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Javelina Bar: MENU, Pictures, Short Review, and a Call for Action

by | March 6, 2012 |7 Comments
Javelina Bar

Another bar, ahem – excuse me – I mean to say a real restaurant (golly gee!) has finally opened in the Rainey District of Downtown Austin.  Yes – reader – you may be sensing sarcasm.  That’s because even though, yes, Javelina Bar has a kitchen and a menu – making them technically a restaurant – and even though the owners are touting that they are different than the other bars in the district because they have said kitchen – there’s no mistaking that this place totally feels more like a bar than a restaurant – I mean, it even has the word “Bar” in its name.

But – I will say, I think it’s a step in the right direction. A nice, large step in the right direction.

I visited the brand new establishment yesterday, had a couple of brews and a fairly delish veggie burger (they put queso on it, too!).  Nice, clean, pseudo-rustic environment. Understandably, they were working out some kinks, but I will say, the food was alright and the service was super friendly (shout-out to bartender / server Amanda!).

So, here’s the menu – in all of its glory:   [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin restaurant reviews, downtown austin, Rainey Street District

Budare’s Serves Breakfast To Rainey Street Residents Hungry For More

by | December 5, 2011 |Leave a Comment
budares on rainey street

The newest addition to Rainey Street’s eclectic mix of repurposed bungalows is a backyard trailer named Budare’s serving … drum roll… BREAKFAST!

The sign has been up for a couple of weeks, but it was the sight this morning of my vacant refrigerator that got me motivated to walk 100 yards to a warm meal.

I ordered two visayas tortas with turkey and a bottle of water.  $9.50 total and worth every penny on this cold morning.

It’s news anytime something other than a bar opens on Rainey Street and Budare’s modest menu is a welcome addition.

Budare’s is on the way to work for many of you at Milago Condos, the Shore Condos, or the Windsor apartments.  You can check them out at 75 Rainey Street.  EZ street parking in the morning from 6AM to 10AM.  BONUS: you can call in your order at 512-487-6791. [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin neighborhoods, austin restaurant reviews, austin small business, austin trailer food, Rainey Street District

Downtown Austin’s Asian Cuisine Corridor (Mai Thai Austin MENU & Restaurant Review)

by | November 7, 2011 |2 Comments
MaiThai_BlogLogo

Did you know, that in the two blocks between Cesar Chavez and 3rd Street on San Jacinto, there are four restaurants that fall under the category of Asian cuisine – Chinese (P.F. Chang’s), Japanese (Piranha Killer Sushi), and Mongolian (Mongolian Grille Downtown), and now, with the area’s newest addition, Thai (Mai Thai)?  I’m gonna start calling this the Asian Cuisine Corridor – I’m hoping the name will catch on.

I noticed this informal agglomeration walking back to my house after my first meal at Mai Thai.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin restaurant reviews, austin small business, downtown austin

Jazz at Annie’s: Jim Cullum Jazz Band Returns to Annies Café & Bar

by | September 11, 2011 |Leave a Comment
Picture 1

Looking for date night ideas this week or next?  Try this:

After playing to standing-room-only crowds of die-hard jazz fans at a sold-out, mid-winter residency at Annie’s Café & Bar, the historic Congress Avenue bistro has arranged to have Jim Cullum return to Annie’s as summer draws to a close – this time presenting the electrifying new jazz prodigy, clarinetist Evan Arntzen. Austin jazz fans once again will have a rare opportunity to hear the world-renowned Jim Cullum Jazz Band as well as Arntzen’s exuberant new talent that has won awards and generating buzz around the world.

It’s all at a special jazz and dinner series hosted by Annie’s Café & Bar at 319 Congress Avenue on Thursdays, September 15 & 22.  Seatings will be at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.  There will be no cover charge with entrée purchase.

Filed Under: austin restaurant reviews, austin small business, Congress Avenue District, downtown austin

Hank’s: From Garage to Entrepreneur’s Dream

by | July 6, 2011 |7 Comments
hanks garage downtown austin

Downtown Austin office workers, visitors, and residents have a new choice when it comes to grabbing a bite and a beer: Hank’s Garage.

Formerly Sister’s Edge II, a lesbian bar, and before that “The Cockpit,” an aptly-named gay bar, Hank’s instead caters to all people of all sexual orientations with a strong thirst for Belgian beer.

They have a whopping 32 beers on tap, such as Duchesse de Bourgogne, which will give Gingerman loyalists a run for their money, and some premium entrees.

Hank’s also offer something to the brunch crowd with a plate of two eggs — served your way — with potatoes and toast for an Abraham or an omelet for a couple extra Georgies.

