Yaghi’s Pizzeria (FM
685, Pflugerville, TX) – August 2014
Few
places in the Austin metro-plex do good New York-style pizza, and this is one
of them. Yaghi’s has a half-dozen
locations in the area, but this is the only one I’ve been to due to closeness
to where I live. For this particular
time, we got delivery because we knew there’d be quality.
The
order process was easy to do online, as we were able to choose what toppings
went on which pie (as we were ordering multiple pizzas). We were given a time to expect the order by,
and it arrived within that time. The
pies were hot, and additional toppings were plentiful. The pieces of chicken on my pizza were large
slices, and covered it well. (Other
places I’ve ordered from would skimp on them.)
Yaghi’s
also has pick-up, if you want to get your order quicker, and there’s a small
seating area if you wish to consume your food there.
Opal Divine’s Marina
(Parmer & Mopac, Austin, TX) – August 2014
This
is a great location to keep coming back to, as I’ve always had good food and
great service. My social group meets
here once a month, so that’s one of the reasons why I’m here. Another is because this is a great place.
On
this visit, our server was Reema who greeted us with a smile (and I liked the
multi-colored eyeliner she had). All the
members of my group gave our orders to her throughout the night (some of us
ordering drinks at the same time others were ordering food), and she kept
everything straight.
Between
3-7 pm, the appetizers are half-priced as part of the Happy Hour deals, so
that’s something worth taking advantage of.
I enjoy the queso, as it always comes out nice and hot. My main course was the chicken fried chicken
plate, which was covered in peppery cream gravy, and came with two sides and a
biscuit. As that was only $10 that was a
full meal for a reasonable price, which is what the rest of the menu is
like. One of my friends got the grilled
chicken plate, which came with two sides, and choice of soup or salad, for $12,
which was another good deal. When these
were delivered, everything was prepared well, and very delicious. I liked what I got, but I’m going to get what
my friend had, because that looked just as good.
We
were at an inside dining room, but whether you’re there or sitting on the
patio, the servers are very attentive.
Not only is there a lot of seating available (and tables can be moved to
accommodate large parties), there’s a lot of parking as the lot is shared with
Fry’s and some other businesses. As
these businesses close for the evening, that makes even more parking available
for Opal’s.
There
are other locations of Opal Divine’s around Austin, and each have the same food
menu and beer selection, so no matter which side of town you’re on you won’t be
far from one.
Opal Divine’s Penn
Field (South Congress, Austin, TX) – August 2014
As a
local establishment, Opal Divine’s has a lot of locations scattered around the
Austin area. The Penn Field location is
in easy reach for those near Ben White Blvd, as it’s just off South
Congress. The curvy hill leads to a
parking lot in the vicinity of a classic water tower (which helps you locate
it).
We met
here for drinks and appetizers, and since it was before the dinner rush, were
able to be seated quickly. We were in
the back section by the bar, but there’s a more formal area towards the front,
as well as an outdoor patio. If wasn’t
for the heat of the summer afternoon, we would’ve opted for the patio.
The
menu selection is the same from one location to the other, so we knew what was
available to us. We went for the fried
pickles and the spinach dip, both of which were very tasty.
There
was attentive service from the gentleman working our table, who introduced
himself as “Squeezer.” I honestly
thought his name was “Caesar,” and realized the truth when I saw it printed on
the bill. During our time there,
Squeezer made sure that our drinks were refilled, and to see if there was
anything else we required.
Any
Opal Divine’s location I’ve been to has consistently provided good service and
a friendly atmosphere. That is why I
keep going back, and continue to recommend it to others.
Elements Massage (Louis Henna Blvd,
Round Rock, TX) – August 2014
I visited here
because there was a deal which appeared in Groupon, and I’ve never had a
professional massage done before. The
website had a lot of good information for me to decide what was the most
appropriate for me, and the receptionist answered some other questions. It was easy to schedule an appointment for
after work. Since it was close to home,
I figured I could keep that relaxation feeling for the remainder of the evening.
