TripAdvisor Review Archives 12 -- 2016

InnerSpace Caverns (IH-35, Georgetown, TX) – June 2016

This would be my fourth visit here within the last decade, but it would be the first for my fiancée.  Since the weather was hot, and humidity was high, I let her know this would be a good activity to stay cool.  The exterior of the location hadn’t changed much from any of my previous visits, and there was still plenty of parking this weekend afternoon.  Our timing was perfect, as we were able to join the “Adventure Tour” which was only minutes away from departing.

Previously, guests would ride a short tram down a man-made opening to enter the caverns, but now we just walked down the steep incline.  From a maintenance aspect that made sense, but it was something which pointed to change within the caves.  Our guide was knowledgeable, and provided all the explanation of how the caverns were discovered and what the various geologic aspects were.

But I noticed the interior of the caves were far hotter than on any of my previous visits, and it was very humid.  The design of the tram tunnel had been done in such a way to keep the cooler air in the cave, and that wasn’t happening now.  I’m not sure if it was because due to the current weather there had been no “cool air” to sink down and enter into the cave.  It was not the “escape the heat” activity I’d intended.

My fiancée felt the tour moved too fast, as there wasn’t a lot of time to enjoy the sights.  She understood the necessity of shepherding the groups through, but she would’ve liked to have a few moments more at each of the stops.  I recalled the past tours I was on being longer, and allowing a bit more “linger” time, especially for taking pictures.  Of the commercial caves in the area (and I’ve been to them all), this is still the best one.

Bombay Bistro (Highway 183, Austin, TX) – June 2016

My fiancée and I came here to celebrate an anniversary recreate our first date.  Since we’ve always had good service and great food here, this was a place we enjoy coming back to.  We tried some different items on the menu on this trip, and found some new favorites.  The cashew roll appetizer was extremely tasty due to the very thin breading.  The korma she had and the kadai I tried were new flavors that were spicy without being hot.  While it’s fun to have “the favorite dish” every time, it’s equally fun to experience new items.  The menu here has a lot.  Our service was as pleasant as always, and the interior warm & inviting.

Manuel’s (Jollyville Road, Austin, TX) – June 2016

I had a craving for good Mexican food place, and as this was a place my fiancée and I drove past often, we decided to check it out.  We arrived at the tail end of the Saturday evening dinner rush, so we didn’t need reservations (our wait was short).  The interior was spacious, and not at all noisy (as is common for Austin venues).  We started with an appetizer of chili con queso, and my fiancée had never devoured so much cheese product.  That’s how good we thought this was, with the right mix of tomatoes and chilies.  My main course was the ranchera enchiladas (cheese) which had a tangy flavor without an over-powering spice level.  She had lomo de res, and the Black Angus beef never tasted so good.  My fiancée said this was one of the best cuts of meat she’d ever gotten in Austin.  She also liked how the garlic butter soaked into the rice, which just enhanced the flavor even more.  With a great wine list, and awesome top-notch service from Welton & Connor, my fiancée has found a brand new favorite restaurant that we’ll be returning to frequently.  Our only quibble was the AC didn’t seem to work as well as it could have (so it would get hot for a few minutes now and then).  We didn’t let that detract in any way from the excellent experience we had here.  Thank you very much for such a great meal!

Pluckers Lakeline (Lakeline Mall Blvd, Austin, TX) – July 2016

I’d been to all the Pluckers locations in my area over the years, so I have my favorite haunts.  My fiancée wanted to try a different venue, so we ventured up here.  Being a free-standing building in a plaza, there was plenty of parking available.  Seating was immediately available either in the spacious dining area, or at the bar (we opted for the bar).  There were other tables open on the covered patio (known as the “Coop”).  Our food was very good, just like every other visit I’ve had to this Austin-born establishment, although the service wasn’t the best.  Considering it wasn’t that crowded that afternoon, the bartender wasn’t quite attentive as what I’m used to (as we had to ask for utensils and paper towels, which were delivered after our food).  I considered this just a “one-time” off-experience.  We enjoy going to Pluckers and will continue to do so, because of the great quality of food we get.

Pinballz Arcade (Highway 183, Austin, TX) – July 2016

This is located in a strip mall (tucked between a Burlington Coat Factory and Hobby Lobby, so there’s plenty of parking available).  True to the name, the main draw is the many pinball machines (most from the 80’s or 90’s), although there’s a selection of classic arcade games too.  Additionally there’s a large air hockey table and “mini-bowl” (which combines bowling and skee-ball).  A well-stocked bar and decent menu items round out what’s available here.  Like their competition, Pinballz has a reloadable account card which could be used to play the larger games, although we still had to dump quarters in the pinball machines and arcade games (most running between 50-75 cents).  The area is clean and spacious, and very inviting.  Our only quibble was not being able to use the account card on the machines (hopefully that’s something which will be corrected later).  It’s a fun alternative to the similar nearby locations because of the different items available.

Starbucks (Aviation Rd, Queensbury, NY) – July 2016

While visiting the region, we stopped at this location every morning for a week, as it was the closest to us.  The interior space was nice, and still retains the look of the restaurants this property used to be.  The passage to the bathroom location was a little narrow, but accessible.  The service my fiancée and I had during the week here was very good, considering the drive-thru customers had ordered filled before those who were inside.  That was the only quibble we had.  The mocha and hot chocolates we got every day were done exactly as we wanted them.

O’Toole’s (Aviation Rd, Queensbury, NY) – July 2016

When I lived in the area (more than a decade ago) this was a place I frequented, so it made since to stop by for lunch when I was visiting the region.  The interior had only changed slightly, but the ambiance had retained the welcoming feel I was used to.  It made a great return to familiar memories.  My fiancée got the bone-in wings, and I got the boneless.  Both were very meaty and filling, and exactly as I remembered them.  We sat inside, which was a good choice because there was a short shower which got the outdoor patio area wet.  Service was excellent, bathrooms clean, and it wasn’t too noisy or crowded.  Thus was worth crossing time zones to come back to.

