Sushi sushi sushi.

So, I decided to write about sushi in general for this blog post and all of the different restaurants that I like and recommend.

It's hard to find a good sushi place because usually good quality sushi is very expensive, and believe me, getting sick off of sushi is NOT fun.

My ex-favorite place is Sushi Niichi, located on 24th st. next to towers. They have a great happy hour menu where some of their best rolls are 1/2 price everyday from 4pm-6pm.

My friends and I used to go every Wednesday to catch happy hour, until some of us got sick. I ordered my favorite roll, The caterpillar (picture above) which has crab, eel, yellow tail, cucumber, and avocado. It was a normal Sushi Wednesday and I ordered what I normally did. About 2 a.m. my stomach was not happy about me ordering the caterpillar roll, and that was the very last time I ever went to Sushi Niichi.

Maiko Sushi lounge, located on 6th street right next to the Belmont, is a really hip and trendy place to get sushi, but is a little expensive for a college student. They have great drinks and a pretty decent happy hour. I recommend getting there early on the weekends are making a reservation because you will wait forever to be seated otherwise. All of the sushi here is great.
They have a great happy hour where all of their rolls and sushi are under $8, and they actually have a lot on their happy hour sushi menu unlike a lot of places. Happy hour is Sun-Mon 4:30pm-close and Tues-Thurs 4:30pm-7pm. Check out their happy hour drink menu also.

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant, located on Congress, has probably the best sushi for the cheapest price during their happy hour. The Longorn roll, which is imitation crab meat, avocado, cucumber inside and deep fried with special sauce and the Capitol roll, which is lobster tempura, avocado and creamy Wazabi Tobico rolled in Maguro & covered with rice paper are my two favorite rolls at Kyoto. Happy hour is Monday-Saturday, 6-6:46pm and all over their menu items are under $4.

YUME, located at the Triangle complex, just recently opened and has a great happy hour menu also. The restaurants definitely keeps Austin exotic. It's far from ordinary, and Yume is where you can find the freshest sushi and exotic cuisine made from the finest ingredients. Happy hour sushi is from 5-7pm Monday-Friday. Order the roll of the day. It always changes but it's usually the cheapest and the best.

Some other great sushi spots you should check out:
Kenichii
Uchi
Mikado

I love sushi.

That is all.


How to make your own sushi

Z' Tejas

Z Tejas is a very unique restaurant in Austin. Their food is different, but good, and the atmosphere make you feel like you are out in the woods eating a meal when you are actually on 6th street.

The restaurant is built around huge oak trees and the inside walls are actually vintage garage doors so the workers can open them when it's nice outside and close them when it's cold. We usually eat outside under the big tree...but watch out for birds. The will take your food if you don't stay on your guard.

I have been to Z Tejas for brunch and lunch. Every time my meal was a unique flavor that kept me thinking about it for the rest of the day.

For Brunch, a Mimosa ($3.50) goes well to tide you over until your meal arrives. I ordered the Jack's breakfast Quesadilla with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, Jack cheese, potatoes and salsa fresca in a tortilla, with tomatillo sauce and chipotle sour cream. ($8) It was absolutely delicous, but I could not even get close to finishing it.

My dad ordered the Barbacoa Beef Breakfast enchiladas which contained layered beef barbacoa between tortillas with green chili sauce, cotija cheese, green chili rice and black beans, topped with two eggs cooked over easy. ($9) My dad said the meal was a little heavy for a brunch, and that beef and breakfast food DO NOT mix. I don't think he liked it at all and said it was pretty odd eating it.

My mom ordered the cajun ham omlette which is a fluffy omlette with sliced grilled ham in cayenne honey glaze, topped with Jack cheese, sliced tomatoes and source cream, served with home-fried potatoes on the side. ($8.50) She absolutely devoured it and said it was delicious.

For lunch, I ordered a Southwest Caesar salad which had romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese and house-made fried bread croutons topped with grilled chicken. ($10.29) You can add ruby trout for 20 cents. The salad was huge, delicious, and I would definitely order it again.

My mom ordered the Red Chili and Mango Steak salad which had mixed greens with Roma tomatoes, tossed in Mango citrus dressing, seared beef tenderloin and topped with bleu cheese and spicy walnuts. ($10.49) She loved it and recommeded I order it next time.