I opted for a
trigger massage, to work on those stress knots in my shoulder and lower
back. The room was low-lit, and the
temperature was comfortable. This was an
hour-long session, and it was only the beginning of what I’d need to fully
loosen my muscles. The technique which
was performed really felt good, and my massage therapist made me feel very
relaxed.
This was an
enjoyable experience, and do recommend everyone having a professional massage
done at some point. Look for a place
that’s convenient for you, but if you live near Elements, you should have yours
done here.
Kerbey Lane Café (South
Lamar, Austin, TX) – August 2014
Kerbey
Lane has been an Austin staple for many years, and there’s a number of
locations in the area, so there’s always one close to you. Like any business, when the opportunity
presents itself, they will move to a better location. This was my first visit to this location on
South Lamar. Located in a strip center,
it was easy to reach from the main road, and there was a lot of available
parking. As Kerbey Lane was also located
close to the road, it’s easy to spot as you’re going by.
As
I’ve been other locations, I knew what to expect on the menu. Kerbey Lane is all about comfort food. Because all the locations are open 24 hours,
you can get any item no matter what time of day it is. I chose the migas, which was a tasty mixture
of eggs, tortilla chips, and rice. I’ve
previously had Panini’s and other tasty sandwich, as well as the extremely
filling pancakes.
Our
service was fast, and our server was very attentive in the way she made sure
our drinks we being topped off. The
interior was open and airy, although it does get a little noisy due to the lack
of soft surfaces to absorb the sound.
For smokers, or those who wish to dine outdoors when the weather is
accommodating, the shaded patio on the front of the building is available.
This
was an enjoyable experience, and consistent with the quality I’ve come to
expect from Kerbey Lane.
Amy’s Ice Cream (and Phil’s
Ice House; South Lamar, Austin, TX) – August 2014
This
is a fun place to stop and get ice cream.
Being an Austin-based establishment, there’s a number of different
locations around the area where you can indulge. Many are paired with a Phil’s Ice House,
where burgers and other light fare are available. My friend and I passed on the food when we
walked in here, and went directly for the ice cream.
The
featured flavors are displayed on the wall, and sampling is encouraged. Try a bite or two, then decide on which one
you want. I normally go for milkshakes,
but this time I opted for the dish, as I could have a choice of candy smeared
into the ice cream. I opted for the dark
chocolate with the peanut butter cup bits.
My friend went for the regular chocolate with the M&M’s.
The
interior is open and airy, and reflects a style that is common to many
Austin-based businesses (with the “Keep Austin Weird” being felt throughout,
even if it’s not specifically displayed).
There’s plenty of seating inside, as well as some outside. The tables aren’t far apart, but they aren’t
spaced so close that you feel like you’re on top of the people next to
you. This creates a more comfortable
atmosphere.
There
are many places in Austin you can go to get ice cream, and Amy’s should be on
the top of your list to help strengthen the local economy. This locale is nice, as it’s situated next to
a playground (which I don’t believe is part of the establishment), but it gives
a place for the young ones to go while the adults enjoy their tasty pleasures.
Thundercloud Subs
(South Lamar, Austin, TX) – August 2014
This is an Austin staple for good food fast. It’s not “fast food” because everything is
made to order, and the ingredients are fresh.
There are many location in the Austin area, so no matter where you are,
there’s one near you.
On this visit I had the roast beef on wheat. The selection of cheeses, veggies, and
dressings available at Thundercloud aren’t as extensive as national chains, but
the prices are proportionally lower too.
While there are some “specialty” menu items, as a general rule this is a
decent place for you basic submarine sandwich.
The location here is situated on a corner, so there’s
easy access from either street. The
tables are spaced around so you can have a more intimate dining experience, or
they can be pulled closer when a large group of friends have gathered. There’s even a reading library of used books
sitting nearby, so if you wanted to have a relaxing afternoon hanging out there
you can feed your mind as well as your body.