Pirates Cove Mini-Golf (Route 9, Queensbury, NY) – July 2016

My fiancée and I were on a quest to find the best (and most-interesting) mini-golf course in the area.  Most locations were flat and had very little in the way challenging obstacles.  This was the exception, and during the week we were in the region, we visited here three times.  Our best score was 10 over par, but we had a lot of fun.  Since we were able to visit in the middle of the day, we were able to enjoy the course without them being overly crowded.  The change in elevation throughout the courses added to the fun, and water rushing nearby kept it cool on the hot summer days.  There’s plenty of parking, and it was easy to turn into from the main road.  Reasonable bathroom facilities and vending machines allowed refreshments to be available, be we were able to walking in with our own drinks.  Staff was friendly, and they kept the course groomed of leaves and other debris.  This was the best place we found in the Glens Falls-Lake George region.

Lumberjack Mini-Golf (Route 9, Lake George, NY) – July 2016

On our quest to find the best mini-golf in the area, we stopped here and found it rather lacking.  Set back from the road, we couldn’t see the course until we pulled in.  This was 18 holes of putting green, with very little elevation change or obstacles.  No shade, and no way a breeze could blow through the course to cool it down.  Cash only, but in exchange you’re given tokens for “free ice cream” which only amounted to a small soft cone.  Inexpensive to play, but not even worth that.

Prospect Mountain State Park (Lake George, NY) – July 2016

To get a great view of Lake George, and the surrounding area, this is a great place to go.  If you have the time, then enjoy the hiking trail, otherwise you can take the memorial highway which comes up the west-side of the mountain.  While the elevation only goes up about 2000 feet, it’s enough to give a view of about 100 miles.  We drove up the highway, and passed on the other look-out points along the way, because we wanted the view from the summit.  The highway ends at a parking area, where you can use a guide bus or short walking path to reach the very top.  Considering the ease of getting here, this was a good place for a picnic and/or sight-seeing.  Because it’s a state park, its $10 bucks for the car-load to use the highway, so worth it for views.

Cooper’s Cave Ale Company (Sagamore Street, Glens Falls, NY) – July 2016

I visit the area once a year, and this is one of my favored places to return to.  I made two visits during the week I was here, and noting them both in a single entry, as the first one was filled with bad experiences, but the second was the wonderful service I’d come to expect from this great establishment.  The first visit was a Monday evening with my fiancée and parents for dinner.  The server (I believe her name was Emily) got most of the orders incorrect.  The fish & chips my dad ordered came without the chips (his fries didn’t arrive until his meal was done).  Only my buffalo chicken wrap came out correct.  At the conclusion of the meal, the server brought the check, and then vanished.  We were apparently the last table of her shift.  We sat on the patio for another fifteen minutes waiting for her to come and pick up the payment.  Finally, we took the bill in and handed it to the servers at the bar, and let them know we’d been abandoned.  As this was the first experience here for my fiancée, it wasn’t a good one to start with.

Now my fiancée and I came back a few evenings later, and we had a fabulous experience.  Our server (Cassie) was extremely attentive and very friendly.  My fiancée had the chicken Caesar wrap and I went for the “build a burger.”  Everything came out the way it was supposed to, and was extremely delicious.  This was the experience which I was used to, as the friendly nature exuded from the cozy atmosphere.  I even showed Cassie the review I wrote last year about my awesome visit then.  My fiancée agreed this was a great place, and she now looked forward to coming back here during our once-a-year visits.

Lookout Café (“board walk” Lake George, NY) – July 2016

We stopped here for lunch while waiting for a boat ride, as it was close to where we were going.  Situated on the upper level above boardwalk shops, it gives a nice view of the lake.  The dining area is airy and covered, so it was comfortable to sit there on a summer day.  We each took advantage of the “create your own burger” option, which resulted in a really good meal.  I had the pepper jack cheese and BBQ sauce on mine.  We got there before the lunch rush, so service was good and the atmosphere friendly.  Prices were reasonable, and quality decent.

Lake George Steamboat Company (Lake George, NY) – July 2016

While my fiancée and I were visiting the area, we opted for a cruise on the Minne-Ha-Ha in order to see the lake.  This was the only paddle-wheel boat, and the only one-hour cruise (as all the other boats had significantly longer journeys).  At a cost of $15 per person, it was reasonable.  Before the cruise began, we had to wait for every passenger to have their souvenir photo taken.  We declined to have this done (as we weren’t going to purchase it), and received a little pushback for it.  Certainly in the age of everyone capturing everyone else’s images to place on social media, we don’t necessarily want someone else taking our photo.  The tour was fine, as we went up the east side of the lake, and then came back down the other side.  Some of the descriptions of the area were hard to hear over the PA system, and we kept changing locations in order to be able to listen better.  The front of the ship was the best, but we still were unable to hear over half of what was said.  One of the more notable items was a small replica of the Statue of Liberty on the east bank, and the boardwalk area on the west, plus being able to see Fort William Henry from a distance.  I’ve been on the cruise before (about a decade ago), and it was much clearer in the presentation then.  Overall, not a bad experience.

Log Jam (Route 9, Lake George, NY) – July 2016

After our original dinner plans changed, we came here because of the reputation for quality this has.  Because we called ahead, we didn’t have a wait.  The interior had a nice rustic feel, with small separate dining areas (as opposed to a single large one).  A single giant salad bar (with bread station) is centrally-located, and ended up being the best part of the meal.  My fiancée and I each ordered a NY Sirloin, but I asked for mine with mashed and my fiancée for a baked potato.  I was given a baked, and she was given broccoli for the side.  Not quite what we’d asked for, so we shared these side items to balance our meals (as the server had not brought our plates out, so we couldn’t report upon arrival of the error).