If anything has a Z by it on the menu, it's a house specialty and I encourage you to order it because that's what I've done and I've had good luck.

Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 4pm-7pm. Brunch is served Saturday-Sunday from 10am-3pm.

I give Z Tejas a 7... only because sometimes the service sucks, my dad hated his brunch, and the birds always take your food which is kind of annoying.

That is all.


How to make a bomb omlette

Mellow Mushroom

Mellow Mushroom is by far my favorite pizza place in all of Austin. I figured since I have not touched on Pizza places yet, and I've done plenty of Mexican food, it was time to enter the world of pizza on Foodfreak.org.

Mellow Mushroom is located on "the drag" (aka: Guadalupe st.) across from campus. It's a hippy version of pizza in my opinion, and when walking by and seeing the rotating mushroom man on top of the restaurant, it's hard to disagree with my assumption.

All pizza crust is hearth baked for deliciousness. When first walking into Mellow Mushroom, you feel a bit of euphoria with the 70's decor from head-to-toe in the joint. All of the staff always ask you how your day is and are having a ball tossing pizza crusts behind the counter in the kitchen.

The menu has an array of options for everyone to order. The appetizers (munchies) are so unique. From garlic bread to tomato bisque or even pretzels are available to order. My favorite is the garlic break with cheese. ($6)

I have actually never had any of their salads, but I've heard great things about the Caesar or the Brutus, which comes with everything a Caesar does with Kalamata olives, Grilled Portobellos, Roasted Red Peppers, Roma tomatoes and feta cheese. ($8) You can also build your own salad by choosing your salad mix, veggies, cheese, protein and dressing. ($7)

Most people who are dining in at Mellow Mushroom go for the pizza though. It's a known fact. The have a lot of house specialty pizza you can order, and you can also build your own in either small, medium or large. When ordering a large pizza, I need to warn you that you'll be eating that pizza all week for lunch because it's so much to eat.

My favorite pizza to order is either the Pepperoni or the Hawaiian which comes with ham and Pineapple. A large pizza usually runs close to $17, but it's enough to feed four people.

Other things that Mellow Mushroom offers are Calzones, grilled and deli hoagies if you are not a big pizza eater.

All in all, I give Mellow Mushroom a 9 because it's in walking distance from campus, cheap, fun on the inside, the wait staff is hilarious and the food is absolutely delicious.

That is all.



There are Mellow Mushrooms all of the U.S. now. Here is an example of what one looks like. They are all pretty psychedelic on the inside.

El Arroyo

El Arroyo is a great place to dine in for college students and has one of the best and most popular happy hours in Austin.

Nestled in between huge Oak trees that the restaurant itself is built around to preserve the trees, it's unique atmosphere and great food and cheap drinks will have you hooked.

My favorite part of the restaurant is that they have chandeliers hanging from the trees....tons of them. You could spend your entire meal/happy hour staring at the trees at the unique decor in them.

I have actually only eaten at El Arroyo a couple of times so I will being talking about their happy hour menu.

Their happy hour is every week day from 2pm-7pm and you can get something for under $5 almost every day of the week, depending upon what the daily drink special is.

Monday: $1 Tecates ALL DAY!
Tuesday: $1 Margs 2-6pm $2 Margs 6-7pm
Thirsty Thursday: $1 Margs 2-6pm. $2 from 6-7pm
Weekends: $2.50 Bloody Mary’s, $3.50 Mimosas and Poinsettias - All Day

Most college students go on Thursdays for $1 margaritas if you would like to mingle with the UT crowd. It's very crowded usually and I suggest getting there around 3pm at the latest.

El Arroyo has a pretty decent (and cheap) weekend Brunch menu. If you dine-in Monday-Thursday between 7am-10am you can get any breakfast taco with any three ingredients for $1. What a deal! And they are delicious!

Brunch is served on the weekends from 10am-3pm. I have ordered the breakfast tacos which we already know are amazing and the spinach omelet. ($8)

My friend usually orders the strawberry pancakes, which she says are amazing. They must be because she's obsessed and they are really cheap. Basically everything at El Arroyo is good and cheap. Perfect for college students.

For lunch, I usually order off of the light menu. The skinny tacos are delicious. Stuffed with grilled chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, and lite cheese wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. Served with rice and beans. ($6)

The queso mixo mucho is awesome. You can basically make your own queso, put whatever you want in it for $6. It's great for munchies when you come in for happy hour with a big group. There are a list of ingredients you can include on the menu.

