TripAdvisor Review Archives 14 -- 2016-2017

Simply Thai (Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA) – December 2016

This was near where we were staying, so we decided to check it out.  The establishment was located in a strip mall, so there was plenty of parking available.  The interior was well-lit, clean, and neat.  We started off with an appetizer of satay, which was good, and that was about it for the evening.  My fiancée ordered the pad kee mao at mild spice, and I asked for gai prik sod at medium spice.  The kitchen reserved the spice levels on the dishes, which pretty much made it difficult for my fiancée to finish her meal.  When this was brought to the attention of the server, she gave an apathetic response to the situation.  There were no offers to make amends, nothing deducted from the bill for the experience.  In fact, they charged us extra for a tiny bowl of sticky rice.  Also, my water glass was never refilled, and my fiancée wasn’t able to get another glass of wine because the server didn’t come by to check on us until it was time to give the check (kind of late for refills then).  Can’t say we we’re going to recommend this place to anyone.

Applebee’s (Ranch Drive, Milpitas, CA) – December 2016

This was near the area where we were today, so it made a good destination for light lunch, as we knew the menu and it would be reasonably quick.  It’s a national chain, so one location looks like another, and the food quality is consistent.  My fiancée had a chicken wrap with fries, and I had the BBQ chicken bites.  Both were good, but I do recall the portions of the chicken bites being larger in the past (where the appetizer was a meal in itself or shareable).  Our server was friendly, and the booth had a kiosk in it which allowed us to pay without needing to wait for our server to bring us the check.  That certainly makes things easier for those who may have time limits (like professionals having lunch).

Burger Joint (San Francisco Airport, CA) – December 2016

We wanted to get lunch before our flight, because we knew we wouldn’t have the time to get anything during our layover.  We decided on this place, because we could see the cleanliness of the grill, and watch our food being prepared (as opposed to some other places were the food was done behind a partition).  The cheeseburgers we received were larger than what we expected for airport food, and done correctly to our specifications.  Fries weren’t hot (not as fresh), but that was a minor quibble because the main portion was delicious.

Computer History Museum (Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA) – December 2016

What a great place to visit!  Easy to get to off the highway, and plenty of parking.  As you pass through the exhibits, you go from the earliest form of computation (abacus) to the first computers of the 20^th Century.  From there, you see the evolution of the room-sized UNIVAC to smaller and smaller systems as the technology progressed.  There’s lots of nostalgia here, especially for those of us who lived through the times when data was stored on reels or eight-inch floppies.

Each section has a specific theme, so you can see computerized toys, silicon wafers, and industrial robots.  The section of the console games was one I enjoyed because I got to see the first console I ever owned (the Odyssey system), as well as the classic Atari and the underdog Turbo Grafix.

Other highlights included a copy of the first edition of Windows, some early PCs, and some of the old Macintosh products I used to use (like the DuoDoc).  I was nice to see an actual Lisa.  The amount of artifacts contained within here was astounding, and what an amazing collection it was.  Highly recommended for any lovers of history, computers, or both.

Tech Museum of Innovation (Market Street, San Jose, CA) – December 2016 (daycare with museum activities)

The information on the website advertised this as a technology museum with lots of exhibits to see.  What it turned out to be was something completely different.  We were looking forward to seeing the various galleries, especially the items about robotics.  Turned out to get inside any of the galleries was something which would cost us extra on top of the hefty $24 per person that just got us inside the door.  We expected to pay a little extra if we wanted to see one of the IMAX films, but not in order to interact with any of the exhibits.  When this was mentioned to the staff, the response was “well, you can come back any time during the day.”  That did not address the concern of what was advertised on the website was far different than what the actual admissions were at the front desk.

Additionally, the day we went was mobbed with many school groups, so there were hordes of elementary-age kids running all over the place, shoving us out of the way as we tried to walk through the area, or even when we were on the escalator.  It didn’t surprise us there was no adult supervision from the school groups, but none of the “museum” staff (using the term loosely) seemed to care about the chaotic nature of what was going on.  When running kids almost knock over some adults, the staff wasn’t going to do anything to keep from someone getting hurt.  That was another example of poor management.  Oh, and when that was mentioned to the museum staff, they didn’t care because they’d already gotten their money from us.

This was a complete waste of time and money.  We spent less than 30 minutes in here because there was nothing for us to see or do, and no refunds we were told.  We’ve been to other science museums, and even ones geared towards children, and the exhibits were more accessible with a much friendlier and helpful staff.