We’d both asked for our steaks to be done medium rare, and they weren’t at all.  When we cut into them, blood still poured out (not juice).  As we sliced them open, we saw the steaks were simply browned on the outside, and completely uncooked in the center.  We had to wait about ten minutes for our server to come check on us (as it appeared she was the only person working this room) to report the issue.  Once our steaks were returned to us, they came out well-done and dry.  The taste was horrible.  Worse, when this was reported to the server, she didn’t seem to care.  There was no apology for the order being incorrect, nor any offer to adjust the bill.  Since we were unable to locate any managers in order to fix this concern, then we were obligated to pay a high-price for a meal which was complete crap.  As we visit the area once a year, we have let others know of this experience.  Suffice to say, this did not live up to the reputation nor is it an establishment we’ll return to on future visits to the region.

Davidson Brothers (Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY) – July 2016

As a former resident of the region, I visit the area once a year to re-enjoy my old haunts.  This was also an opportunity to introduce my fiancée to one of my favorite spots when I lived in Glens Falls.  It was a nice day, so we were able to sit outside, and my fiancée liked how the tables had been set up in the alley.  Our servers were very attentive and friendly (one was a trainee).  My classic Black Forest sandwich was no longer on the menu, so I went for the buffalo chicken wrap, which was a very acceptable substitute.  My other favored dish was the buffalo chips, which my fiancée devoured as she talked about how good they were.  The atmosphere of the place was just as friendly as I remembered it, and I’ve always had a great experience here.  This was another top-notch visit.  The interior still had the same charm, and my fiancée felt the sense of history from the building.  New-to-me was the gratuity included on the bill.  While I understand the reasoning behind it, I still like being able to reward a specific server who does an exceptional job.  My fiancée looks forward to coming here when we next visit the region, as she loved it so much.

Hyde Collection (Warren Street, Glens Falls, NY) – July 2016

This is located just minutes from downtown, and easily accessible.  The museum was formerly the residence of the Hyde family, who completed construction of this Florentine Renaissance style home in the early 20^th Century.  Since it was first opened to the public, it’s expanded into an adjoining similar-style home.  When my fiancée and I arrived, the current exhibition was on how the Hyde family acquired a Rembrandt.  I recalled coming to this location in grade-school, before the additions were done, so I was able to provide a guided tour to period-era furnishings and extensive art collection.  One of the docents was extremely helpful in assisting us in locating the original Jane Austen works nestled among the hundreds of books in the library.  One of the things which resonated with me was this once was a home, so it was interesting to imagine the daily life here.  The tours are self-guided, and a great piece of local history.

Steininger’s (Main Street, Salem, NY) – July 2016

I’d been here once last year and had decent quality, so I thought it was a good suggestion when my fiancée and I were to be taken here.  During the time, both the menu and quality had changed, and not for the better.  While this was primarily a “soup and sandwich” shop, most of the meat selection was ham-based (which limited what we could consume).  The only available turkey was pressed deli-style, thus something processed (as opposed to actual meat).  The soup of the day was broccoli cheese, but I was given a potato soup which had neither broccoli nor cheese in it.  The “half-sandwich and soup” meal was of meager size, with only a single slice of processed meat on it.  Not worth the value we paid, and essentially this turned out as simply an appetizer, as opposed to balanced and filling meal.  I think this was the only time I left hungrier than I’d arrived.

Fort William Henry (Lake George, NY) – July 2016

As a former resident of the area, this was a place to bring my (British) fiancée to so she could see the history of the area where I grew up.  The original fort was sacked by the French in 1757, and the ruins lay pretty-much undisturbed until the 1950’s, when the replica fort was constructed.  Built from wooden logs and stone, this gave a great look into the history of the period (further complimented by employees providing historical reenactment).  Within the walls (what used to be barracks) are various displays of the time period and the pivotal battle which resulted in the British surrender.  Cannons are fired (over the lake) on a regular basis for demonstration purposes.  Be sure to hold your ears, as they are quite loud.  Flags of France and Britain fly overhead to commemorate the nations which used to claim the region.  Everything here is designed to give a sense of the history which happened here, and worth investigating.  Parking is accessible behind the fort, and it’s easy to move about.  Also a good activity for those with school-age children, as they could understand the context of the fort.

Harvest (Bay Road, Queensbury, NY) – July 2016

This has been a Glen Falls establishment for a few decades.  While there’s a mix of sandwiches and Italian-American fare, the best menu item is the pizza.  We got a meatball and green pepper pie, and the other couple we were with had a Hawaiian.  What’s nice was a metal fame-stand is placed on the table, so the pizza tray has something to sit on.  Crust was hand-tossed and chewy (not cardboard), the ingredients fresh, and not greasy in any way.  We were seated quickly, and had friendly attentive service.  Establishment is easily accessible, and plenty of parking.  Great place for lunch or dinner.

Clark’s Steakhouse (120 Broad Street, Schuylerville, NY) – 22 July

We were gathered here for a family dinner.  While the establishment didn’t take reservations, they’d “hold” a table for a short time-window for us.  That’s reasonable, as the interior space is small.  Considering the surrounding area, the restored interior of the building is much nicer than any exterior in the vicinity.  The host and servers were friendly.  There was an extensive menu of available items.  My fiancée and I each got one of the available chicken entrees.  She got the Cajun chicken (sans Cajun sauce) with mashed potatoes and salsa, which was very good.  I know, because I ended up needing to eat half of her meal.

