AG

Piranha Killer Sushi…fairly killer, akshully

AG | October 31, 2009 |

I love sushi. However, I DON’T love spending a ridiculous amount of money on said beloved sushi. Enter Piranha Killer Sushi (beware, this is one of those websites with the music….), a sushi restaurant on 2nd & San Jacinto (right next to Max’s Wine Dive) with a nice vibe and a reasonably priced (for sushi) menu.

Here’s what I ate (with pricing info) in order of appearance:

I also splurged and had a kettle of hot green tea and an appetizer salad. My total for EVERYTHING was around $30, which sounds like a lot, until you remember that it’s SUSHI we’re talking about – and that I had a bunch of other stuff, too! And the sushi is good! Not great, but good. My shrimp tempura roll…well, okay, the tempura part tasted a little wonky and not like at other more expensive places, and honestly, my “spicy” sauce on my spicy tuna roll wasn’t totally awesome either, but I could still tell the quality of the fish was fairly good. And nothing was bad or tasted gross or anything like that….I’m gonna put it like this – the food is appropriate for the price point. It ain’t Uchi, folks – but then again, it ain’t Uchi (i.e., I don’t have to be an NBA player to afford a solid meal there). I guess the real test would have been to have some sashimi or full-on sushi, which I did not do because I only really like/eat rolls generally at any other sushi place.

While the taste may not have been absolute perfection, the presentation was a step in that direction, for sure. All of the food was presented in a fun, clean, and crisp way. It was colorful and looked fresh and appetizing (see above photos).

And the atmosphere holds the same attributes as the food presentation. The vibe is light, clean, and airy. I dig the Eanes®-style chairs, the natural-like wood grain finishes and furnishings, and the overall DWR-esque-with-a warm-twist style (very clean and modern, but warm and light):

Bottom line: for the money, I think it’s a good call, and a place that deserves and at least one try for those looking for a decent, not too expensive sushi joint in downtown Austin.

The Skinny:

Location: 207 San Jacinto, Austin, TX, 78701

Hours:

Monday – Wednesday: 11am to 10 pm
Thursday: 11am to 11pm
Friday: 11am to ext. hours
Saturday: 12pm to ext. hours
Sunday: 12pm to 10pm

Link to Menu

’til next time….

Billy Corgan Probably Supports This Event

AG | October 28, 2009 |

UPDATE: OH NO!!!! Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I will NOT be in attendance for this lovely event. So no me, and no DAB T-Shirts!!!!

Do you like pumpkins? Or more accurately, do you hate pumpkins so much you like to attack them with knives for your own pleasure? Well then – GET PUMPED-KIN – this is the event for you.

Quick Facts:

Date: Friday, October 30, 2009 (day after tomorrow), Time: 3-5pm, Location: La Condesa @ 400 A West 2nd Street (Click here for map), KID FRIENDLY (but also will have spiked punch for the adults).

I will be attending this event (probably with a couple of DAB t-shirts in hand for loyal readers), so come out!

Keep Downtown Austin Beautiful – Adopt-a-Stop

AG | October 24, 2009 |

Regular readers of the DAB know I primarily ride public transportation, and while I am a proponent of using our bus system to the fullest, I am also aware of some problems with our current system. In my “Carless and Hopeful” post in June, I mention one of my dislikes about riding the bus is the actual bus-stops/shelters. Some bus-stops do not have benches, some benches are not covered, and MOST bus-stops are a little depressing in terms of their look and feel. That’s why when my friend, Alissa Schram, a CapMetro employee, told me about the Adopt-a-Stop program, I got a little pumped.

Here’s the low-down:

Local organizations and business (or individuals) can “adopt” bus-stops and essentially “decorate” them and keep them clean. And it’s only a one-time fee of about $40 (to pay for installation of a sign with your organization’s name). Note that additional decor/etc, will of course cost more. It’s really a simple program and idea, and one that’s been successful in other communities (here is a write-up from a city in Australia that uses the program).

This program is not new (and definitely not unique to Austin), but it’s also not well-known, so I thought I’d share it with our faithful readers. The vision I have is actually one where our Condo Associations adopt their nearby bus-stops, increasing their curb appeal and making these community service stops an extension of their buildings, giving them each a unique feel/vibe, and thereby enhancing the downtown Austin neighborhood and making it a more beautiful and interesting place to live, work, and play. With the vibrant art community that Austin has, I’m surprised that some of these city stops have not been claimed and re-tooled already.