The guy behind this, Jeffrey Kuhn, spent about three decades in the service industry, dabbling in finance and real estate as well.

Kuhn represents what is great about Austin and downtown. He’s bootstrapped this whole thing himself and spent about a year gutting Sister’s Edge by himself, in the process unearthing  remnants of when the building used to be a legit garage run by a mechanic named “Hank” almost 75 years ago.

Located at 115 San Jacinto (half block north of the Four Seasons), the renovation really dresses up the outside of the building, too. After you stop by, check out these photos of how the place looked as the Cockpit and Sister’s Edge. ¡Ay, caramba!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin restaurant reviews, austin retail, austin small business, development, downtown austin

Second Bar + Kitchen in Downtown Austin

by | June 18, 2011 |4 Comments
Grilled Cheese from Second

Second Bar + Kitchen is aptly named for it’s Congress Ave @ Second Street location.  But don’t think for a second that the food isn’t first-rate (wakka wakka!).

On a whim, I ventured over to Second a couple of Sundays ago (after a morning coffee at the Austonian’s Caffe Medici) and was pleasantly surprised by the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant. I was seated on the second story, which was a small, covered balcony with simple tables and faux grass carpeting: [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2nd Street District, austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin recreation, austin restaurant reviews, austin small business, Congress Avenue District, downtown austin, life in austin, retail, small business

Cinco De Mayo Party Worth Checking Out

by | April 25, 2011 |3 Comments
Cinco De Mayo Puppy

If you haven’t made your Cinco De Mayo plans yet – I would check out this event at La Condesa / Malverde in Downtown Austin’s 2nd Street District.  It’s a hip spot with a killer vibe, and I always enjoy myself when I’m there. And there’s no cover, so there’s that….

Malverde has long been one of my fave places to go when I’m feeling a bit hip and want to enjoy a swanky view.  There’s always good music, good people, and good drinks.  The same goes for the restaurant below, La Condesa.  The interior finish out of the place is a reason to go to the restaurant in and of itself, IMO.

The event begins at 5pm (appropriately) at La Condesa.  There promises to be lots of yummy food and drink to enjoy.  Don’t siesta on this fiesta!

Flyer after the jump: [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2nd Street District, austin restaurant reviews, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts, life in austin, miscellaneous, small business

Ringside @ Sullivans Being Torn Down?

by | January 8, 2011 |Leave a Comment
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Thanks to a friendly tip directing us to a facebook update by Curtain Call, the popular Ringside lounge, next to Sullivans, in downtown Austin’s Warehouse District could be torn down.  According to the update demolition could begin as soon as Monday.  I used to go to Ringside quite a bit, and have lots of good memories from that place.

“We have been informed that Ringside at Sullivan’s is going to be torn down (starting Monday) in order to make way for a new bar/restaurant that will be a cousin establishment to Sullivan’s.”

No news on what the new concept will be, so if you have an info on that please use the comments.

-Jude

Filed Under: austin restaurant reviews, Warehouse District

Downtown Austin’s W Hotel Trace MENU & La Condesa New Lunch Menu Items

by | December 19, 2010 |1 Comment
The W's Restaurant "Trace"

The W's Restaurant "Trace"

Just a week or so ago, The W Austin Hotel in downtown Austin held it’s grand opening.  Boy, that place is nice.  Jude and I visited the lounge areas and had dinner at Trace (link to Yelp reviews) on our visit.  The decor is swank, and the menu is trendy.  The dinner menu is separated into five categories: foraged, farmed, crafted, hunted, or shared, and the hotel restaurant has even hired an official forager, Valerie Broussard, to select local produce for the plates.

A little pricey for some plates and a little small on the portion sizes (which, honestly – is to be expected, this is a *fancy* hotel restaurant, after all), but delicious overall.  I had the Winter’s Garden salad, the Pumpkin Agnolotti, a basket of fries (from the bar menu – which I don’t have), and a glass of Merlot, all wonderful – the cost was about $35 + tip.  Here are the menus – breakfast, lunch, and dinner (they apparently change fairly frequently, maybe seasonally?,  – but this should give an idea on food type and price range) To enlarge each image, click once on the image to get to the image page, then click the image again.  More after the jump.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: 2nd Street District, austin restaurant reviews, austin small business, downtown austin

Lavaca St Bar Gives Away Free Tubs Of Bacon On Thursdays

by | December 10, 2010 |3 Comments
lavaca-street-bacon2

The title says it all.  You know where to find me on Thursdays.

Free Bacon @ Lavaca Street Bar On Thursdays

Lavaca Street Bar

Filed Under: austin restaurant reviews, downtown austin
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