I ordered the chicken Alfredo, which was something I’ve gotten at many other establishments.  At any other location I’ve received an entire chicken breast on a decent bed of pasta.  What I received here was a full two-pounds worth of pasta, with no more chicken than the mass of four of my fingers.  What little meat there was I had to hunt through a congealed mass of starch to find.  By the time the server had come to check on us, most of the family had completed their meals (which except for the plastic in my niece’s meatball, turned out okay).  The server said she’d have the kitchen cook up an entire breast for me as an apology for the meal not to my liking.  That seemed to be an acceptable resolution.

What I received back in a take-out box was the same two-pounds of congealed inedible pasta, with the “additional” chicken inside.  The family was prepared to remain at the table while I finished my meal, but it was clear the establishment was ready for our party to depart.  After we returned directly to my parents’ house, I opened the box to consume the meal, only to discover not only the “additional” chicken I was provided was about half of what I was originally given, it wasn’t even cooked all the way through.  Not only was this not an acceptable meal, the resolution was even more inedible.

Since this had never been deducted from the bill (as a good restaurant would do), this place got the money for a meal out of us that they failed to deliver on.  Because of my personal experience here, this is not an establishment I recommend nor do I plan on returning here.

Silk’s Saratoga Bistro (Albany Airport, NY) – July 2016

After being starved by SouthWest on our outbound flight, my fiancée and I made sure we were going to get a good meal before our return flight.  Considering the number of times I’ve flown out of Albany, I’ve never dined here, so we weren’t sure how good things would be.  After looking at the menu, we decided this would be a good place to try, and it ended up being fabulous.  We sat at the bar, and had great service from Kristen.  My fiancée had the French dip sandwich (with a glass of champagne), and I had the BBQ chicken strips with chips (waffle fries).  The portions were far larger than what I was used to seeing at an airport establishment, and at $14 for each dish, they were pretty reasonable.  The food was very good, and extremely filling.  Not greasy at all.  We had so many fries leftover, than Kristen got a zip-loc bag to put them in so we could snack on them later on.  For anyone departing from here, or if this is your layover, this is my recommendation for some great food.

Firkin & Flyer (BWI Airport, MD) – July 2016

Our layover was here, and it was a chance to explore some of the new venues in the Gate C area (as the other areas were standard fast-food fare).  We were initially drawn to this establishment because of the prop-airplane motif out front, and the “London feel” of the place.  We sat at the bar, were Carlos took good care of us.  We started with the Classic Spuds appetizer (which was extremely tasty), and followed it up Caesar salads.  My fiancée thought hers was great, but mine wasn’t tasting right to me.  Since my fiancée didn’t have any issues with her salad, I believe it was more a situation of the food just not being to my liking, as opposed to something wrong with it.  Didn’t see any fault of the establishment there.  But since I was still hungry, and we had another leg of our flight to go, I got an order of Buffalo Tenders which I found to be very good.  The atmosphere of the place was nice, and I thought it was interesting to have an additional seating area (which kept the same theme) across the corridor.  On future layovers here, this is a place we’d return to.

BB Rovers (Jollyville Road, Austin, TX) – August 2016

We met friends here one evening, because we’ve always had good experiences here with both food and service.  After starting off with a bowl of queso, we got a very excellent taco pizza.  The ingredients were masterfully put together, and every bite was filled with cheesy heaven.  While the food was good, the service wasn’t up to their usual standards, as we had to ask for napkins when the appetizer came, and then get utensils ourselves when the main dish came.  Beyond that, everything was good.  This place has always been clean, the patrons friendly, and the atmosphere welcoming.  To get pizza, I feel this is one of the best places in Austin to go.

Thai Spice (Route 360, Austin, TX) – August 2016

My fiancée heard about this place when they brought lunch to her office, so we had to try them out.  Thai Spice has only been at this new location a few weeks (as they were formerly downtown), so that explained why the place was so empty during dinner time on a Saturday evening.  As time goes on, more patrons will discover this place, and get a chance to experience its excellent cuisine.  The interior space was nicely laid out, and there was a great western view, which was perfect to see the setting sun.

We started with the chicken satay appetizer, which came with a very good peanut sauce.  For our main courses we ordered the garlic chicken and the King Recommended (a spicy beef dish).  The meat in both were tender, and the vegetables crispy.  Each came with the appropriate amount of sauce, so the meat and veggies weren’t drowning.  We shared each other’s dishes in order to double our enjoyment.  As these were fabulously well prepared, this is a place we look forward to coming back to again and again.  And when the heat breaks, we look forward to watching the sunset from the back patio.

Fast Eddie’s (Highway 183, Austin, TX) – August 2016

This had been a favored place of my fiancée and I to go because it was an excellent music venue in addition to a pool hall.  That has all changed.  After their management decided no longer to have live music, we still had a certificate for an evening’s worth of pool to use.  The establishment has a juke box to play music, but it wasn’t being used that night, because the manager had decided to subject everyone to the atrocious music that only he liked.  This establishment was in a suburban neighborhood, and that clientele was now being excluded.  As we tried to play pool, and dealt with some other rude thuggish patrons, it painfully became clear that we’d need to find a more welcoming venue to play pool or hear music in the area.  A sad end to a once great establishment.

Brick Oven Pizza (Jollyville Rd, Austin, TX) – September 2016

For a city the size of Austin, there are few places to get good pizza that aren’t national chains or places which soak their food in grease.  This is not either.  Located in a strip-center anchored by an HEB, there’s plenty of parking available, and easily reachable from both 183 and Jollyville Road.  The interior was clean, and the brickwork along the walls gave a nice Italian feel to it.  Booths and tables are available indoors, and there’s a side patio area for outdoor dining.  We ordered the Mediterranean Pizza, which was fabulous.  The meatballs on it were excellent (and these are something which are available as a stand-alone appetizer).  Every bite was enjoyable.