For more information or for answers to any questions not addressed on the Adopt-a-Stop web page, you can contact Alissa Schram directly at Alissa.Schram AT capmetro DOT org.

And here are some pics of some really cool bus stops from all around the world, to maybe give you all some inspiration to get your condo association or company to join up (not that all of these would be a good idea – or even possible – for actual bus stops in Austin, they are just neat):

Walton’s Fancy and Staple Pleases Me

AG | September 29, 2009 |

Walton's Menu Board and Deli — Walton’s Menu Board and Deli

A little deli and flower shop with some big backers (namely Sandra Bullock, who also has ownership interest in Bess) opened in downtown Austin earlier this year. All of the DAB crew was pretty excited to have another daytime-use casual cafe downtown. It’s technically the second location for a Walton’s (there is a Walton’s florist shop on Bee Caves). I’ve been a few times this year, but I took the almost extinct ‘Dillo there last week with the express purpose of doing a little write up on the place.

First of all, I think the atmosphere is awesome. The place is kind of split up into three different parts: 1) the front, deli area with some seating, 2) a little flower shop in the back of place and 3) a separate alleyway that consists of only seating. There’s also a small outside dining area. Here are some pictures:

The vibe in here is….well, frankly, it’s adorable. It’s kind of a clean and airy 1940’s vibe. Very light, very sunny. Feminine, but not uncomfortably so.

Now, on to the food. Hog Island Deli fans may not like this statement very much, but it’s been said, and I agree, that Walton’s Fancy and Staple fills the gourmet sandwich void in downtown Austin. I think we all at least can agree that it’s a hell of a lot better than Subway, Which Wich, or Murphy’s. I ordered what I considered more of a specialty sandwich, the seafood po boy:

It was really, really good, as everything I have ordered there has been. It was pricey ($12.99, if I remember correctly), but oh-so-delicious. Everything on the sandwich was fresh and cooked to order, and was delivered to my table pretty quickly after ordering. I didn’t have dessert, but it was not for want of temptation (the desserts are also reasonably priced, in my opinion):

After I ate, I meandered over to the florist shop area. Very adorable, but not extremely affordable. Here are some close ups:

To sum up:

Pros: Great vibe, great food, fills downtown Austin’s gourmet sandwich void.

Cons: A little pricey.

Check it out and judge for yourself: Walton’s Fancy and Staple Website

-AG

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Katz's Deli is a 6th Street Staple

AG | September 10, 2009 |

As Marc Katz has just announced he is running for Lieutenant Governor, it’s probably a good time to revisit a long-time 6th Street favorite: Katz’s Deli. Borrowing against the success of Katz’s Delicatessen in New York (no relation, I’m told), in 1979 Marc opened Katz’s Deli – says so right on the iconic car parked out front of the deli. The “Katz’s Never Kloses” 24/7 service arrived in 1983. The Deli franchise went through a little family drama in the early 2000’s (most of the conflict centered on the Houston location), but the brand remained strong through the strife. For some reason, as a downtown Austin resident with many dining options, I always forget about the place. But I had lunch there the other day, and I thought it was pretty nice. And I love the fact that it’s one of Austin’s only true 24-hour restaurant establishments. Right here in the heart of downtown Austin.

So I thought I’d write about it and remind those of us folks who have forgotten what’s in plain sight.

You walk in and see this immediately on your right:

A glorious view of “deli”cious canned drinks. Yum. I must say, the vegetarian in me was delighted that this innocuous display of sodas was on display rather than smoked meats and hog’s heads.

Promptly upon our arrival, we were seated in the dining area, which had a nice view of pedestrian traffic on Sixth Street. The menu is reasonably priced and pretty extensive, and they offer breakfast items all day. I had the “Build Your Own” omelet, which ended up being the McMansion of omelets, if I do say so myself.

The food was fine. Not amazing, but good. The place was clean, the service was friendly and prompt. And they’re open 24-hours a day (Never Kloses!). You just can’t beat that, in my opinion.

-AG