Golfland (El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA) – December 2016

We always look for mini-golf courses when we’re on holiday, and we’re glad we found this one.  There’s an interior arcade and grill which we can’t speak much about, as we’d come for the golf.  Three courses are available, but other than structures encountered, there wasn’t much differences between the courses.  There was a lot of getting your ball up an incline into the hole, or through sliding doors.  The facility was maintained very well, clean, plenty of parking, and easy to get to from the highway.  We’d come in the middle of a weekday, so we had the place pretty much all to ourselves.  If we lived in the area, this would be a place we’d be coming back to.  It was enjoyable, just not as challenging as we’d hoped.

California State Capitol Museum (10^th Street, Sacramento, CA) – December 2016

This was very interesting to visit.  I liked how one corridor had a display for each county showing the unique aspects of that particular region.  While the portraits of past governors were nice to look at, I rather enjoyed the statue of Ronald Reagan, as I recall the highlights of his term.  The museum is essentially scattered through the entire building, with rooms which reflect the styles and décor of the late 19^th and early 20^th Century.  These were an interesting window into the past, and the way an office (much less a government) was during those times.

The special collections area had various old books, which included some pages from the Guttenberg Bible.  These tomes, many which were hundreds of years old, were impressive to see, considering the handiwork required to make the wood-cuts for illustrations, and the by-hand coloring.

A treat in itself was just the architecture of the building, with the carving of the bears on the stairwell banisters, and the design of the rotunda.  The exterior, with the classic Greek columns, added an air of distinction to the place to.  It was a little chilly to walk the grounds around the capitol, but from the street they looked nice.

Out front was the holiday tree, which stood tall and had many nice decorations.  Since our visit was in the middle of the day, we didn’t get to see it lit up, but we could imagine what a beautiful spectacle that would be.

Gloria’s (Domain, Austin, TX) – January 2017

We’d seen this location a number of times when we went to the Domain, but the wait time was always so extreme that we ended up going to other places.  Eventually we were able to arrive at a time when we didn’t have to wait an hour, as we were informed they didn’t accept reservations.  The interior was spacious and clean, but there were no soft surfaces, and the tables were close together, so we could imagine how loud this place could get.  We were lucky and got seated towards the back.

I’ve always judged a Mexican place by the quality of the queso and the cheese enchiladas, and those were the signature dishes I’d be getting.  The queso was good and warm, the way it should be.  That was the only thing which was done correctly in our meal.  My fiancée noted the prices for the glasses of wine were twice that of other establishments in the Domain.

Since “cheese enchiladas” weren’t technically on the menu, I had to order chicken enchiladas and have the cook do a substitution of ingredients.  The “traditional red sauce” which covered my enchiladas was far from it, as it was clearly jarred spaghetti sauce that had been warmed and poured over the top.  Not at all traditional for a Mexican place.  The “Spanish rice” which came as a side was simply white rice with some sparse chopped bell pepper pieces scattered within.  There was no other flavoring or seasoning besides that.  My meal was not at all satisfying.

My fiancée had ordered the pork fajitas, and she considered them a complete failure.  The guacamole which came on the side was so saturated with lime juice that was the only thing which could be tasted.  The pork was bone dry, which was indicative of it being previously cooked and then re-heated.  Fajitas are supposed to sizzle on the plate when they arrive, and these were mildly warm.  Our server was working a large party table at the same time, so there was no opportunity to have anything corrected.  This was mentioned before the bill came, and nothing was adjusted for the poor experience we had.  I could not locate the manager when I went looking, and the hostess wasn’t even at her station.  We’ve never left a place without paying, but no tip whatsoever was given.  This place was all hype and absolutely no substance.  This is not a place we’ll be coming back to, because the opportunity to make amends for our experience was even attempted.

Roaring Fork (Stonelake Blvd, Austin, TX) – February 2017

My fiancée went here as part of a work function, so this lunch had been set up weeks in advance.  It just happened to be on the day it was cooler than normal, and the party was sat outside … in the cold … in the shade.  There were space heaters scattered around, but when they were turned on, they only stayed on for about five minutes or so.  A number of people in office attire had expected to be sitting inside, so no one had brought jackets.  My fiancée ended up running to car to get a blanket, and she wasn’t the only one.  Interesting that there was a lot of space inside that could’ve accommodated the group.

The water glasses were filled once, and that was it.  The orders were taken after a reasonable time, but it took about 90 minutes for the food to arrive.  Especially when a place is expecting a large party, the kitchen should’ve been prepared for this and they weren’t.  The soups were tepid, so there wasn’t anything to even keep the shivering group warm.  The servers were informed of the situation repeatedly, and I’m sure they did all they could, but they were at the mercy of the management which kept customers in an uncomfortable environment.

This is what was reported by my fiancée, so I could document her experience.  She liked this place a lot, but she commented that she couldn’t see coming back any time soon after what she went through.

