El Arbol

Wow. Can you say bad service?

Holy crap.... I think the hostess had a very large stick up her ass that evening. Her eye-rolling attitude set the tone for our experience with the staff in general. 

 

On the bright side, this restaurant is beautiful! A little awkward architecturally speaking, but the interior is gorgeous and soaked in the unmistakable Mozersky touch.The design is an experience itself,  classy, comfortable, tasteful. The entrance alone will make you feel fabulous.

I don't really know how they came up with the location, but they should have thought about parking (Hello! This is Texas, not NYC). There is a tiny lot behind for complimentary valet, but even Ferrari Man was afraid of letting the valet guys park it in such tight squeeze. I lucked out in the neighborhood. 

We were seated on the second level in a cozy booth. It took a very long time and two refills of water to get a server's attention. When our server finally came, he was not knowledgeable of the menu...it went sort of like this:

EV: "How are the sweetbreads?"

Server: "mmmm... I don't know, it's a really big plate"

EV: "But, are they ordered often?"

Server: "I don't know"

EV: "How about the rabbit?"

Server: "Do you like chicken?"

EV: "I like rabbit, is it good here?"

Server: "mmm.... I guess. You should get one of our meats, we're famous for that"

EV: "I'll have the rabbit"

So...I convinced Ferrari Man to try the Anticucho de Corazon (Heart)and the spinach Empanada for our appetizers. It was delicious. Skewered strips, perfectly seasoned, and perfectly cooked; add a little of the best chimichurri in Austin (hints of red pepper) and done.The empanada didn't disappoint

The rabbit was fantastic. The sauce was perfect and didn't overpower the taste of the meat. Loved it! Ferrari Man's lomo (the 5 oz) was melt-in-your-mouth good. The salts on it were perfect, and with just a tiny bit of chimichurri it was truly the best tenderloin I've had in a while. 

We were mid-bite of rabbit and lomo when the lights in our booth turned off. Literally couldn't even see my plate. It took a good 5 minutes for them to realize it and turn them back on. Bizarre.

We had dessert, but it's not even worth describing.

The patios are awesome; the colors, the furniture, the different levels, just add some good Austin weather, and a cocktail in your hand. I only wish there was a view... I wish they could have found a massive tree, like the one they wrapped this place around, near downtown or the water. Oh well.

Only time will tell if El Arbol improves their service and survives in this random location. 

http://www.elarbolrestaurant.com/index.php?pid=1

FINO

It had been well over three years since I last went to FINO. 

I remember the lazy afternoons in college when the German, the Cuban, and I would head over to their fabulous terrace, have some rosé and anchovy stuffed olives. 

Never really made it past the olives since their food was not the greatest. So, after reading the latest yelp reviews, Italianini and I gave it a go.

We were celebrating, so we went a little crazy (don't judge)....Fried goat cheese with red onion jam (YAY!), beet tzaziki, anchovy stuffed fried olives, pork confit, fried oysters with harissa aioli, mussels & sherry broth with lemon aioli, and the spinach & romesco salad with serrano ham, a poached egg, and croutons. 

The Anchovy Stuffed Fried Olives are awesome. 

They're like little magic poppers (the portion is definitely not enough!). The flavor of the anchovy (for those of you who are not huge fans) is dwarfed by the olive, but it gives it this certain kick you can't resist. The batter is delicious and just crispy enough. LOVE THEM.

The oysters were juicy and fresh, but the real winner in my eyes was the Tzaziki. If you try one thing here, try the Beet Tzaziki, it's a revelation in flavor. Who knew it would be so good?! Nevermind that it looks like Pepto, just try it! It's cool, fresh, it almost cleanses your palate.

Also try the salad--- so simple, yet so delightful. It's spinach bliss (but then again, how couldn't it be when there's a jamon serrano involved!).

We closed with the zucchini cake with cinnamon ice cream. This was... hmmm... very sweet and boring. The ice cream was slushy and not great on flavor... Totally should have avoided this waste of calories.

Don't be turned off by the fact that it's right on West Campus or that it's in a strip mall. The couches on the terrace are great for happy hour after a long day of work (or play, whatever), you'll love the decor, and your taste buds will thank you.

Sooooo Sorry!!!!!!

Gente! I am so sorry for being such a slacker. 

I was on vaca, and also trying to save some money!!!

Promise to have something up very soon :)

Besos!

Restaurant Week: Roy's

I love ARW because it gives me the opportunity to try restaurants that are not in  my budget... but also too expensive for their reputation.

This time the Aussie and I tried Roy's. 

Backed by a James Beard Award winning Chef (Roy Yamaguchi) and a global presence, I really expected great things to hit my palate.

Greeted by a small patch of dirt with a sign on it that reads "The Chef's Garden" I thought I was in for a really fresh treat. I could almost taste the tropical flavors in my mouth... when I was hit in the face by the stench of cheap air freshener. It was like cupcake/ sweet vanilla cream Glade Plug-Ins. *Insert gag face*

Seated in the middle of a very large dining room (with super high ceilings), our server came with drinks. Stellar service, by the way. I had the Golden Lobster Potstickers with  spicy togarashi miso butter and Aussie had the Lobster Bisque. I really liked the potstickers mainly due to the miso butter, but Aussie was disappointed with the bisque--- it had Brandy and cream and it tasted like burnt gravy. 

I opted for the Seared Tiger Shrimp over jalapeño polenta, sauteed spinach and smoked tomato butter. The shrimp were overcooked (WHY DOES EVERYONE ALWAYS OVERCOOK SHRIMP!?!?!?!), but the polenta was tasty. 

Aussie had the macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi over asparagus, potatoes, and what looked like a shiitake sauce? It was too sweet, overcooked, and just not fulfilling.