Our server had a couple of small issues with getting our order right (didn’t remove the olives from the pizza, brought me the alcoholic root beer when I asked for the regular), but those were minor and didn’t affect our enjoyment of the place.  Not long after we’d come in, a mob of elementary school children came in and took over all the seats around us (with their parents being as far away from them as possible on the other side of the place), so noise level greatly increased.  As the kids had moved a tables around to suit their needs, our server was good about pushing some of the tables back so we weren’t completely surrounded by screaming kids with absentee parents.  While we didn’t have a “quiet” evening, the food was good so this is a place where we plan on coming back to … just not at a time when we’d be mobbed by two dozen loud youths.

TripAdvisor Review Archives 11 -- 2016

Alamo DraftHouse Lakeline (Cedar Park, TX) – January 2016

We’ve been going to the DraftHouse (various locations) for years, so we’re familiar with the drill.  Ordering our tickets online was easy, and having the electronic copy downloaded right to my phone was nice.  I ordered my regular bowl of fries with queso, and the server commented so I didn’t want it with the bacon, sour cream, cilantro and other stuff.  I told her no, just as I’d written on my order card, “fries with queso.”  The server seemed unclear as to what I trying to order.  What the server was referring to was a different item on the menu, so why she may’ve just been trying to clarify, I’ve never had my order questioned like that before.

When the runner (who was not the server) brought my fries out, I asked if we could get some utensils (as we hadn’t been provided any yet).  My order was correct by the way, but I had to ask two other times to have utensils brought (writing it on an order card).  By the time they arrived, my meal was cold.  I ate it anyway, because it was what I ordered.

My date got the buffalo chicken pizza, but it didn’t even have a real buffalo sauce, and the chicken wasn’t cooked properly.  She reported it was like an entire bottle of siracha had been poured on it, thus it was completely inedible.  I even tried a bite, and was pretty horrible.  She sent it back, and got a bowl of queso fries like I had.  Later during, after our bowls had been finished, the runner deposited another bowl of queso fries at our table, something we didn’t order.  Didn’t know if that was an apology for the earlier order error, but we weren’t charged for it.

There were no comment cards available to note this.  And when we departed (while my date was in the bathroom) I looked around for a manager, and none was available.  The only staff I saw were the very-busy people behind the ticket counter.  Now as far as the movie-watching experience goes, that was good, as we had comfortable seats.  But we’ve never had such a poor food experience here.

Mighty Fine (Arbor Walk, Austin, TX) – January 2016

We wanted to get a quick lunch, and my girlfriend had never been to a MF location before.  She’s not a “fast-food” person, but liked the idea of supporting a local business.  I’ve been going here for years, so I knew to order my cheeseburger “red” and get a chocolate milkshake, and I helped my GF get what she wanted.  She went for a regular burger and fries in order to try it out.  Overall, she thought it was “okay,” she found it filling but not spectacular.  She was glad she got to experience something that she hadn’t before, but it wasn’t her thing.  I still found the quality to be as good as I’d had many times in the past.  Even though my GF didn’t feel it was “mighty fine,” I’ll still be coming here because I like it.

Texican (Lakeline Blvd, Austin, TX) – January 2016

After spending the day at the local science museum, I wanted to introduce my girlfriend to one of my favorite Tex-Mex places.  Even though there’s patio seating, we opted for indoors.  I got my usual El Paso enchiladas (sacking the beans for extra rice).  My GF previously had eaten Tex-Mex food that didn’t agree with her, but was chalking it up to the previous venue she was at.  She got the enchiladas Verde, and really enjoyed the quality of the meal.  She understood why this was my favorite places in Austin to dine, and looked forward to coming back here many times with me.  The service and quality of this Texican location has always been top-notch, and I’ve never had a bad experience here.  That’s one of the main reasons why I keep coming back.

California Pizza Kitchen (Domain, Austin, TX) – January 2016

My girlfriend and I were in the Domain shopping, so planned to have our lunch here.  It had been a little while since I’d been there, and my GF (who frequented the Microsoft store next door) had never eaten there.  I was glad to notice the interior was as clean and warm as I recalled, and the wine selection was still very good.  My GF enjoyed it, as it carried her favorite (J. Lohr).  We each got our own ten-inch pizza so we could share with each other.  The Works had a decent flavor, but I found the Original BBQ Chicken pizza to be the excellent taste explosion as I remembered.  Considering the location, there are many fine establishments one could go to, and this was one of my recommendations.

Brio (Arboretum, Austin, TX) – January 2016

We’d come here for our anniversary dinner, and since it was a Tuesday night we didn’t have wait for a table.  While the layout is very open, there are a number of soft surfaces (carpets, table cloths, and plush chairs) to help absorb the noise, so even when full this is still a quiet area.  The server was had was very friendly.

The Sliced Steak Bruschetta served as our appetizer, and for the main course we got the soup of the day and the Caesar salad (as we were eating light).  Paired with a glass of 19 Crimes wine, the meal was quite delicious.  This venue is a little more on the expensive side, so it serves as a good “special occasion” location.

There’s a bar which we’ve previously frequented, so if you want to just stop by for a quality wine you can do so.  A variety of wines are available both by the glass and by the bottle.  On our first visit, our server was kind to let us sample a couple until we located a wine we liked.

Tarka (IH-35, Round Rock, TX) – January 2016

While this is my most-frequented location of this Austin-based chain, I have been to other locales, and noted the quality has been good across the board.  My girlfriend loves Indian food, and had never experienced this, so it made since to introduce her to it.  I got my favorite chicken vindaloo while my GF ordered the chicken kabob.  Everything was made-to-order, and came out hot and fresh.  This place got high marks from my GF both because of how well the food was, and the fact it was a local business.  I’ve never considered this “fast food” but “great food which comes out fast.”  While great for a light dinner, this is an excellent destination for lunch considering the speediness of the service.

