Search Results for: Dillo

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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UPDATE: Austin Gets Raw, Y'all

AG | July 8, 2009 |

9/30/2009

UPDATE: Just got word that Borboleta is now offering bicycle delivery. The bicycle delivery service goes to downtown and Clarksville. It’s provided by Beat the Clock bike messengers. They will deliver to downtown or Clarksville for lunch or dinner. There is a $5 delivery fee and a $20 minimum. Please allow ample time for delivery (currently up to an hour).

Most Austinites are familiar with the raw food movement in some fashion, but many of these same Austinites still don’t “get it.” The reality is, most people like their meals cooked. Can’t say I blame you if you think it’s a bit weird, but I will say this – the “living cuisine” movement is super healthy, and when done well, actually pretty delicious. And downtown dwellers are very fortunate to have a living cuisine restaurant right in the neighborhood (well, technically Clarksville, but RIGHT on the edge of downtown Austin). The name of the place is Borboleta Gourmet.

Borboleta’s food is organic, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, kosher, soy-free, and trans-fat free. Sounds like everything a true southerner would hate, right? Well, I’m here to tell you – it’s really good. I found out about the restaurant through an E-mail campaign from the restaurant , and I was intrigued enough to stop by. I took the ‘Dillo to Whole Foods, and walked west 4 blocks. Borboleta Gourmet is actually inside Bella Hair Salon (although the entities are not related, I’m told).

You walk in, and the atmosphere is quaint, but polished. It’s a small cafe setting, with only about 6 tables. There are two large commercial refrigerators that house most of the food. I think they are still in the process of “figuring” out the service, but when I ordered, I simply grabbed the covered plate of food I wanted from the refrigerator, gave it to the cashier (who prepped it and touched up the presentation), paid, and chose my seat. The food was delivered only moments later. Easy and quick! And so good.

I like the atmosphere of the place, the fact that it’s raw, vegan, soy-free, etc etc, and that the menu rotates weekly (so it’s consistently different and interesting). You can also order brewed coffee, so it’s not only a good place to eat lunch, but also just chill and read the paper.

Borboleta is the type of unique/eclectic small, local business that I want to see more of in and near downtown Austin. It offers a unique food experience, is convenient, and supports the local economy with a function that a wide-array of folks can enjoy. And it’s just NEAT. I don’t know of another place like it in Austin (with the possible exception of Casa de Luz, but Borboleta is really pretty different from the Casa de Luz concept and vibe, as well). I think downtown Austin residents are lucky to have these kinds of fun and different choices at their disposal and should support them accordingly.

Contact Info: 1221 W Sixth St, Austin, TX 78703, (512) 828-7404, www.borboletagourmet.com

Hours: Mon-Fri: 8-8, Sat: 10-5, Sun: Closed.

Carless and Hopeful: Public Transportation in Austin

AG | June 1, 2009 |

I sold my car a month ago. I sold it for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being that I feel pretty comfortable with public transportation. Even though I’ve had a car since I was 16 years old, I’m an Atlanta transplant, and Atlanta has a successful rail system and a pretty expansive bus system (called MARTA) that compliments the rail stops nicely – so many people who do have vehicles still use public transportation fairly regularly. When I made the decision to go carless, I knew Austin’s public transportation system was not perfect, but I also know that the more people who use it, the more quickly and comprehensively the necessary growth will occur. Since the rail isn’t fully functional yet, I’ve been using only the Dillo and the buses (and my walkin’ shoes!). My experience thus far can be summed up in two words: Walking and Waiting.

Walking (and the Dillo). I’m lucky. I live and work in downtown Austin, so for most of my day to day needs, such as groceries and drug store items, I’ll simply walk to the downtown Austin CVS on 6th and Congress or take the Dillo to Whole Foods on Lamar. Since I can do this once every couple of days, I don’t have to buy too much at one time and my purchases aren’t too much to carry. I’m very lucky that I a) don’t have to buy for a large family, b) live and work in downtown Austin and I have some options that are fairly convenient to me. Lots of people outside of the urban Austin core do not have the Dillo and often do not have many (if any) neighborhood services close by. Walking is great for me, but only because I can schedule my errands to where I don’t have to be in too much of a time crunch and to where it’s acceptable if I get a little sweaty and less presentable. For those who don’t have nearby living/working situations, and have to arrive at work in heels with the expectation of looking clean and fresh, and with the expectation of being on time….well, walking may not always be an attractive option. That’s where our bus system should come in.

Waiting. I like the actual busses themselves. They are clean, air-conditioned, and many have wi-fi available. The problems I’ve experienced come more from time considerations and the bus-stops. Although I find the stop locations fairly acceptable in terms of getting to the places I need to go (at least in Central/East Austin), the unfortunate reality is that they only come around each stop about once an hour (Atlanta is on a 15-20 minute schedule. Although I realize Atlanta is a much larger city, I just have to point this out because it seems to make all the difference in the world). And since the schedules aren’t exact with the actual bus arrivals, it’s very easy to miss your scheduled bus and be forced to wait an additional hour to ride. And God help you if you have to transfer buses, because for every transfer, your travel time and your chances of missing your scheduled bus seem to multiply exponentionally. And while I recognize that the bus-stops need to be sleek and discreet in terms of their look and feel in order to blend in with their surroundings, I think EVERY bus stop should have at least one covered bench. Standing in the heat of the day (or the rain or any other inclement weather) for an hour or MORE waiting for your bus is NO FUN and certainly would deter those who have other options at their disposable.

I can’t wait until the rail is up and running, because I know the public transportation options will increase dramatically, even with the comparatively limited route the rail will travel. I don’t think rail is going to eliminate the need for a strong bus system in Austin, however, and the reality is that the only way we’re going to see improvement and progress is to increase ridership so that officials know that this really is an important issue for each and every demographic in the city. And public transit is important to everyone, at least that’s what everybody keeps saying. I hear a lot of urbanites talking the talk, but I don’t see many of them walking the walk (or riding the bus).

Buy a bus pass, ride the Dillo.

-AG

My Saturday – A Day in the Life of an Urbanite

AG | November 15, 2008 |

9:00 a.m. – Awaken to my view. Make some french toast and a fruit cup. Eat it, then out the door to the nearby gym, the Tower Health Spa connected to the 555.

12:00noon – Off to Whole Foods on 6th. I take the trolley, or The ‘Dillo as it’s known. I have a breakfast taco and a water, then I do a little grocery shopping. Trolley back to my place.

1:30 p.m. – I walk from my place to Roar, which is on 5th across from Eddie V’s. I’m getting a little glam in hair, a la a chunk of bright blonde in my bangs. Rory is the bomb, and he does an awesome job.

3:00 p.m. – Come home to take a rest and get ready for my Saturday night. My next door neighbor drops by a made-from-scratch pecan pie (the crust is made from scratch and everything!). It is AWESOME having neighbors that are just a step or two away!

6:00 p.m. – I’m on my way out to go walk to the movie theatre and have a couple of beers. That’s right, I’m headed to The Alamo Drafthouse on 6th.

It was a great day, and it’s going to be an awesome night.

A (non-work) day in the life of an urbanite. Pretty great.