Jenna’s Asian Kitchen (RR 620,
Austin, TX) – September 2016
My
fiancée and I discovered this place in May, and we’ve been back every month to
explore more things on the menu. That is
a testimonial to how good the service and the quality of the food. (If I could write a review for each month’s
visit, I would’ve been doing so.) Every
time we’ve come in we’ve gotten seated quickly.
If we get a table next to the wall, we like to be able to sit
side-by-side in. On this last time in,
we couldn’t do that because the patrons in the table next to us allowed their
children with grubby bare feet to stretch across the bench into our table area
(and wouldn’t remove them when asked).
Fortunately they left before our appetizers came, so we didn’t have any
issues after that. Not a problem with
the business in any way, just a reminder to be courteous to others when at an
establishment.
On
this visit we got our usual lettuce cup appetizer, and some egg drop soup. For the main courses we had the eggplant pork
(which came out hot and sizzling) and the very-meaty General Tso’s
chicken. Just like every other time
we’ve been here, all the dishes were extremely delicious due to the fresh
ingredients. The meat was
heavily-breaded (as it’s done at most Asian places) and the vegetables still
had the proper crunch. The fried rice
was also nicely done. We continue to be
impressed by the quality of food here.
One of these nights we’re going to try to the take-out options, but the
atmosphere inside here is so inviting that we look forward to relaxing here.
Fleming’s Steakhouse (Domain,
Austin, TX) – September 2016
To
celebrate a special occasion, my fiancée recommended this place, as it was an
establishment I hadn’t been yet. This is
a place you dress nice for. The interior
lights were low, but we were able to see each other perfectly, and the low
level was within reason. The ambiance
exuded elegance. We each got the petite
filet mignon, which was 8 ounces of extremely tend, and the best piece of meat
I’ve ever tasted. This was something
which didn’t need anything to enhance its taste. My fiancée got the porcini mushroom rub on
hers, which she thought made it taste even better. We shared sides of mashed potatoes, grilled
asparagus, and chipotle mac & cheese, which were enough for to have a
complete and filling meal. Other places
I’ve been to which had done “sides to share” like this would only provide
enough for one person, let alone two.
Everything was extremely delicious and top-notch. When I pay more for something, my expectations
are similarly raised (and in many cases I’m left unfulfilled). This was a situation where every bite of the
meal was worth the price.
Cap City Comedy Club (Research
Blvd, Austin, TX) – September 2016
Knowing
the headliner act made it easy to get into this location, and what great seats
we had. The venue was easy to get to,
and there was plenty of parking for this mid-week evening show. The acoustics were excellent, so all the acts
could be heard cleanly, as well as the random person who made comments in the
audience (which served as grist for an off-the-cuff joke). There’s a two item minimum when coming in,
and that’s easy to make (notice, not a two *drink* minimum). The chicken fingers, and the Dudley & Bob
nachos were both very good. Great
location!
Wagner’s Backyard (IH-35, Pflugerville,
TX) – October 2016
When
you follow your favorite band around town, you’ll check them out no matter what
venue they play out. This was the first
time we’d been to this locale. And while
we were treated to a good show, the atmosphere wasn’t what we expected. There’s a small indoor space with pool table,
but the majority of the establishment is the outdoor stage in the back (and the
adjourning sand-pit for volleyball).
Parking is limited here, but there didn’t seem to be an issue with
parking in the movie theatre next door.
The band’s sound was clean and they had a rockin’ performance, but the
vast majority of the patrons were completely uninterested in the music. Between the games of bean-bags behind us, and
the throngs of people engaged in loud conversation next to us, I felt sorry for
the band playing at a venue who clientele which seemed to be apathetic to their
very existence. I think this place has
good potential for lots of outdoor music when the weather is nice, I just don’t
know if its location will attract the crowds needed to support it. By the way, since it’s mostly outdoors,
smoking is allowed. Be prepared to have
people purposely blow smoke at you. It
seemed to be pretty dog-friendly, a concert is probably too loud for your
pooch.