All in all, I give El Arroyo a 10. Great food, great atmosphere, cheap, good service, and great drinks and happy hour. Perfect in my opinion for college kids or anyone who is trying to save a buck on a great dining experience.

That is all.

Check out daily specials for dinner and lunch.


Making Sin City Breakfast Tacos

Janitzio Restaurante

Janitzio is located near campus on 600 Martin Luther King Blvd. I first dined in at Janitzio when I interned at KXAN over the summer for a lunch break and was very surprised at how good it was.

When walking by, you would not dare dine in at this restaurant because it looks like a shack from the outside. There is a cardboard sign with "BYOB anytime" written in sharpie which is very welcoming for drinkers.

I ordered the chicken Quesadillas ($5) which were amazing. Two crispy tortillas stuffed with cheese and pico de gallo , served with guacamole and sour cream. Yummy yumm yumm. I wanted more after I left, but unfortunately did not.

I have also ordered the Chicken taco salad ($6) which was awesome. Lettuce, tomatoes, pico de gallo, cheese, fajita chicken, sour cream all tossed in a tortilla shell. It was delicious also and a good option for people eating healthy.

As an appetizer to share with the table, you should definitely order the Queso Compuesto ($6). Chili con queso with guacamole, pico de gallo served with sour cream.

Don't judge a book by it's cover because Janitzio is a really good restaurant regardless of it's exterior shack facade.

I give Janitzio an 8 because the food is great, but I am not sure how sanitary it is. It is cheap, you can BYOB, but beware of the flies around your food.

That is all.

Reviews.




Chicken Quesadillas with guacamole

Threadgill's

Threadgill's is an Austin's favorite that all Austinites must try for southern down home cooking.

Established in Austin City Limits by country music lover Kenneth Threadgill in 1933, the popular home cookin' restaurant was one of the first to serve alcohol when Travis county went "wet" as a whole.

It was a favorite spot of musicians for the longest time because it was opened 24 hours for drinking and gambling. Most musicians that came to play at Threadgill's were paid back in beer.

Sadly, in 1942, a curfew was enacted for all restaurants and bars serving alcohol to stop at 2 a.m. which was the first time the Kenneth had to install a lock on his door in order to close the joint during curfew hours.

Threadgill's has two locations in Austin... one on Riverside and 1st and the otheron NOrth Lamar, which is the original.

Aside from Threadgill's rich history, the food is some of the best comfort food I've ever had. Their menu offers something for everyone to enjoy.

The cheese stuffed jalapenos are amazing. ($6) After you eat these suckers, you won't want to even finish your entree because they are so filling. I recommend sharing them with a big man so you save room for your meal.

I always order the Chicken Ranchero ($10) which is grilled chicken topped with jack cheese and pico de gallo, sprinkled with tortilla strips and your choice of two sides. They recommend that you order black beans and rice with the entree, but I can never resist ordering the cheese grits and fried Okra. To die for.

Something I thought was interesting about the restaurant is that they use corn and canola frying oil blend that has 0 trans fat.

I have also heard that the chicken fried steak is the best in town at Threadgill's. ($10) It's tender cut beef that's hand-dipped and golden fried topped with cream gravy. Served with your choice of two sides.

Worried about Threadgill's home cookin' not providing healthy options? Have no fear. Their menu has an array of hearty healthy salads for customers to order from Caesar to Grilled Ahi Tuna Spinach Salad.

The service is wonderful at Threadgill's regardless the day or time you decide to dine-in.
Wear whatever you want because anything goes.

I love walking in because the atmosphere depicts the history of Threadgill's to a T. With old country tables and chairs and red and white checkered table clothes, it's a place that anyone can feel comfortable and right at home.

They also have live music always playing at each location. Check out the calendar.

I give Threadgill's a 9 on my scale. Almost perfect because everyone I've talked to enjoys any entree they order here. I always enjoy mine for sure.

That is all.

Reviews

Threadgill's tour

Santa Rita

Santa Rita Tex Mex Cantina is a great dining out experience.

The restaurant was named after Doña Margarita B. who achieved culinary acclaim in New Mexico and along the Gulf Coast.

