Botticelli's

Living on SoCo is really high on my 'things that rock my world' list. I have everything a stone's throw away, including work and my Italianini's place! However, lately I've been getting together with all my peeps in the neighborhood and realized we are in DIRE need of new restaurants and watering holes in the area. I have had enough tacos al pastor and overpriced margarita's from Guero's to last my life time, been to home slice (although, I really just love it there) about 700 times, Hotel San Jose for a refreshing adult beverage at least once a month, I'm so over the spraying, misty fans at Perla's that make my hair look like a lion's mane, and can't even stand the smell of Zen anymore (although I heard it may be closing????), I don't love the food at Snack Bar, am not a huge fan of Continental Club or Vespaio, and South Congress Cafe doesn't come to mind when picking a place for a meal.

Anyway, making the most of our pretty afternoon in the 'hood the Persian, the Argentinian, and I went to Botticelli's for happy hour to enjoy a cheap glass of wine and apps. 

We shared the Boticelli bread (the only $7 item on the HH menu)  “the original”—grandmother’s own homemade bread stuffed with prosciutto, coppa, mortadella, salami, mozzarella, parmesan, and roasted bell peppers. 
I had always heard people rave about this bread, and with the long list of Italian ingredients that live happily inside of it, I figured it had to be fantastic.... Wrong, it totally lacked pizzazz and flavor. It's also very dry, maybe a little sauce would be nice? Maybe a little spice? I don't know, but I won't be ordering it any time soon.

Persian got a caesar salad, I got the mussels, and Argentininan had the calamari. 

The salad was very simple, don't really need to go into detail for that one. 

The mussels were tiny, and the broth was o.k., way too many things going on. They had capers, brown butter, lemon (LOTS of lemon), bread crumbs, and some red pepper flakes.  For $5, they were o.k. 

I liked that the calamari's batter-It wasn't overwhelming. It's cooked just enough to avoid the rubbery effect. The Arrabiatta sauce was not spicy, but it was decent. 

Overall, it was a good deal, but the food is not award-winning or even worth full price... so, only go for HH :)

And, restaurateurs, please bring more options to SoCo!!!!!
http://www.botticellissouthcongress.com/index.php

Tarbouch

Last Friday I finally got someone to try the new Lebanese place on Oltorf (next to Curra's)... who better than the Lebaunidense. 

You're probably wondering how I came up with Lebaunidense. Well, he comes from a Lebanese mother and an American father--- which in spanish would be referred to as Estadounidense, and since my friend is big into the Spanish language, I figured it would suit him perfectly.

I was so excited to try this place since reading this on their website:

Paul Nader brings his culinary genius to Central Texas with his newest restaurant Tarbouch, a Lebanese Grill and Hookah bar.  Paul, head chef and owner of Chez Paul restaurant and bakery in Lebanon, now opens his doors to the people of Austin.  With 20 years of experience serving the people of Lebanon with fresh, flavorful food he is very excited to be in Austin. Tarbouch now opens in Austin to offer the people of Texas quality food without breaking the wallet.   

The food is a unique marriage of Mediterranean and traditional Lebanese cuisine.  The entire menu is made on site and from scratch.  For those who are curious Tarbouch is a red felt hat in the shape of a truncated cone worn by many in the Ottoman empire. 

 

The restaurant is TINY ... I mean, tiny and very simple. 

Half of the restaurant was taken up by a refrigerator full of Baklava (the only dessert on the menu) and sodas. Nothing impressive...so I figured the food would be really good, since typically holes in the wall like this one serve the best food. 

Nope...

To start we had Mast-OKhiyar (yoghurt and cucumber). Super bland. I mean they literally put some plain yoghurt and cut up cucumbers, no spices, not even salt. 

Lebaunidense got Sheesh Tawook- chicken breast cooked over an open flame and served with cabbage salad, hummus, garlic sauce, and pickles. 

He wasn't impressed, but of course this didn't hold a candle to his mom's garlic sauce! 

I had Beef Shawarma Plate- beef steak slowly roasted on a vertical pit,thinly sliced and served with hummus, onion salad, Tahini (sesamesauce) and Greek Salad.  No go on this---- I liked the Tahini, but I'd rather make the trip to Phoenicia and enjoy a GOOD Shawarma.  Even the bread tasted funny... 