The Pub (Anderson Mill Tavern, Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX) – January 2016

Years ago this was known as “Anderson Mill Tavern,” and I recall the venue not being best for both drinks and live music.  As time has changed, this has vastly improved.  The stage is situated at the back of the main room, and the acoustics are good no matter where you might be.  The bar is situated to one side, so those patrons who didn’t wish to listen to whatever live music playing aren’t in the way of those who were present for that.  With the location being at the corner of a strip center, there’s a lot of available parking as the neighboring businesses have closed.  While this was a good venue for local music, I did notice that once the bands took the stage, the vast majority of the “regular patrons” left the establishment.  That was something very different than other venues I’ve seen bands at.

Kerbey Lane (IH-35, Round Rock, TX) – January 2016

We stopped here for dinner because it was close to where we were.  I asked for a regular queso, but was brought the Kerbey queso (which contained things other than cheese).  By the time our server came back with the corrected item, it was nearly time for our food to arrive.  My girlfriend ordered the Black Angus cheeseburger, and she was not pleased at the “bun to burger” ratio.  She needed to get rid of the bun completely in order to eat it.  I got the buffalo chicken sandwich (something which I’ve had a number of times in the past), but it still came with the cole slaw and avocado which I had asked to have removed.  I mentioned this to our server, and there was a half-hearted apology, and not an offer to send it back to have it corrected.  When we received our bill, there wasn’t anything noted on it to make up for the incorrect order.  We were under a time constraint, and I wasn’t able to locate a manager.  I’ve been a customer of Kerbey for many years, and a frequented the Round Rock location since it opened.  I expect occasionally to have something messed up, as we’re all human and make mistakes, but I judge a place on how they respond to a situation to correct it.  This was not up to the usual standards of my other visits to this location.

Satay (Anderson Lane, Austin, TX) – February 2016

This is tucked away in a plaza, so it’s hard to see from the main road, but it also means there’s plenty of parking.  While there’s a small patio seating area, the interior space was nicely laid out in order to provide an intimate but casual setting.  There were a lot of soft surfaces to help minimize the noise, but there were few patrons when we went (as we were ahead of the dinner rush).  We started off with an appetizer which sampled all the available flavors of the Thai dumplings, plus some beef and chicken skewers, all which were very good.

My girlfriend ordered the Pud Ped Ga Prao (with beef) which was a delicious stir-fry with basil and chili peppers.  I got the D.W.I. chicken (from the Asian Noodles section of the menu) and found the combination of broccoli and meat made a fabulous taste (although I found the tomatoes detracted from the taste, it was still very good).  We enjoyed all aspects of this establishment, and was a place we’d return to.

Sherwood Forest Ren Faire (McDade, TX) – March 2016

This has been a fixture in the area for a few years now, but this was the first time my girlfriend and I were able to go.  While some of the side roads off the highway still need some improvement in order to handle the traffic, the parking situation was well-handed.  The layout inside has many trees to provide much-needed shade in most sections (the arena being excluded).  The dirt path makes it easy to walk and easy on the feet, although does create some mud puddles here and there.  The food vendors and merchants are spaced out so the area doesn’t feel crowded.  The only quibble we had were the condition of the restrooms (the ones which weren’t a collection of porta-potties).  These were not cleaned on a regular basis, a few lacked paper, and some of the stalls were out-of-commission, which created longer lines.  Other than that, it was a great experience, and a good way to spend the day

Cedar Park Center (Route 183, Cedar Park, TX) – March 2016

I took my girlfriend to her first hockey game ever, and she was entirely absorbed the whole time.  She intently watched the action on the ice, and enjoyed the fast (and sometimes rough) action, plus the sudden-death overtime which happened.  Our seats were low, so we got to see everything up close.  The arena was open and airy, with lots of vendors and bathrooms within easy reach.  Parking was orderly.  When we got home from the game, my girlfriend immediately ordered tickets for the next home game (as looked at the possibility of getting season tickets), as she enjoyed it so much.

Brio (Arboretum, Austin, TX) – March 2016

My girlfriend and I stopped here for a nice lunch because we were in the area.  We only had light fare, which tasted great, and had the usual excellent service.  This has been why this place is something we’ve recommended to many.  We sat out on the patio, as it was a beautiful day to do so (on this Easter weekend), and we had the area pretty much all to ourselves.  At one point the chef even came out to talk to us, which we found a pleasant touch.  We did observe a number of other guests waiting for indoor seats during this time (and getting annoyed at the staff), when they could’ve easily solved the issues and sat outside.  Kudos to the staff for remaining calm when dealing with unruly patrons.

Bombay Bistro (Route 183, Austin, TX) – April 2016

It had been a rainy day, so my fiancée and I were looking for some comfort food, and we couldn’t beat some good Indian food.  We timed our arrival perfectly, so we were able to get in and seated before a large crowd came in.  Our servers were very good with keeping the water glasses filled, and inquire if we needed more wine.  The food was excellent, filling, and a great value.  The décor is simple but inviting, with a friendly atmosphere and great staff.

Amy’s Ice Cream (Arboretum, Austin, TX) – April 2016

My fiancée and I were looking for a tasty afternoon treat, and a place where we could sit and enjoy it, so this was the logical place to go.  The Amy’s location closer to us (Austinville) has limited outdoor seating, and was always crowded with high-school kids whenever we visited.  The Arboretum locale was much nicer with the nearby park we were able to sit at while we ate our ice cream.  My fiancée especially liked how the flavors could be tried, and found the Mexican vanilla to be top notch.