Starlight Theatre at Oasis
(Comanche Trail, Austin, TX) – October 2016
We’d
come here to see a band, and perhaps get a bite to eat. Since it was after-dark, we knew we’d missed
the sunsets which this location is famous for.
The Starlight Theatre is up on the third-floor, and has great acoustics
for a show, as well as a decent-sized dance floor and large doors open to the
outside to let in the cool evening air.
There were a couple dozen people out on the dance floor at any one time,
so the crowd was really into the music groove.
That was really the only good thing here. The majority of the tables had their guests
leave, but the dirty plates remained.
There were far more empty seats than people out on the dance floor. And during the entire first set (40 minutes
or so), not one server ever came out to remove the dirty plates. In fact we saw very briefly about four
servers who quickly ran through the area.
So much for ordering anything off the menu for snacks.
We did
manage to find a table that wasn’t covered in dirty dishes, and the table and
nearby chairs were sticky from spilled beverages. The band was good to listen to, but after the
first set the smell of left-over food sitting out in the humid evening air made
is tough to remain in any location. The
location is a great one, considering all the side businesses around it, plus
plenty of parking, make this a huge draw for the local crowd. Our overall impression was this place looked
good, but had no depth; all show but no substance. We may return for other music shows, but
we’ll make sure we’ve eaten before coming, and bring our own folding chairs so
we have a place to sit. I give this an
“Average” review (instead of a “Poor”) simply for the aspect of the music
venue.
Bombay Bistro (Highway 183, Austin,
TX) – October 2016
It was
unusual for us to be here on a Sunday evening, as the place was emptier than
what we’re used to seeing. Still, that
didn’t negatively affect the service we had, or the great food. This is our favorite Indian restaurant in the
Austin metroplex due to the consistency of the quality. All the meats were tender, and the spice
level was right on target. My new
favorite is the chicken tikka jalfrazie, but the vindaloo is always a great
standby also. The interior is clean, the
atmosphere nice, and the servers were very friendly (that’s been the only
hit-or-miss on any of our visits).
Texican Café (Lakeline Blvd, Austin,
TX) – October 2016
I had
the opportunity to treat myself for lunch, so I went to my favorite Tex-Mex
place in Austin. My server (Bryant) was
new, so he got to hear about how I’d been coming here since circa 2007, and
have had a great meal every time. I got
my usual queso to start with, because there’s no better appetizer than melted
cheese. Since it was a nice day, I was
able to sit on the patio (although due to the time of day, I was the only one
out there). My favored dish on the menu
was the El Paso cheese enchiladas (do you notice a theme here). The plate came out nice and hot, with the
enchiladas cooked to perfection. I had
them sack the beans for extra rice, as I dump my queso on it. The interior of the venue has always been
great, but there’s something nice to eat on a covered patio with fans to move
the air on a hot Texas afternoon. Always
of plenty of parking, and a number of great menu items which I invite you to
try … and try again. Thank you for all
the great meals I’ve had here! This
place is awesome!!
Kerbey Lane Café (Anderson Mill
Road, Austin, TX) – October 2016
I
stopped in for lunch as a study break, and went for the classic breakfast of
two eggs, muffin, sausage, and home fries.
I’ve been frequenting the 183 location of Kerbey Lane since 2003, and
have always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The current location is superior to the
original, and the staff is always friendly.
Interior was clean, the seating comfortable, and the atmosphere
pleasant. My meal was filling, but not
the fabulous food I normally get.
Nothing about it was bad, just that it was bland. I don’t know if there was a change of recipe
or cook, or if this was an “off-day.”
It’s still a decent place to go, any time of day, for a variety of menu
items.
Mighty Fine Burgers (Arbor Walk,
Austin, TX) – October 2016
During
a day of running errands, I wanted to get some quick, decent food, and support
a local business at the same time, so it made sense to come here. The interior here has always been clean and
bright, and the ordering queue easy to navigate. I ordered my half-pound cheeseburger “red”
and had a chocolate milkshake to go with it.