Finally,with only two choices for desert, we ordered both. I had the white chocolate and macadamia nut bread pudding and Aussie had the Roy's melting hot chocolate souffle. Both very good, but veeerrrryyyy rich... neither one of us finished them.

The private party rooms look intriguing, but overall not the high-end Hawaiian experience I was expecting.

Not worth it. So glad I tried it during ARW ($35/person).

http://www.roysrestaurant.com/?gclid=CJmwvqnk3qACFQ8UswodbAxNEg

Jack Allen's Kitchen

Mix the brains that ruled the kitchen at Z Tejas for two decades, the beautiful Hill Country, and decent prices, and you have a winning combo.

Jack Allen's kitchen, in Oak Hill, surpassed my expectations. I figured we'd be walking into a fancified Applebees (you know, the neighborhood restaurant with the staple items), but I was welcomed by clean lines, an extensive menu, and simple yet sharp decor.

An thirty minute wait on a Wednesday night? Not too shabby... We waited sipping on Green Weed Teas (Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka and green tea--Hey, Green Tea is supposed to be good for you!) and enjoying the very lively bar ambiance.

We were seated in a back room with warm lighting and heavy woods. Started with the Baked Gulf Oyster. These guys have a different topping every day...I had goat cheese and spinach. Remember gushers? These were like that, but for grown ups. It was tremendous.

We shared the Texas Gulf Blue Crab Gratin- Crab baked with artichoke hearts, spinach, parmesan, and grilled ciabatta. Melts in your mouth with chunks of crab just big enough to savor and the pungent parmesan that make an amazing duo. 

We also tried the Chile Mango Shrimp Tacos with black beans, rice, and guacamole. This was the only dish we tried that was lacking. It was a bad version of a Tex-Mex Scampi (never thought I'd use those two together).

Finally we had the Chorizo Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Medallions over chunky red potatoes and veggies. This has Z Tejas written all over it. It was moist, strong, and delicious. Who can pass up chorizo?!

The service was great, the manager was very attentive, the ambiance is very chill...but definitely more upscale than Z. 

Only down side is you have to make the trip out to HWY 71 and hope you don't miss the turn!

http://www.jackallenskitchen.com/

SIENA

On a chilly Saturday night we headed to Siena for a friend's birthday. 
I was looking forward to the building more so than the food...

I loved the heavy woods, the stones, the fireplace, the layout, the tables, the chairs, the chandeliers...I felt like I was in the Tuscan countryside. The Birthday Girl told me the bulk of the stones and some of the decorative details were brought here from Italy... lovely.


I gotta admit, we weren't the easiest table (of 12) , but come on, I asked for bread around 3 times before getting a roll, then waited another 10 minutes for the server to bring me water, and another 15 for my glass of wine. They've got to work on their service.
 

Since we were a large group and I was limited to try only the dishes around me, here are my 2 cents...

The Fichi Ripieni con Pecorino Toscano (roasted figs wrapped in Parma prosciutto and stuffed with pecorino Toscano, with olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar) were edible, but tough, burnt, and not as savory as I had hoped. 

Antipasto Misto Toscano (olives, peppers, Grana Padano, salami, prosciutto, baalsamic roasted portobello, and crostini with chicken pate) was your basic plate of goodies - was alright, but for $16 I could have gotten two other decent antipasti.

Some folks ordered Primi Piati, which are basically small pasta plates. One of our friends described it as "It looks like my food fell from a big dish onto this little one". Hilarious.

Italianini had Filetto di Manzo al Porto. An overcooked beef tenderloin filet with Gorgonzola and Chianti demiglace over roasted potatoes, pancetta, and onions. I am not a Chianti fan, but I was so hungry that I ate a quarter or so of his dish. Poor Italianini. 

I had the Filetto di Salmone con Capesante. The word tarragon in the description made it an automatic choice. I was a bit disappointed with the fishiness of the Salmon, and the dull scallops. Siena brags about the authenticity and quality of their seafood...not sure why.
They were bland, hard, almost like calamari--not buttery like scallops are supposed to be. The presentation lacked color and pizzazz.

It was not worth the $27.

So, overall a beautiful venue for a birthday, a wedding, a shower, sure, but not for your casual night out. The service and the food are not worth your money.

http://www.sienarestaurant.com/

SAGRA

If you've ever tried to grab dinner before a concert at the Frank Erwin Center, or a UT game, or the IMAX (for AVATAR ha!), then you know how limited your dining options really are.

Serranos. Ewww, no thanks. Stubbs? Always packed and a suuuper heavy meal. Brick oven? Maybe, but only if you're in the mood for sucky pizza. 

So, faced with the challenge of picking a restaurant near the IMAX I googled, and googled, and googled, and landed on SAGRA.

Everyone, I mean, everyone told me I would hate it, get sick from it, be annoyed by the loud waitstaff, everything short of dying from the experience. 

But come on, like I'm going to take their word for it...

The place is cuuuute, simple, romantic, and quaint. The tables are really close together, to the point where by the end of our dinner I wondered if the lady at the table next to me ended up breaking up with her boyfriend or not...ha!

We started with the cheese plate, shared the prosciutto and arugula pizza, and the calamari.

The cheese plate was good with a kalamata olive mustard. The pizza was o.k.... a little on the salty side, but the crust was very good. As far as the calamari goes... gross. Super bland, greasy, cold, and the dipping sauce had the fresh-out-of-the-jar taste. Not good.

The service was o.k., aside from our super loud server, and it's moderately priced.

If you're in a crunch, or don't feel like eating at the other places around Frank Erwin/Bob Bullock, give it a whirl. I won't go back though... :(