Red Lobster (Anderson
Lane, Austin, TX) – August 2014
The address for this is confusing, as it says
“Anderson Lane,” when it’s actually near where 183 and IH-35 meet. The interior was nice, and the bathrooms were
very clean. I met some friends here, and
the service I received was good even though the food was rather lackluster.
The
pecan-crusted tilapia had far more breading on it than meat, and the fish
wasn’t as flaky as it should be. It
seems like perhaps it wasn’t cooked quite as long as it could’ve been. I added a lobster tail to my order, and what
I received was one of the tiniest portions I’d ever seen. At first I thought it was a shrimp sitting on
the plate. Pulling the meat out of the
shell, it amounted to six small bites.
Hardly satisfying of my lobster craving, and not worth the additional
charge.
I
recalled eating frequently at Red Lobster years ago (both this specific
location, and other ones in the region) and watched it go from a place with
quality food for reasonable prices to something pretty average for a higher
cost. It’d been a while, so I figured
I’d give them another try to see if things had improved, and saw they hadn’t.
I feel
I didn’t get the value for what I paid for my meal. There’s nothing my server could’ve done to
improve this, because she has no control over the way things are prepared. The cooks do everything the exact same way
with little variation. I don’t plan on
coming back here (or any Red Lobster location) any time soon, because I doubt
anything will be any different.
Baskin Robbins (FM 685,
Pflugerville, TX) – August 2014
This
is close to where I live, so it’s always a good place to come over and get some
cold treats. As it’s part of a strip center,
which means there’s a limited amount (but decent) amount of parking. There’s also a small sitting area in the
middle of the parking lot, which makes a nice place to enjoy your goodies when
the weather is nice.
Every
time I’ve been here, I’ve always gotten service with a smile, and good value
for my dollar. I find the best is
getting the Build Your Own Sundaee, as you get to choose how many scoops you
want of your desired flavor, and add whatever toppings you’d like.
Bob Wertz Park (Windy Point, Cedar
Park, TX) – August 2014
The water levels
of Lake Travis might be a couple dozen feet lower than where it should be, but
that just means there’s more beach available to enjoy. And on a weekend when the weather is nice,
this is a good place to go. Maps can
show you the way, but even just the drive in quite the experience.
Turning north from
Route 620 on to Comanche Trail, the road appears to dead end at the Oasis, but
there’s much more beyond that. Nestled
against the hillside, Comanche Trail becomes very narrow as it descends, but
still provides a spectacular view of the lake.
Unfortunately there’s no place to pull off to snap a couple pictures.
After you pass the
entrance to Hippie Hollow, Bob Wertz Park is only a short distance beyond
that. Because this is a State Park,
there’s a charge of $10 per car coming in (so carpool to get the most bang for
your buck). Beyond the entry station are
some parking lots and grassy areas. Due
to the lower water level, you have to go a bit further to get to the
beach. That’s an adventure.
What used to be
the boat launch now serves as the ramp to down to the beach. Once you’re off the paved portion, you then
drive over the dunes the remainder of the way.
(Interesting to keep in mind that you’re driving on what was the bottom
of Lake Travis only a decade ago.) While
there are some road cones set in sections so you don’t go beyond those points,
there are no true trails. Drive slowly,
and watch for sand patches, rocks, and buried branches. You don’t need to have four-wheel drive to
traverse this section, but you do need to be careful you don’t get stuck or
bottom out when going over the terrain.
Be sure you arrive and depart from here when there’s daylight.
We had our folding
chairs set up in the water, so we were able to enjoy the motion of the
waves. Our cars were parked nearby, so
it was only a short distance back to grab more munchies or refresh a
beverage. It’s a public beach, but
there’s no garbage cans around. Be sure
to cart out what you bring in. And while
there’s a park ranger which drives by every now and then, there’s no
life-guards on duty. Swim at your own
risk and level of ability. It’s a
gradual grade so you can wade pretty far out, just watch for submerged
branches, drop-offs, and undertows.