The burger was tasty and juicy, without being greasy. The shake was thick, and it took a few
moments to melt enough so I could drink it (which was good, because I treat it as
dessert). The seat being reminiscent of
picnic tables makes this a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Still, as far as I’m concerned, this is one
of the best places in Austin to get a burger.
Rudy’s Country Store (Highway 183,
Austin, TX) – October 2016
I’ve
gotten both gas and breakfast tacos here before, but this location has always
been great for a quick lunch. It can
easily be entered from both 183 and Jollyville Road, so that makes it
convenient. The queue moves briskly, and
there’s ample time to look at the menu (for those who’ve never been here
previously). The friendly staff always
asks if you’ve had the Rudy’s Experience before. I got a half-pound of the turkey, with a side
of new potatoes and a banana pudding.
The meat by itself was moist and tasty, but the spicy tang of the sauce
was what made it even more delicious.
And because it was a nice day, the outdoor patio seating was
available. There’s also interior patio
seating which can be sealed up during bad weather. The food comes on a piece of butcher paper in
a plastic tray. There’s nothing low-brow
about it, just a fun picnic-style atmosphere of having some good food with a
bunch of friends. I especially love the
Cutter Cam to watch while waiting in line to order.
Shogun (Stone Hill Center,
Pflugerville, TX) – October 2016
I
frequented this establishment more when I lived on this side of town because it
was one of the better places to eat. You
can get the hibachi experience as you watch the chef prepare your food in front
of you, or you can order directly off the menu.
I got the teppanyaki chicken with fried rice, and my fiancée got the
steak done the same way (but with white rice).
Both came with miso soup, and a garden salad. The soup was okay, but the lettuce in the
salad was slightly wilted, and the dressing was extremely watery. My chicken was a little on the bland side,
without the unique taste I’d come to expect.
But the steak was fatty and rubbery, and way too much salt had been
dumped on it during preparation. The
veggies on both dishes were tasty. My
fiancée’s white rice had obviously been sitting out for a while as a hard crust
had formed on the exterior, and the center was a starchy mass.
While
the interior was nice, and the service friendly, the food was not to the same
level of quality I remembered it. It was
my fiancée’s first time here, and she was not impressed at all. When we had more time, we’d been planning on
coming for the hibachi, but based on this visit we may not do so. It was hard to tell if it was an off-night or
a change in the style of the way things were done.
Austin Park & Pizza
(IH-35 North, Pflugerville, TX) – October 2016
We met
another couple here simply so we could play mini-golf. It was after dark on a Saturday night, and
surprisingly not crowded at all. We
expected it would be swarmed with kids on a warm evening, but they were all
inside playing video games. There were
two courses which ended up intertwining, so we ended up switching from one to
the other without first realizing it.
There’s really no difference between the two, as they amount to long
putting greens with a few turns or obstacles.
Not much challenge, but still fun to play (consider the choices to play
mini-golf in the Austin metroplex are sorely lacking).
There
was a pool table inside too which we considered trying, but that was
filled. Besides that and the video
games, a bar was available to get fried grub and some drinks (which we passed
on because we were present strictly for golf).
Overall, the facility was nice, and we’ll come back to play a few more
holes.
Thai Spice (Route 360, Austin, TX)
– November 2016
With
the closure of Satay on Anderson Lane (and the bad menu experiences at Thai
Passion on 183), this has become our favorite place for Thai food. Parking is
always easy, food is fresh, and staff is friendly. It's a little distance to go
from NW Austin, but worth the drive.
Bombay Bistro (Highway 183,
Austin, TX) – November 2016
As
this was the location of our second date, it served as a good venue for a minor
anniversary dinner. We’ve been here
enough times it’s hard to say something new when the service and food continues
to excel. We’re both big fans of Indian
food, and there are so many items on the menu, it allows us to try new things
or enjoy a favored dish. This continues
to a great place to go.