BJ’s Brewhouse (Arbor Walk, Austin, TX) – February 2017

We’d heard about this location, and wanted to get a decent burger.  Since it was a weekend, we’d called ahead to secure our seating, but we still ended up waiting.  The restaurant appeared to be packed normally for this time of day, but the kitchen was a bit on the slow side.  Our table for two was sandwiched between two other large parties, which pretty much meant we were forgotten about most of the night.  It took a long time to even get a glass of water, much less the drinks we did order.  My fiancée ended up having to ask for some soup crackers to munch on because our appetizers were taking so long.  Our server was very apologetic, and did the best he could considering the situation.  The burgers, when we got them, were decent, but not at all worth the wait.  We didn’t know if this was a situation with just the kitchen being understaffed, the location of our table, or a combination of both, but it made for a less-than-pleasant dining experience.  We may or may not give this another try.

Pluckers (Lakeline Mall Blvd, Austin, TX) – March 2017

I’ve been a Plücker’s member since 2003, and we’ve never had a horrible experience like we did here.  Our server was extremely inattentive, and clearly didn’t want to be there.  She rarely bothered to check on us, and we ended up needing to go up to the bar to get a refill on our drinks.  I ordered my usual boneless basket, but there wasn’t much flavor to them.  My fiancée got her boneless wings, but they were the wrong flavor.  Since the server wasn’t present to inform her of this, we just had to eat it.  I mentioned this lack of service to the bar when getting the drink refill, and the manager was nowhere to be found.

Once the server brought our check, she stood there and hovered waiting for us to pay the bill, and we weren’t even finished with our drinks yet.  Essentially, we were forced to pay for a shitty meal because no manager could be found.  I had eaten half of my food, as I was going to take the rest for lunch the next day.  We stepped away briefly, and my take-home box had vanished (although the rest of the dirty dishes were still on the table).  We had a sneaking suspicious where my take-home box went, and I watched my credit card activity for a bit to make sure the server hadn’t cloned it.

On the way out, the manager finally appeared and we informed him of our experiences.  The manager wasn’t very apologetic, as he defended the server and put the blame on us for the situation.  There was no offer to refund any of our bill, as all he did was give us a $20 gift card for our next visit.  Really, that didn’t even cover half of what we’d spent that night.  The whole experience just left a sour taste in our mouth, and not just from the food being not correct.

I did post a more in-depth experience on the Plücker’s corporate site to make them aware of the situation, and strangely had never heard anything back from them.  While we would return to a Plücker’s location, it just would never be that one again based what’d happened there.

Maggiano’s Little Italy (Domain, Austin, TX) – April 2017

This place came highly recommended for good Italian food, and it lived up to the expectation.  Being located in the Domain means that you have to make arrangements for parking and reservations here are encouraged.  The interior space is well-used and has the waiting area and bar separate from the main dining section.  The staff was friendly, and the décor nicely done.  The establishment was packed, but there wasn’t an unreasonable wait at any point during the evening.

We started off the Crispy Zucchini Fritte and Mozzarella Marina.  The portions were good sized, and extremely tasty.  The breading on the appetizers was thin, so it didn’t take away from the delicious tastes of the items.  The mozzarella was melted just right.  For the main courses, we ordered the Veal Marsala and the Chicken Parmesan.  Both of these dishes were crafted with excellent quality, and were extremely savory.  The appetizers were filling by themselves, but the portions of the main courses were large and well worth the money spent.  Between the spaghetti side-dishes and the complementary bread, we had a table-full of delicious food.  Needless to say, we needed to get a to-go box.  Guaranteed this is a place which we’ll be going back to.

Bombay Bistro (Highway 183, Austin, TX) – April 2017

My fiancée and I love Indian food, and we’ve found few good places for it in Austin.  This is our favorite.  We come here so often, it gets hard to find new things to say when the food and the service have been consistently good.  Before we knew each other, we’d been going to this establishment for years, so it was nice to have a place that we both had history with.  The décor is elegant, and the staff always friendly.  We’ve never had much of a wait to get seated, and our food has always come out in a reasonable time – hot and fresh.

Texas Roadhouse (Highway 183, Austin, TX) – April 2017

We’re not ones who’d go to national chains, but when our local favorite restaurant had a half-full dining area and told us it’d be over 30 minutes just to get seated, we called around to see if we could get into someplace else quicker.  With only a ten minute wait time, we quickly when from where we were on 620 down to here and were pretty much seated immediately.  My fiancée wanted a good steak so she went for the six ounce Dallas Filet.  I decided to go for something more “home style” and got the country fried chicken.  My piece was a little thin than what I’d expect, but it was a good sized portion nonetheless.  My fiancée raved about how great her steak was.  The establishment was busy for a weekend evening, but we had good service.  The meal we had here really saved our evening out.  Thank you!