BB Rovers (Jollyville Road, Austin, TX) – April 2016

My fiancée and I were looking for a good burger for the evening, and we decided this was the place to go.  Prior to meeting each other, we’d both been here a few times, so we knew the level of quality we’d be getting.  She had the regular burger, and I the cheeseburger, both of which were juicy and delicious.  We’d arrived before the dinner crowd, so we were seated quickly and had excellent service.  There’s an extensive beer and wine list which covers a range of tastes.  The menu is also varied so it’s more “comfort food” rather than “bar food.”  With a clean interior, some outdoor seating, plenty of parking, and easy to reach from two major roads, this is a great place to go.

Long Center (Austin, TX) – May 2016

Cinderella was playing, and I’d never been to a ballet before, so when my fiancée asked me if I wanted to go, I looked forward to the new experience.  We were able to get tickets right in the orchestra section, so we had a great view of the stage.  The acoustics of the hall were excellent, as the sound filled the entire venue with a majestic fullness.  The performance was great, as it showed the skill of the artists.  There were two intermissions which allowed bio-breaks, a refill of wine, and a chance to step outside to see the Austin skyline after dark.  Parking was easy, and well directed (although upon leaving we were instructed to go a route which would require us to traverse some back streets until we could get back to Congress).  It was a great experience, both of what we watched, and where we were.

Maudie’s Milagro (Davenport Village, Route 360, Austin, TX) – May 2016

Since 2008 I have been coming here to have a meal around the time of my birthday.  This is a “special occasion” location due to scenery, and always relaxed nature of the venue.  I’ve always gotten good service here, which was one of the reasons why I’d come back.  When I went for my comfort food this year (my favorite dish, the Josie’s Enchiladas), the service wasn’t up to the same standard I’d gotten in the past.  We timed it right, so there wasn’t a long wait to get seated and the food came out promptly, but the service received was less than pleasant.  The meal was good, but our server was uncaring about us.  We were on the patio, and it wasn’t that crowded.

Russo’s New York Pizzeria (Stone Hill Center, Round Rock, TX) – May 2016

The group was looking for someplace good before heading out to a show, and this was recommended.  My friends knew the server we had, so we had some extra special attention.  Since I’d never been here before, I ordered chicken parm (which was what I used to gauge the quality of an Italian place).  The kitchen had gotten the orders crossed, so I had eggplant parm with the side I wanted, and one of the table-mates the opposite.  It was quickly noticed once we cut into our items, and the kitchen had to prepare new versions.  I was able to enjoy tasty mozz sticks as I waited.  The corrected dish came out in an appropriate manner, and it was decent.  It was an honest mistake, and something which was easily addressed.  That gives this establishment high marks for going out of their way to make sure a situation was resolved.

Frank Irwin Center (Austin TX) – May 2016

We’d come here to see The Cure.  Since there was a UT football game that night, the parking situation was a little crazy, but we were able to get a space close by.  The nature of the venue was designed so we could enter via any door, and it was easy to locate where our seats were.  There were vendors and restrooms spaced adequately about, so they were in easy reach when needed.  Inside the arena, the view of the stage was clear, and the acoustics were excellent.  The environmental controls also worked properly so it didn’t get too hot from the thousands in attendance.  Great place to see a show.

Brio (Arboretum, Austin, TX) – May 2016

My fiancée and I wanted to have a nice gathering with friends, so we recommended the place where we had our first date at (considering none of our friends had been here yet).  Since it was a Sunday afternoon, I used the online reservation service to secure our table (highly recommended for when planning something for a potentially busy dinner hour).  Once we’d all arrived, we were seated in a circular table that was spacious and allowed for conservation (plus the restaurant was normally pretty quiet to begin with).  There was a good wine selection (as we had a couple bottles), great appetizers, and excellent main courses.  Our friends were extremely impressed with the quality of the food and the service.  That high level of caring was something my fiancée and I had always received from here, and that’s one of the reason why we keep returning.

Fast Eddie’s (Highway 183, Austin, TX) – May 2016

This is primarily a pool hall, yet I’ve never picked up a stick in all the times I’ve been here.  I’ve only come to this place to see bands play, as there’s an excellent stage section with great acoustics for it.  The bar portion is easily accessible, plus there’s also an outside patio (on the front) and many dart boards (in the back) that don’t get in the way of those wishing to play pool or watch a concert.  We were here to see FireFlight, an excellent 80’s cover band made up of local residents.  The band is worth seeing every chance you get, and this is a great venue to do so.

Jenna’s Asian Kitchen (RR 620, Austin, TX) – May 2016

My fiancée had a craving for some good Chinese food, and I’d noted there weren’t any decent places in the area (much less in the Austin metroplex).  With a bit of determination, we found this listed on line, and since it had a scathing bad review from Austin Chronicle, we knew this was a place would be good and worth checking out.  I’d been to this building when it was North & South, and pleased to see the interior resembled nothing like that dark dingy environment.  Jenna’s was spacious, and had a warm and inviting modern element to the interior design.  It was a Saturday evening, but we didn’t have much of a wait, and the venue was only partially filled.

We started with the lettuce cups, and were amazed at not only of the amount of food in this appetizer, but the quality of the fresh vegetables.  For our main courses, my fiancée got the orange peel beef, and I had the General Tso’s chicken.  The menu was correct in saying “lightly battered” as it was a thin coating which didn’t overpower the taste of the meat.  We could smell the fresh orange from her dish, and I liked how the veggies crunched.  The portions were good, much bigger than you’d get for the same price at lower quality places nearby.  With a single visit, this became our new favorite restaurant in Austin.  This is a place we’ll be coming back to a lot!  Thank you for providing us with a great dining experience!