Long Center (downtown
Austin, TX) – November 2016
My
fiancée and I had come here so we could see the stage production of Annie.
Parking in the neighboring garage was easy, and a short easy walk to the
venue. The Long Center staff was very
friendly, and I liked the ability to pre-order a drink for the intermission. The docents were very helpful in assisting
patrons locating their seats. While the
theatre was only partially full, the crowd was still quiet and respectful, so
we were able to have an enjoyable experience.
The cast was excellent, the music great, and we were able to hear all
the lines with no issues of any kind.
This is a great venue, and look forward to seeing many more shows here.
Marriott Residence Inn
Hotel (Capitol Park, Sacramento, CA) – December 2016
The
overall presentation of this property was nice, and the interior was
clean. The staff was very friendly and
accommodating. Complimentary breakfast
was done very well, and there was a bar on site. There was a nice interior exercise room, and
heated outdoor pool. Those were the high
points. This was a high-rise, so
depending on what side of the property you were on, you’d either be looking at
buildings, buildings, or occasionally some trees over some buildings. But to pull in from the street, one had to
drive into an alley, which was often blocked by taxis or other sitting
vehicles.
There
technically was no parking for this hotel, as we had to park at the public
building next door for a $20 per day fee.
Since there’s very little public parking in the city to start with,
sometimes we’d return to the garage to find the entire garage filled. After having to drive around the block a
couple times to locate a place to park, we learned that once we found a spot in
the garage to very rarely leave it. That
limited our ability to explore the city, because we weren’t guaranteed a
parking spot when we’d return. That left
for walking the city, which limited the ranges of where we could go.
The
daily rates were comparable for other places in the area, but still on the
pricey side. Each day we were charged an
additional $30 for “convention center fee,” which was an unwelcome
surprise. We had no business in the
convention center, and saw no reason to be paying extra to the hotel to support
it. We had a one bedroom suite, which
cost more than the two bedroom suite we paid for at the Residence in the more
affluent Newark, CA. While our stay here
was average all things considered, but the hidden charges (which we haven’t had
when staying at other properties) were things which took away from our
experience.
Claim Jumper (J Street,
Sacramento, CA) – December 2016
On the
chilly evening, we were looking for a place which was a close walk and would
have hearty food, and we decided on this.
(Note there’s no parking due to the poor design of the city, nothing to
do with this establishment.) Located on
a corner, this had a bar area and a nice dinning section. The interior was warm, softly-lit, and the
tables were close but not crowded. Our
server was great, and very friendly. We
each started off with a soup, and the chicken tortilla was hot and thick (very
good). My fiancée enjoyed her steak, and
I had the chicken fried chicken (with mashed potatoes). The cut of the breast could’ve been a little
thicker, and the breading a little thinner, but overall it was decent. While we normally try to eat at local
establishments instead of national chains, the food and server we got from here
was good. Enjoyable meal.
Capitol Garage (K
Street, Sacramento, CA) – December 2016
This
was located right next to our hotel, and had good reviews so we felt it was
worth checking out. The interior was a
splash of vibrant colors which really enhanced the fun atmosphere of the place. While this was primarily a bar, its location
downtown near state offices and the convention center clearly made this a
popular lunch destination. My fiancée
had a cheeseburger which was nice and juicy, and I had ranch chicken wrap
(which was tasty). Both were served with
good fries. This was a great destination
for lunch, and we’re glad we discovered it.
Highly recommended for anyone in the area.
Orchid Thai (16th
Street, Sacramento, CA) – December 2016
This
was located across the street from a city park, which wasn’t the safest place to
leave your vehicle. The interior was
clean, and had a nice water feature, but was otherwise bland. We were seated quickly, and were able to get
an appetizer of satay (which was good).