The menu is the legacy of the passions of Santa Rita and her culinary achievements.

When first walking up to Santa Rita, it seems like a typical Mexican Cantina with loud mariachi music and clay cactus sculptures everyone. Lights streaming along the roof top as well as hanging from the ceiling and margaritas galore!

Santa Rita is one of my best friend's favorite restaurant. I personally like the atmosphere better than the food. It's a very modern style of Mexican food. And another thing that I like about the restaurant itself is that their template color design is pink. From the paint on the walls, to the cups to the plates, all pink.

The Santa Rita Queso as an appetizer is a must. Warm Mexican cheese mixed with guacamole, Pico de gallo, seasoned beef. DELICIOSO!

Most of the things on Santa Rita's dinner menu is pretty affordable...but in my opinion I have had a lot better and authentic Mexican food. I usually order chicken fajitas for two. ($19) I share them of course. I like Pappasitos fajitas better. The chicken at Santa Rita is always dry and the fajita seasoning is a little weird. Taste kind of like sweet chicken of some sort. Awkward.

Something that I absolutely love off of Santa Rita's drink menu that I can never pass up on ordering is the Mango Margarita ($7). The rim of the glass is lined with orange colored sugar and the mango margarita is to die for and makes me forget about the food not being that great.

The service is very good at Santa Rita though. That's one thing I do give them props for.

The restaurant also serves brunch and you should also check out their great seasonal specials. Santa Rita is also a great place to have birthday parties. Check out their party menu.

All in all, I give Santa Rita a 6 because their food isn't that great, but the Mango Margarita gets a 10 because it really is the best margarita I have ever had.

Remember Happy hour is on week days from 3-7pm.


That is all.

How to make a Mango Margarita

Munch'n at Milto's

Milto's Mediterranean Cafe and Pizza pub is a great place to eat for college students because it's quaint, cheap and delicious. It's very informal so you can walk in wearing whatever you want and it will be acceptable.

They serve a variety of Greek dishes from pizza, to gyros to wonderful Greek salads. Usually the service is pretty good, but not always, so you'll need to set aside at least an hour to dine in at Milto's.

I have a weak spot for Greek gyros. I order them anywhere they are available even though they are not very healthy. It's one thing I can't give up even when on a diet.

Milto's, located on 2909 Guadalupe St. right down the street from UT campus, lured me into it's quarters when one of my friends was starving after a night of bar hopping. My friend told me that they had GREAT gyros, so I was sold.

This Cafe is not the type of place you sit down and someone comes to take your order. You scan the menu and wait in line to place your order and they call your name when your meal is ready. There are huge canvas paintings on the walls of Greek landscapes with mismatched tables and chairs, just another reason I love this place.

I got the classic Gyro ($5) which was absolutely one of the best gyros I have ever ordered. The Tzakiki sauce comes of the side so you it's completely doused with sauce. It is the most popular thing on the menu according to the cook I talked to.

My friend ordered the meatball sandwich which he could not finish. I got my food about 30 minutes before he did so that was kind of frustrating for him. Like I said, sometimes the service is good, sometimes not so much.

I have also heard from others who have dined-in at Milto's that their Greek Salads are WONDERFUL. Most entrees at Milto's are under $10 so this place is very affordable for students.

Overall, I give Milto's a 8 on my scale only because the service sucks from time to time, but it's so cheap that you can't expect it to be perfect. I definitely recommend this joint for students and anyone who wants some great Greek food that is cheap.

That is all.

Other Reviews

Gyro Recipe

Treat a lady at Shady

Shady Grove is one of those restaurants that everyone can find something to eat at. I consider it the Austin version of Chili's because their menu is so vast and its interior and decoration illustrates Austin's free loving culture to the T.

I think that every time I have a guest come to visit me in Austin, we treat ourselves to some Shady lunch at Shady Grove.

Owned by Chuy's which is right next door, Austin's favorite Shady Grove offers a homey and relaxing interior with big comfy booths and decorations that will keep you entertained until your food is served.
Expect to wait for at least 10-20minutes to be seated if you go on the weekend or at peak dinner time. They do not take reservations.

My weakness and one of their most popular appetizers is the Chili cheese fries topped with Airstream Chili, queso and jalapeños. So bad BUT so gooood. No matter who I dine in with, the chili cheese fries are always devoured within the matter of minutes because they are so delicious.