Bring plenty of
water to drink and lots of sunscreen. An
umbrella to create some shade is not a bad idea also. That way you both stay hydrated and lessen
your chances of sunburn. This is a good
place to spend a summer afternoon with family or friends.
Texican (Lakeline Blvd,
Austin, TX) – September 2014
This
is one of my favorite places in Austin for Tex-Mex, and every visit I’ve had
both great food and excellent service.
When I lived near this location, I was here on a frequent enough basis
that I was able to try just about everything on the menu. Now that this is across town from me, I only
come over for “special occasions,” and it’s always worth the trip.
My
dish of choice, the one that tops my comfort food, is the El Paso
enchiladas. The tangy red sauce is a
great combination to the hot melted cheese inside the tortillas. With the rice on the side (I pass on the
beans), that is an excellent way to mop up the remaining sauce. An appetizer of queso which can start this
meal is also useful when applied on top of any rice which is still present. It is a heavenly dish.
There’s
a lot of parking due to the location, although watch the crazy driving passing
through. A variety of drinks are
available at the bar, which is a good place to wait for you table to be ready
(on those rare occasions it starts to get crowded). With both indoor and outdoor seating areas,
there’s plenty of room. The outdoor
seating is not only covered block rain or sunlight, there’s also misters
present to cool you down on the hot days, and flat-screen TVs mounted at various
places to keep up on sporting events.
Everything
about this place is awesome. Quality
food at reasonable prices, mixed with a friendly atmosphere. You can’t ask for anything more.
Marble Slab (Lakeline Blvd, Austin,
TX) – September 2014
This is not a bad
place to go for tasty treats when in the vicinity of Lakeline Mall. It’s located in the back part of a plaza
which also has a Barnes & Noble and PetCo, so there’s a decent amount of
parking.
The draw here the
various toppings (like M&M’s, nuts, or other candy bits) which you can
choose to have smooshed into your ice cream.
I tried samples of the peanut butter, and banana flavors, both of which
I found very good. There was also a
mango flavor, which the owner informed us this was the only location in Austin
where you could get that. He wasn’t
clear if it was that store specifically, or something only available at Marble
Slab (as opposed to other chains, like Baskin-Robbins, or Amy’s). The mango wasn’t bad, but I prefer the actual
fruit.
Also, all the
flavors are advertised as being made with “real milk.” In many years of eating actual ice cream (as
opposed to “soft serve”), it’s always made with real milk, so that made me
wonder if there were places which didn’t use that.
The main item I
had today was the Peanut Butter Galaxy.
This was chocolate ice cream with Reese’s Pieces, and crumbled Peanut
Butter Cups, and gobs of peanut butter all mixed in. This was not a “hot melted peanut butter
topping,” but the real thing. I watched
the server open the jar of Jif and pull out a heaping spoonful. Wow, this was good.
There’s limited
seating area inside, and only a small bench out front (so no real outdoor
seating). The interior was clean, and
well-lit.
Tarka Indian Kitchen
(University Blvd, Round Rock, TX) – September 2014
I
hadn’t had Indian food in a bit, and didn’t feel like doing much waiting, so
that’s one reason why I came back here.
Another reason was the food here is always good. Situated in the far corner of the shopping
plaza (opposite from where IKEA is), there’s plenty of parking, and a limited
patio area for some outdoor seating.
Everything
is made to order, so it’s hot and fresh when it comes out. I ordered my favor chicken vindaloo, and it
satisfied the craving I had. Service was
good and friendly, and the atmosphere was very casual. I continue to have great experiences here, so
that’s why I keep coming back.
Phil’s Ice House (South
Lamar, Austin, TX) – September 2014
If
you’re looking for a place in Austin to get a burger, then Phil’s Ice House
should be one for you to check-out.
Locally owned, they’re quite often paired with Amy’s Ice Cream in-house,
so you don’t have that far to go to get dessert. This particular location has the Amy’s station
up front, and there’s a sign directing you to go to the other side of the wall
for Phil’s section. That could be a
little better displayed.
