austin restaurant reviews

Glee. (Indirectly) Making Downtown Austin a Little More Environmentally Friendly

AG | June 18, 2012 |

Oh, Glee. I sometimes enjoy you, but often I am overcome with shame for watching you. But, last week – you actually accomplished something useful. Because of you, Glee, I finally recycled my big ol’ bag o’ batteries.

Okay, let me explain. See, up until last week, I had been keeping this huge Ziploc bag stuffed with used up AA batteries under my kitchen sink. I didn’t know where to take them and I always seemed to forget to Google a nearby location. So, the bag o’ batteries just kept getting bigger.

And then I started seeing this Glee PSA about recycling batteries. Over. And over. And over again. [Read more…] about Glee. (Indirectly) Making Downtown Austin a Little More Environmentally Friendly

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

AG | March 6, 2012 |

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

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

Jude Galligan | December 5, 2011 |

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

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

AG | November 7, 2011 |

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.

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

AG | September 11, 2011 |

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.