volkaert usually plays these Saturday shows, but yesterday James Hand played. James sounds like the second coming of Hank Sr. – James is very smooth. We forgot how much fun these afternoons can be. If you are ever in Austin over a weekend (and have the time), please do yourself a big favor and go to the 3PM matinee show at least once. To do the matinee show well, you need to plan lunch and maybe dinner around the matinee show timeframe. It is always a good thing to establish a food base before drinking. The doors of the Continental Club open at 3PM and the band generally start at 3:30PM. The bands play until 6:30PM (sometimes 7PM), and take at least two breaks. If you need/want a seat, we recommend that you get to the club early (between 3PM-3:45). If you like standing, then when you arrive doesn’t matter so much. Also, if you like to dance the matinee show is made for you; all the bands play music that will allow you to have some fun. The club even has a big jug cooler of ice water at the end of the bar near the dance floor so after scooting and twirling, you can cool down without bugging the waitress or bartenders for water.

Again, we recommend eating before and/or after the show. There are at least eight-ten places to grab a bite to eat within easy walking and parking distance from the club. Here are links to several of the restaurants:

Doc’s Motorworks

Zen

Moved to 6th St El Sol y La Luna

Jo’s

Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar Mars

Guero’s

Home Slice Pizza

South Congress Cafe

Historically, we have gone to Home Slice Pizza for a pitcher of Lone Star and a couple of slices. It is so cool to sit at the bar (drinking and eating) watching the guys hand toss the pizza dough, and the guys working the big oven. Yesterday we started at Wahoo’s for cold drafts, queso, and guac, then on to Home Slice Pizza for a pitcher of beer and slices. Later, after the music, we went to Billy’s for a pitcher/burgers, sat on the deck to watch the game (UT – TXTech), and enjoyed the beautiful Austin evening… This was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon…

We hope this post is helpful, and if you’re ever in Austin over a weekend, you’ll give the matinee show a try…

As always, comments are welcome…

I knew this was a bad idea… I’m hungry now…

I like to eat, and I feel lucky to have access to so many great places in Austin that serve tasty food. The following list (with links) provides a nice sampling of my favorite places:

Breakfast

Kerbey Lane Cafe – great breakfast, expect to wait

Magnolia Cafe – great breakfast, expect to wait

Katz’s – good breakfast, big menu – great sandwiches too

Manny Hattan’s – tasty, good quality, many choices – great lunch and cheese cake too

Comfort/Home Cooking

Hoover’s - unbelievably good, great desserts too

Threadgill’s – great food and music – home of the chicken fried steak

Burgers

Mighty Fine – Burgers, Fries, and Shakes  – Currently my favorite – no beer

Huts – the standard by which all burger joints are judged – huge onion rings

Phil’s Ice House – regular burgers and little baby burgers – beer and wine – very kid friendly

Billy’s on Burnet – great selection of beer too – I hear the veggie frito pie is very good – nice selection of pub grub

Five Guys Burgers and Fries – new joint in town – great burgers, cajun fries, and bacon-cheese dogs – no beer

Casino el Camino – you better be hungry – these are great big burgers – think Texas BIG – great bar too

Frans – the one on South Congress – tasty – great hangover burgers

Doc’s Motorworks – cool outdoor place, good menu choices

Shady Grove – sit under the trees and enjoy, great menu, the queso fries are the real deal

Pizza

Home Slice – simply the best, stopped ordering delivery after tasting this pizza – this is a special place

Reale’s – this is also a great pizza

Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza – the double crust pizza stuffed with goodness is great

Mexican

Guero’s – one of my favorite places of all time, great good, tons of choices, great drinks – stay away from the wine

Fonda San Miguel – a wonderful place to celebrate special events in your life

Chuy’s – fun place, great food

BBQ

Rudy’s Country Store – great BBQ, ice cold drinks, that damn cream corn – great breakfast tacos too

There are tons of great BBQ joints across Austin and the surrounding communities.  Ranking BBQ is a state sport, and I’m not packed for a BBQ discussion.  I don’t eat that much BBQ because it is so damn good and it has become so difficult to choose between brisket, ribs, chicken, turkey, links (sausage), cole slaw, potato salad, onions, pickles, the sauces, and that damn cream corn from Rudy’s, so we eat it all and way too much and generally need a nap afterwards.

Italian

Vespiao and Enoteca – Vespiao is another nice place to celebrate something special in your life, great food – Enoteca is more comfortable, less formal, great bar

Botticelli’s – new kid on the block – great food – the Italian beef sandwich tastes like my Mom’s recipe

Mandola’s Italian Market – great food, great desserts

Seafood

Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar - New on South Congress (in Mars’ space) – great oysters and seafood… cold beer…

Different

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos – I love this place – I could eat there everyday – great healthy food, good beer selection, they serve Pearl Pomegranate Flavored Vodka, Hideous Liqueur, 32oz CB in the paper bag

Cuators – another new kid on the block – fun place that brings the outside in – great beer selection, good fun food – dog friendly

Screaming Goat Tacos y Cerveza – Cool Austin vib… tasty tacos and daily cold beer specials…

Texadelphia Texas Cheesesteak - unbelievably good

Dog & Duck Pub – great beer selection and great pub grub – the best fish and chips

Mother Egan’s Irish Pub – great beer selection, very good food – fun places to sit alone or with friends

Opal Divine’s – fun place, great menu, lots of choices, great beer selection and other drinks

Boomerang’s Pies – not your frozen pot pie – great food – I live on these pies during the Austin City Limits Music Festival

Galaxy Cafe – great food – love eating lunch at this place – get there early parking can be tuff

Ranch 616 – fun place, cool small bar, great creative food – pure Austin vibe

Dessert

Amy’s Ice Cream – invented fun – tasty – an Austin original

Hey Cupcake! – way too cool to describe – wonderfully tasty – they help turn the dial to 11

I will continue to update this post overtime. Please let us know your favorite places to eat in Austin through the comments…