I
ordered the BBQ burger as it off the menu, only because there’s less tinkering
I’d need to do. Looking at all the
options available, there’s something for every taste, and I liked many of those
options. I could’ve easily done the
“build your own” for $2 more than what I paid for my standard menu item, but
since it would’ve ended up being about the same with what I would’ve put on it.
Everything
is made to order, so there’s a wait, but it’s not a significant one. The burgers are cooked the same way, about
medium, so no variation for those who want something a bit rarer or more
well-done. My burger was still juicy,
but not greasy. The cheese and BBQ sauce
oozed off into the basket it was served in.
The fires I got with it were there to mop it up. While I chose regular fries, the option of
sweet-potato was also available.
While
napkins are available on the table, there was no restroom or hand-washing
station available. That would’ve been
nice to have, and that was really my only strike again this place. The prices were pretty reasonable. And with some parking and some outdoor
tables, it makes a great place to spend an evening (or the day when the weather
is cooler).
Pluckers (IH-35, Round
Rock, TX) – September 2014
If a
place is good, then you keep coming back.
If a place is great, then you introduce your friends to it. And if a place has excellent service, then
that needs to be noted.
I told
my friend Bill I’d take him to Pluckers for his birthday, as it was some place
he hadn’t been, and I figured he’d like it.
It was an early Saturday afternoon when we arrived. While there was a short wait for a place
indoors, we were able to get seated immediately in the Coop (the covered patio
portion). As someone who frequented
Pluckers, I knew what I wanted before even walking in the door (boneless basket
with Spicy BBQ sauce, waffles fries with country gravy). After Bill commented that he’d never been
here before, our server (Mitchell) was able to describe a number of different
sauces, and Gold Rush was chosen.
When
our appetizer of cheese sticks and beverages were brought out, Mitchell asked
Bill if he liked pickles. I assumed it
was question directed towards the side salad Bill ordered with his wings, and
so did Bill, so he said yes. Mitchell
brought out a free order of fried pickles for Bill in honor of his first
visit. That was awesome, and I’d never
seen that done previously. To me, that
kicked up the great service into the excellent range.
On a
hot September day, the misters keep the Coop cool. The food was delivered fast, and everything
was delicious. The side salad was much
larger than Bill expected, and after that (and the double set of appetizers we
had), he was only able to consume a small number of his wings. That’s why there’s a take-home box, so
left-overs can be enjoyed later.
Once
again, this local Austin establishment has provided me both a good meal and a
good experience. I highly recommend this
location if you’re in the Round Rock area, or to frequent any of the other
Pluckers locales in the area. It’s
awesome, and worth it.
Texican (Lakeline Blvd,
Austin, TX) – November 2014
As this is one of my favorite places in Austin for
Tex-Mex, I’ve raved about the good food and great service I’ve had here. Once again I was in the area, so I treated
myself to the El Paso cheese enchiladas (which are my comfort food). This time I sat at the tables near the bar
section, so the change of scenery was nice.
Everything about the visit was excellent, and it continues to reinforce
why I keep coming back here. This place
is awesome!
The Egg and I (Anderson
Lane, Austin, TX) – November 2014
After a full morning of skating at the nearby ice
rink, my friend and I went here for lunch.
I’m sure the staff was amused as we carried our skates and gear in with
us. My friend had never been to any of
these restaurants previously, and I hadn’t been to this particular location
(but because I’d been to others, I knew what to expect on the menu).
This is located right in the same plaza as the rink,
it was only a short walk for us. There
was no need to move our cars. There was
plenty of parking available. There’s
limited seating outdoors, but plenty inside.
A private room also exists for large parties or special groups.
We had friendly service, and great food. My friend consumed the entire carafe of water
along with her blueberry waffles. I had
the largest glass of chocolate milk they had available, which was refilled
during my meal. I enjoyed scrambled eggs
with cheese, turkey sausage, home fries, and a muffin. Even though this was during the “lunch rush,”
it wasn’t very busy so there wasn’t a long wait for our food.