For the main courses we had the cashew nut stir-fry and ginger stir-fry. Both were decent, but not spectacular as far
as flavor went. The meals didn’t come
with rice, as that was something we were charged extra for. Service was so-so. My water glass sat empty for a bit before the
server came around to fill it, and our meal was nearly complete before the
second glass of was brought (which had been sitting on the edge of the bar for
the last ten minutes). I almost got up
to get the wine and water pitcher myself.
Overall it was an average meal and an average experience.
P.F. Chang’s (J Street,
Sacramento, CA) – December 2016
Since
this was relatively close to where we were, it seemed like it would be a good
choice for lunch. It wasn’t. As far as the food went, it was okay. We got the chicken lettuce wrap, and the
sesame chicken. Because these were the
“lunch-sized” portions, there were huge amounts of rice when compared to the
meat and vegetable, and even then the amount of meat was sparse. Not the protein rich lunch we were seeking.
The
big issue we had was with the service.
There was a section of three tables, and we were sat in one of
them. There was already a trio of
business lunchers sat at one, who had water.
We sat for a few minutes with our server not even stopping by to provide
us water. A couple was seated at the
third table in the section, and had a dedicated server (who was not working any
other table) who immediately brought them beverages and took their order …
before us or the business lunchers were able to even order. The dedicated server ignored us when we asked
for water, and even the hostess had disappeared (so there was no one else to
ask). We debated going to another place,
but we were pretty hungry and thirsty by now.
The
couple even got their food from their dedicated server before we (and the
business lunchers) were able to order, and not any type of apology from our
server for the long wait. So a couple
was able to breeze in, order and eat before other patrons already in a place
was the height of poor customer service.
Once our server brought our food, she disappeared again, so there was no
way to let her know if there was anything else we needed. The server didn’t reappear until she dropped
our bill on the table.
It was
only after the server took my card to run the bill did the manager come out to
chat with us. There was no apology for
the lateness of the lunch, or nothing offered to rectify the situation, just an
apathetic response. Even though we were
just visiting the area, even if we came back to Sacramento we would not return
to this establishment because of the poor service. What’s more, I went to the corporate website
to provide this feedback also, and (as excepted) had no response of any kind.
Zocalo (Capitol Ave, Sacramento,
CA) – December 2016
There
were few Mexican places in the area, so when we heard about this one we knew we
needed to try it. This was located on a
side street off the main avenues, more in the residential district, which gave
it a more inviting feel. The interior
was nice, and had a lot of nice holiday decorations up. We were sat in a small booth, and had a great
server (even though she was then assigned to a large party table). We didn’t see much of her after that, and
thus were not able to get another glass of wine. I was given a small tumbler of water (which
didn’t last until the arrival of the appetizer), but at least a jug of water
was provided.
The
appetizer of queso fundido was very different than any Tex-Mex or interior
Mexican restaurants we’d been before, and was very good. My fiancée had the taco asada (which she
thought was decent), and I had the enchiladas salsa roja. The red sauce was equivalent to the sauce
which goes on pasta, but the meat and cheese were very good. The green rice was something we hadn’t seen
before, and was tasty. The establishment
was packed, so we could tell it was popular.
There was a nice bar available, too.
Really our only quibble was with our server disappearing, but that
wasn’t her fault because the manager assigned her to the party table and didn’t
have anyone to do follow-up on us.
Overall, this was a place we’d come back to, if we were going to be in
the area again.
Marriott Residence Inn
Hotel (Newark, CA) – December 2016
This
was an excellent property. It was easy
to get to, had lots of spaces to park, and was within walking distance of a
number of restaurants. Located next to
the highway, didn’t hear any noise, but it gave us a good view of the morning
traffic situation. Check-in was easy,
staff was very friendly, and property was very clean. Rooms didn’t have plastic liners in the
garage cans, but really that was a minor quibble. Breakfast bar was adequate with eggs every
day, although would’ve liked to see some non-pork meat or potatoes
available. Nice pool outside, but it was
a cold rain when we were here, so we didn’t get to try it out. Indoor weight room was very nice.