I wonder if they make it there or buy Phoenicia brand... didn't taste Phoenicia to me. 

Overall, I expected a little more spice. The portions were nice and big, and you get your  money's worth... just not worth the trip if you live or work far from Oltorf and Congress. 

http://www.tarbouchfood.com/index.html

 

Doc's Motorworks

Lately I've been on this cheap eats and thrills kick...since I'm super broke.

On a super rainy Wednesday the girls and I went to Doc's for $1 tacos and $2 beer (that is MEXICAN beer yum!).

I gotta say, the whole crispy taco concept doesn't sound appetizing...but IT IS! Oh man, those beef crispy tacos topped with shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese will surprise the heck out of your taste buds.

I think the reason I actually like them (and ate 5 of them) is that they lay off the cumin...

They have specials almost every day. Check them out.
http://eatdrinkdocs.com/#locations

Perla's

Give me an oyster bar and I'm happy. Give me an oyster bar and a Pimm Cup, and I'm SOLD!
Dinner at Perla's on SoCo was quite the experience complete with shuffleboard--Made me want to wear searsucker!

I'll give it to you straight--go for the oysters on the half shell, the scallop appetizer, and the octopus to start off with.

Oysters--- sure they were on the bottom of the ocean somewhere and someone put them on a plate...still such grainy, fresh, delicious, goodness!
Scallops-- They are just salty enough, with jicama, cilantro, and magic...
Octopus-- since it's grilled, it's a little harder than I would like (huge fan of octopus ceviche), but still good.

Try the tuna. It also has jicama and cilantro, but they added the thinnest slices of serrano peppers and radish with a cilantro sauce that' s super light and tingly. It's a party on your tongue.

The halibut is quite a bit thicker to say the least.
While the actual fish is tremendous, the sauce is entirely too oily, served with peas and carrots. It's like you're eating a steak, except you're not! No-go on the halibut.

Sit outside. It's great. They nailed it with the color scheme, the tables, the white and blue striped umbrellas, the screened porch...so pretty. Oh, and if you're up for a fancy cocktail, they've got plenty... just do not order the bloody mary. You're better off throwing back a coronita with the delicious mariscos!

Have yet to try the shooter and the oysters Rockefeller. Hesistant. May not hold a candle to my faves at Gumbo's! :)

Sunday: South Congress Cafe & Manuel's

So, my friends had been bugging me to try South Congress Cafe for brunch ever since I moved to Austin six years ago. Let me tell you, the special on Sunday was to DIE for - hash with pork sausage, potatoes, the typical red peppers for a little color factor, and your choice of New Mexican green chile or just plain ole salsa. We went for flour tortillas... egh... they were o.k. I guess. The Italianini and I were loving it so we decided to order a second dish. We went old school brunch and ordered eggs benedict, except that they substitute the english muffin for these little crab cakes and top it off with spinach quiche and a couple of pieces of prosciutto.
O.K., the actual crab cakes are a little greasy, and definitely not my favorite, but edible...After the first bite figured I could mask the greasy taste with the hollindaise sauce, except for there were two drops of it in the entire plate. Great. The side of fruit was a nice refresher and just what I needed to feel 100lbs heavier.
So 1 out of 2 is not perfect, but I can handle it. Plan on having the carrot cake french toast next!

Dinner time! The Regio and I decided to grab some appetizers at Manuel's on congress. Mistake getting just appetizers.
Started off with the pork sopes. Not impressed. The black beans were weak. Now, how can you mess up black beans! The pork was tender, but again, weak.
The Regio got the ceviche and I went for the mole appetizer. The ceviche was fantastic. Just the right amount of lime, plenty of fish chunks, very little tomato... you know no filler crap, just good ceviche. The mole appetizer was disappointing. It's a big mush of chicken, melted monterrey jack, and mole in a tiny little bowl.
If you want mole just go for the chicken breast with mole plate and be done with it. The appetizer portions are small, I mean , you'll-be-hungry-in-two-minutes-small. Kudos on the service though! We walked in 20 minutes before closing time and still got stellar attention from our server