The area has easy access from Anderson Lane, and a
short distance from Mopac (Loop 1) or Burnett, so it’s convenient. Like other locations of this chain, it’s only
open for breakfast and lunch. This is a
good place to stop for any type of breakfast food.
Kerbey Lane Café (183 &
Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX) – 28 November 2014
This
location continues to provide good food and excellent service. As this is located in a strip center, there’s
plenty of available parking, and has easy access from either 183 or Anderson
Mill Road. Being open 24 hours, you’ll
always be able to get your comfort food here, although it does get very busy
during the dinner hours.
We
happened to hit this right after the dinner rush, so we were seated
quickly. Outdoor seating was available
on the side patio, but we opted for the indoors just because of the chill in
the air. The menu hasn’t changed in
years, but you should always open it to see what the seasonal specials
are. We went for the comfort food of
migas, which is a tasty mixture of eggs, tortilla chips, and rice.
There
isn’t a Kerbey Lane where I live, so when I have an opportunity to partake of
one, I jump at it. You should too. Not only do you get good food, but you’re
supporting an Austin-based business, so you know your money is helping the
local economy.
Mesa Rosa (Anderson Mill
Road, Austin, TX) – 29 November 2014
When I first arrived in Austin over a decade ago,
this location of Mesa Rosa was the first place I went to get Tex-Mex. It continued to be a place which I frequented
when I lived over on that side of time.
Now when I have the opportunity to revisit the old neighborhood, it’s
nice to stop in.
We timed it perfectly arriving just after a large
party had arrived, so there was no issues with getting seated. Cheese enchiladas are my favored dish, but I
went for something different. The
chicken chimichanga was a nice mix of meat and cheese in a lightly-fried
tortilla. My date had the chalupas,
which she enjoyed. We’d started with a
queso, which was lumpier than it normally should be, but it was still
good. A round of Mexican martinis were
nice to have during the meal.
It’s good to be able to come back to places which you
know are good, and have food which you like.
The atmosphere is cozy, although the seats in the booths have seen
better days. This is an establishment
which I’ll continue to come to.
Shogun Japanese
Restaurant (Stone Hill Center, Pflugerville, TX) – December 2014
I’ve
gone here fairly regular for the regular menu items, so when I had an offer to
try to the grill option, I jumped at the chance. A hot grill with about eight seats on one
side creates a stage for a culinary spectacle.
We were able to be seated quickly, and were placed with another small
party so there was a full table of guests.
Once all orders are placed, the server brings out an onion soup and a
small salad. A few minutes later the
chief comes out and starts the presentation.
An egg
gets bounced and spun around to start the show, while the fried rice is
prepared. Vegetables are sautéed, and a
column of flame is created out of onion pieces and large amounts of cooking
oil. Thus the first two portions of your
meal are done. The chef will pick up
some small chunks of rice with the spatula and flick them in turn to those
sitting there, in an attempt to land the bit of food in the person’s
mouth. Sometimes the aim is true, and
other times it isn’t. It doesn’t really
matter, because it adds to the fun at the table.
The
meats go on next, and depending on what you got, some is done quicker than
others. The chief wields a large fork and
a sharp knife to expertly reduce the meat down to smaller portions as it
cooks. As the meat finishes, it is then
served to each patron who ordered it.
Once that is completed, the chief thanks everyone for allowing him to
entertain you, turns the heat off the grill, and departs.
During
the show, it’s common to work on the earlier portions of the meal while the
latter ones are being prepared. It’s not
required to do so, but allows it to feel like there’s a multi-course aspect to
it. The work of the chef to spin his
instruments around, entertain the audience, and cook the meal at the same time
it worth seeing. Because you’re looking
directly at your chef, the meal was prepared exactly to your tastes. Its great fun to do this, and worth the extra
cost. This is something worth doing when
you have a large gathering of friends.
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