We
ended up with a two bedroom suite (with kitchen) for far less than what we paid
for a one bedroom suite in Sacramento.
There were no hidden fees here, and no charge for parking really
enhanced our stay. This property was
located next door to a Courtyard, which had a very nice bar. The Courtyard people were quite okay with us
coming over for a drink and heading back across the parking lot. Having the two hotels complement each other
that way was smart.
Each
of the bedrooms had their own bathroom and TV, which made the stay a lot
easier. The common area in the suite was
spacious, and very comfortable. We
wished we’d been able to stay longer, and could see coming back to this
property when future business needs bring us back to the area.
Cocurry Thai Cuisine (Jarvis
Ave, Newark, CA) – December 2016
This
was located in a strip mall, so there was plenty of parking. Interior was clean and neat, although we
ended being seated in the back near the bathroom (which we could smell). There were other small tables at the front of
the place when we came in, and the restaurant filled up with the lunch crowd
not long after we ordered. My fiancée
got the mixed vegetable with chicken, which she found to be bland. I had the cashew chicken, which I thought we
decent, but not spectacular. Service was
good (as our water glasses were kept filled), and the food was decent, so this
was a good lunch-time destination.
Spin-A-Yarn (Warm
Springs Blvd, Fremont, CA) – December 2016
We’d
gotten a recommendation that this was one of the best places for steak in the
area, and reservations were “highly encouraged,” so we made a 6.30 pm
reservation on OpenTable in order to secure our seats. Now we do expect a reasonable delay, but that
was not what we got. There were two
dining rooms in the front, and the majority of the guests there only had
drinks. Other guests came in not long
after us for reservations at the same time as us, and they were shunted towards
the bar area. That clearly showed the
establishment was allowing themselves to be overbooked on OpenTable. If you’re filled to capacity, or running
behind in the kitchen, just be honest about it.
Don’t keep guests waiting unnecessarily.
By
7.00 pm, we were still standing in the lobby, being told “just a few more
minutes,” as regular patrons were coming in and being seated. With a table opening up, you should be
seating existing guests, not giving preferential treatment to your friends or
regulars. The response from the hostess
was to the effect of “these things happen.”
So you regularly allow yourselves to be double-booked and make patrons
with reservations wait behind those who just walk in off the street? That was atrocious customer service. My fiancée said the way the haggard servers
were running around was like watching an episode of “Fawlty Towers.”
So by
7.15 pm, with no ETA on when we’d get a table because other customers who were
friends with the owners getting seated before us, it was clear this
establishment didn’t want our business in any capacity. When we’re next in the area, you can be sure
we will not give this another try based on this experience. What a poor way to run a restaurant.
Outback (Stevenson
Blvd, Fremont, CA) – December 2016
After
being unable to be served at the local steakhouse, we shot down the road to
this establishment. While we don’t
normally eat at national chains, we’d called ahead to confirm there was no wait
time. We were able to get seated, placed
our orders, and received our food by 8 pm.
Had we stayed at the other locale, we’d still be waiting in the lobby
for a seat, much less had a bite to eat.
Our server here was Morgan, and she deserves an extra special shout-out
for salvaging our evening, and providing top-notch service. We made sure to let her know with a
significantly higher amount of gratuity.
I’d
been Outback’s in many other cities, but my fiancée had never been to one
because she’d heard “bad things” about them.
She was proven wrong. We each got
a six ounce Victoria’s filet mignon, complete with garlic mashed potatoes and
salad. The steaks were cooked perfectly,
and every bite was delicious. When a
steak was done right, you don’t need to have any type of steak sauce put
on. (We were so hungry that we’d already
attacked our entrees before I remembered to take a picture, sorry about
that.) My fiancée also enjoyed the
varied wine selection too. It really
turned her mind around to this establishment.
This was one of the best meals we’d had in our entire visit to the area.
We
enjoyed this location so much that we came back a couple nights later. Morgan wasn’t available that night, but we
still had a great meal with excellent service.