North (Domain, Austin, TX) – May 2016

I’d been here once before with friends, so when my fiancée wanted to go to a “nice place” for dinner, this one came to mind.  We were there on a Saturday evening, so having the reservation secured online (via OpenTable) was a smart idea.  The interior was clean, but it was noisy due to tables being within close proximity to each other.  While it didn’t echo, it was difficult for us to hear each other.  She ordered the New York Strip, and I got my favorite Chicken Parmesan.  The food was excellent, and everything was made well.  The pasta which came as my side was freshly-made.  Our server was very attentive too, so overall it was a good dining experience.  There are few places in Austin for good Italian fare, and this is the one which tops my list.

Pluckers (183 & Burnet Road, Austin, TX) – June 2016

I’ve been frequenting this location since 2004, and have always done my “birthday dinner” (for Club Members) here.  A place is gauged not by the problems it has, but how it gets resolved.  So I came in for my “birthday dinner” in May, and had such a rude experience from the hostess that I was not even able to get seated (much less eat).  It took two attempts to reach corporate management before I received a response from the store manager.  The store manager provided an apology for the attitude I received from the hostess, and offered to honor the “birthday dinner” even though the window of opportunity had passed.

So it was the next month before I could do the “birthday dinner” (better late than not at all).  As instructed by the store manager, I made sure to let my server know the situation.  My food was as good as it always was, and I thank Pluckers for rising to the occasion and demonstrating good customer service.  I was able to get in before the lunch crowd, and enjoyed my boneless basket.  The new spicy BBQ sauce was now available (as it had been being worked on the last month or two).  The new version of the sauce had more “spicy” than “BBQ” in the flavor, so I felt it didn’t balance properly (as the previous recipe had done).

Freda’s Seafood (Pecan Parkway, Austin, TX) – June 2016

I’d been here once previously, so when my fiancée commented there wasn’t a place for good seafood in the area, I recommended we go here.  Thanks to an online reservation secured through OpenTable, we knew we’d have a seat on a potentially busy night.  There were a few graduation dinners happening, but our server made sure we weren’t lost in the shuffle during this.  We could hear the live piano player from the bar area, which added to an already good ambiance of the venue.  My fiancée ordered the Chilean sea bass, which was one of her favorite dishes.  I was able to get the special of the night, rock lobster tail, which was something I’d missed due to lack of quality sea food places in the Austin area.  This was a great place for a romantic dinner for two, and was worth every penny we paid for the meals.  One of the nice things was the interior was designed to make use of the space, so it’s not every table in one noisy room.

Panera Bread (183 & 360, Austin, TX) – June 2016

We met some friends here for lunch, as it was close to the location of errands we wanted to run.  This isn’t a bad place for soup and sandwich fare, but not spectacular either.  The person who took our order didn’t seem to know the menu very well, and the food had the most minimal amount of meat as possible (quite contrary to the pictures displayed in the establishment).  I guess that made sense as this was primarily a *bread* location.  For a quick lunch when in the area, this is good because there’s no other destinations, but not a place you should make a special trip too.

Casa Blanca (Harriman Road, Round Rock, TX) – June 2016

My fiancée and I attended a wedding here, as it served as a good way to scope out a potential venue for us.  The grounds were nicely kept, there was a great view of Brushy Creek, and plenty of parking.  There was a building which was set aside for “inclement weather” which the venue felt was not something to be used on a day which was 90 degrees with over 80% humidity.  Because there was no air moving, it made the entire outdoor ceremony rather stifling.  Guests were removing ties and jackets as the bride and groom exchanged vows with sweat pouring down them.  The dining area was small, but sufficient for the number of guests.  The bar area was outside on a patio, and they refused to provide any water while we waited for the ceremony to begin.  And once the reception began, the outer doors were opened, which negated any air conditioning which might’ve been used.  It made it a rather miserable experience, and from information we got from staff it was “standard procedure.”  While good at other times of the year, this was not the time to have an event in a non-AC venue.  From these observations, my fiancée and I knew this would not be the location we’d choose to use.

Main Event (Highway 183, Austin, TX) – June 2016

My fiancée and I came here to play mini-golf initially, although the course wasn’t being very good.  The black light didn’t provide enough light to see where to hit the ball, much less walk without nearly tripping over obstructions.  On the fifth hole I had to stick my hand inside one of the structures to retrieve my lost ball (and found a couple more which were lodged in there), we decided not to complete the course.  Main Event was very good about just transferring my refund to a power card so we could enjoy skee ball and air hockey, so we ended up having a fun afternoon.

We came back a few nights later so we could bowl and have an adult beverage while doing so.  Reserving our lane online was easy, and we arrived at the required fifteen minutes prior in order to check in.  Because the counter-person decided to assist others while we were trying to get our shoes, we didn’t get our entire allotted hour that we reserved.  We would’ve liked to have the option to continue on this lane, since no one else had booked it, instead of having our session expire mid-game.  We liked being able to order appetizers there, but the quality was so-so.  Considering we still have to try the pool and rock climbing, there’s reason for us to return.

Chipotle (La Frontera, Round Rock, TX) – June 2016

We were running errands in the area, and were looking for a quick place to get a decent lunch.  I’d been here previously, as it fit the bill for “decent and quick,” and was better than any of the competitors next door.  The caring stuff which had been here previously weren’t here now.  I had a chicken bowl, which was okay, but it was a fight for my fiancée to have any toppings placed on her salad.  She almost ended up with just a bowl of lettuce and meat, as the servers grudgingly put other toppings on (and tried to charge extra).  The fountain beverage machine had some dried food particles to it (which necessitated us wiping it off prior to use), and the bathrooms were filthy with garbage all over.  That was mentioned to the server (as no manager was present), and we received an apathetic response.  This used to be a decent place to go, but not anymore.