Uncle Billy's

This past weekend I just needed good ole Texas BBQ... So, JD and I decided to try something new and went to Uncle Billy's.

You know the food is that bad when the highlight of the night is the cutest five-year-old boy playing the harmonica with the band, and that I had a cold beer in my hand on this hot summer night.

They brag about their brewery (check out their web site), so I ordered the Agave Wit...it's sort of like a Hefeweizen. It was not bad...I think I'd order it again...if I went back...ever.

We ordered the fried okra. It was not very good, and the jalapeno ranch was way too spicy.They drew a heart on the ranch with bbq sauce...I guess the waitress thought we were dating? . Kudos to our waitress though, she was fantastic.



See the heart? LOL.


I went for the chopped beef plate with potato salad and pinto beans as my sides.

The portion of the chopped beef was tiny, the potato salad was super bland and tasteless, and the beans were so salty my tongue went numb.


Tiny portions


JD had the chopped beef sandwich with fries. He wasn't impressed.

Overall a sucky culinary experience, but it's a pretty cool venue for live music and cold drinks if you sit outside.

Parking is quite challenging since the condos behind are still under construction. You have to go all the way past Chuy's, take a right, then go into their parking lot (which is not very big) and you can walk, or---get this---- take their shuttle. Yes, they have an 11 passenger van to take you from their sucky parking lot to the restaurant...cool, eh?

http://www.unclebillysaustin.com/

34th Street Cafe

Since meeting Raif (aka Chef Justin Raiford) about 6 years ago, I had been a frequent flyer at 34th Street Cafe.

I'll admit it, I was a huge fan of the Hack Salad (although not a Raif-original) and would order it often. Still, the nightly specials, the strange pizza topping combinations, and Raif's love for Chilean sea bass, made the dining experience fantastic and kept me coming back for more.

I hadn't been there in quite a while...since their prices had gone up and I was broke, between moving, travels, wedding gifts, etc... Anyway, I really wanted to take the Italianini (Couldn't believe he hadn't eaten there...or even heard of it!).

I can only think of one word to describe our experience there last night: Disappointing

We started with the seared ahi tuna. It comes on purple rice, spicy mustard and mango salsas, fried shallots and a few raw jalapenos. It was insipid, except for the sauces.

I ordered the prosciutto wrapped salmon. It was so salty I had a really hard time finishing it. It was served over french green lentils which were just plain bad. The texture of the greens was like eating paper, and the lentils were hard and dry. The carrots were just sort of hanging out at the other end of an awkwardly long plate.

Italianini had the hanger steak with green peppercorn demi. It was cooked perfectly, so it melted in your mouth , but the flavor was not the best.

I would have been happier eating the huge pile of string fries that came with it...except for the homemade ketchup. They pride themselves in their honey-ketchup, but the vinegar...ugh...so much, so gross.

We didn't order the oysters since I used to get them all the time and wanted something different...but I regretted it.

Didn't ask if they had the Hack Salad---even though it hasn't technically been on the menu in ages. Maybe for lunch?

Sad. I mean, 34th Street had its regulars, you know? It's one of those you think of as a neighborhood place, a classic for most that live in the area...sigh.

The only good part of the night was that the prices were back to moderate.

Hack Salad-

.

Do Good Deli--- no more :(

I am SUPER sad to inform you that Do Good Deli has closed!!!!!!!!! :(

----Since writing this, I've learned that it has been bought out and is now The DOWNSTAIRS DELI. Same menu, same staff, and promise the same great experience.

Good news is that proceeds still go to a good cause!

yay!
http://www.thedelidownstairs.com/

The Good Knight

Saturday night before hitting the East Side Showroom for some birthday drinks for RB's big 28th, the Italianini and I grabbed dinner a couple of doors down at The Good Knight.

Everything about this place makes you feel like you just time traveled to the 1920s or something. Its low lighting, the bar, the curtain framed tables, the bartenders, the rustic look of every detail of the decor make it intriguing and cozy.

The cocktails were o.k.
I had the June Rose. It had basil, cucumbers, gin...fuzzy on the rest.
Italianini had the Sazarac. A classic.

We started with the cheese plate. We picked brie to pair with the delicious gruyere that comes standard, grapes, some nuts, honey and toasted bread.
First of all, don't tease me with less than a teaspoon of honey on this plate! The Italianini had it all...grrr.... Second, the cheese was alright, but come on...it's cheese!

We also had fried tomatoes (green and red). The green were super tangy. I could taste fresh lime juice. The aioli was good and they weren't overwhelmingly breaded which is always a plus.

We moved on to the bizarre paté of the night: trout.
It was funny because after the first bite Italianini and I both said at the exact same time: it's like trout salad.
I had two bites. That's it.


Then we had the chicken pot pie.
The puff pastry on top was entirely too flaky for me. Everything about it was bland. Not enough salt, not enough pepper, big chunks of chicken (almost needed fork and knife)...Italianini described it as 'hearty', but for me the word was...BLAH.

Anyway, while the place is cool, the food was disappointing.
Doubt there'll be a second visit.
Thank you, and good knight.
http://www.myspace.com/thegoodknightaustin


Oh, and the East Side Showroom totally kept the 1920s theme going. It's super cute and their cocktails are awesome. Service is slow though (the 'we-just-opened' kind of slow). Will go try the food and let you guys know!
http://eastsideshowroom.com