Dunkin’ Donuts (12200 Research Blvd, Austin, TX) – April 2017

I stopped here one morning to get a couple of dozen donuts for my co-workers.  The coffee-only people were in one line, and another group was handling the drive-thru customers, so there was quick service getting donuts.  Everything was fresh, and the service was good.

Veteran’s Memorial Park (Cedar Park, TX) – April 2017

I came to this park to take part in the Hounds for Heroes 5k.  While I noticed the pool to the right as I pulled in, it wasn’t something I would be experiencing on this visit.  There was also a decent-sized dog park near the car park which was fenced in, and had its own small pond for them to use.  The car park was nicely designed so it was equal distances from the pavilion and other features.  The trails are a mix of pavement and crushed gravel, and circle nicely around the perimeter (we had to run it twice in order to make the requisite 5k distance).

The main attraction of the park was the path which lead to the memorial.  The first part of the path has names on bricks of various service personnel from a number of branches.  The path then spirals up a small hill to the actual monument, which has an obelisk for each branch and flags flying overhead.  The architecture of the park was nicely put together, and was an enjoyable place to visit.

Jenna’s Asian Kitchen (RR 620, Austin, TX) – April 2017

This is actually two experiences. The first was last week when we showed up for dinner. The restaurant was mostly empty, but we were one of five couple who'd been told there was a "20 minute" wait. As each new couple came in, the table wait increased by five minutes. The official response delivered by the uncaring receptionist was the kitchen was backed up. Yet there were a dozen of people that walked in to get take-out, and had no wait at all. It was very clear that the take-out business was far more important than the people waiting to be seated. In the end, since it didn't seem very likely we'd get our food in a reasonable time after being seated, we ended up going to another establishment (located near Main Event) where we were able to be immediately seated on this Saturday evening and didn't have to wait an unreasonable time for our made-to-order food to be delivered.

So we decided to give Jenna's another try last night. Since take-out seemed to be primary business, we opted for that. We placed an order online at 6 pm for a 7 pm pick-up, as an hour should be enough time for it to be prepared. When I arrived a few minutes before 7, I saw the lobby situation was the same as the previous week. Couples were being given a 20-30 minute wait time on a mostly empty establishment where the "kitchen was backed up" again. Some of those customer chose not to wait, and left. There were a few people from GrubHub that were anxiously awaiting orders to.

The receptionist, who demonstrated no empathy about the situation, couldn't even locate our order. It seemed to have not been noticed, so it was never started. I waited until 7.30 for my order which was supposed to be ready for pick-up at 7.00 pm.  Everything was warm when received, but not hot like it would've been had it been brought to the table by a server. At that point to get them to attempt to correct the situation would delay dinner even more.

So when I got home and opened the order, the General Tso Chicken was okay, but the portion was a lot less than what it'd been when I'd ordered it in the restaurant. The Mongolian Beef had a fraction of the meat it should've had, and it wasn't even cooked properly. The meat had been boiled, and no spices were added. My wife ate a couple of bites, but was unwilling to finish it. That small amount gave her stomach issues that lasted throughout the night, with a lot of discomfort. We tossed out all the remaining left-overs, as we didn't want to chance eating this again as we were concerned about what G.I. issues could develop from this.

We were regular clients of Jenna's when it first opened, it had been one of our favorite places to go. But we see the "fresh ingredients" that we enjoyed are no longer there, as the place has become geared towards buffet-style food and take-out at the price of quality sit-down dining. The level of customer service and the poor quality of food means we will never return to this establishment again. A once good place has now become horrible.

Zushi Sushi (Domain, Austin, TX) – May 2017

Because Austin is not a coastal city, it’s been very difficult to find a sushi place that served fresh fish that hadn’t been previously frozen.  We’d read some reviews of this place, and thought it sounded like a decent place to try.  Since it was located within the Domain, parking was easy, as it was a nice short walk to reach the establishment.  The first thing we noticed when we came in was how quiet this place was.  It had a high ceiling, carpeted floor, and some dividers between sections, which served to absorb the noise of this full restaurant.  We’d made reservations, which was recommended.

The individual rolls were the perfect size for one person, or if they wanted to be shared.  We decided to run the gambit of flavors, starting off with the Lincoln Heights (a combination of tuna and avocado), Dragon Roll (eel and cucumber), and some chicken yakitori to start with.  We got so in to the deliciousness of the meal that I forgot to take a picture of the food until we were nearly finished.  Apologies for the picture of partially eaten items.  There were so many things on the menu here that we plan on coming back again to sample even more.

TripAdvisor Review Archives 13 -- 2016

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 (16^th 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.