I typically do not drink at Shady Grove because it's more of a Sunday place to eat in my opinion. A place to recover and relax from the weekend in a very homey atmosphere.

Everything I've had on Shady's menu is delicious.

The hippie sandwich: healthy, hearty and wonderful. (and cheap!) There are several versions of the hippie sandwich that you can order. It consists of grilled egg plant. oven roasted bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, arugula, tomato and mozzarella cheese served on their Shadily famous hippie bread with pesto mayonnaise. MMMmmmMMMmmmMMMmmm.
There are several versions of the hippie sandwich that you have the freedom to choose from:

• The Hippie Sandwich plate which comes with half a hippie sandy and with a side salad.
• The Hippie Chick which comes with everything that is on a hippie sandwich with the addition of Thai grilled chicken breast. I usually order this one.

The Tortilla Fried Queso Catfish: farm-raised catfish fried in tortilla crust, served over yummy queso and toppled with pico de gallo. The entree comes with your choice of a potato, green chili rice and a side salad.

• I love this dish, but it really is a lot to eat. Make sure that YOU DO NOT order 2 filets. I ordered two thinking that they would be average sized catfish filets and one filet is enough to feed two people. I also suggest ordering the green chili rice... it's delicious and goes will with the zangy queso catfish.

Grilled Thai Chicken Salad: This is a great delicious salad. Served with Thai grilled tender chicken, orange slices, carrots, cabbage, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, red bell peppers and snow peas tossed with fresh salad greens. Garnished with roasted peanuts and friend wonton noodles. Served with some zesty Thai and peanut dressings.

• Although this salad is a lot, it's a healthy option and can honestly be split between two people it's so large. And who are we kidding, after eating those chili cheese fries we need to eat a salad as the main course or nothing at all!!!

All in all I give Shady Grove an 8... because sometimes their service is bad and I am impatient and hate waiting to be seated... but the price is low appropriate for the home cooking and if you have not been to dine in at Shady Grove then you need to because it's an Austin favorite.

Also, every Thursday night at 7pm they have a LIVE BAND. Click here to see the schedule.
I believe it is only until the beginning of October. But still, there is live music there on any given night. Just stop by and join the fun.





CHILI CHEESE FRIES EATING CONTEST! Ew.

Moonshine

Walking into the famous Austin restaurant Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill will take you back to a time where comfort is not only in the atmosphere, but also the FOOD!

The restaurant is housed in what used to be the old Waterloo Compound, an original grouping of some of the oldest commercial buildings in Austin from as early as 1835.

From 1952 until today, the building has had it's fair share of different uses and owners and undergone several restorations.

Moonshine was established in 2003, and is the second restaurant to occupy the old Waterloo Compound space. The building is listed under the national registry of historical places.

Now that you've been awed over the history of the restaurant, let's talk about the food.

Moonshine has a great variety of good eats. Reservations are always accepted and you can also come on a first come first serve basis. They serve brunch on Sundays and were recently named Austin's Best Brunch Place by the Austin Chronicle. You can devour yourself in an all you can eat buffet for only $16 a person. Brunch starts at 10a.m.

I've been to Moonshine several times for their happy hour. It's Monday through Friday from 3:30pm-6:30pm with half price appetizers and $4 cocktails and wines! Check out their wine list!

I usually dine-in for dinner at Moonshine. I suggests ordering the spinach artichoke fondue for an appetizer. It's served with Parmesan, mozzarella and garlic bread. ($8) MMmmmMMmmm.
Also, the Caesar starter salad with hearts of Romaine and garlic croûtons ($4.50) is also a winner as an appetizer and a bit lighter than artichoke fondue.

For an entree off the dinner menu, I usually order the pecan crusted catfish served with Crayfish tails in brown butter sauce. ($14) Most of their entrees are served with brown butter sauce so if you are on a diet, make sure you ask them to cut the butter sauce because it's anything but diet...but so delicious like most high calorie things are.

Another entree winner is the Molasses and chili cured pork chop with bourbon apple sauce ($19). Absolutely amazing and it melts in your mouth. Again, another MAN entree because it is a bit heavy.

All in all I give Moonshine a 10. Great food, unique and historic atmosphere, reasonably priced and a great happy hour.

Can't ask for much more of a dining out experience.

That is all.



Preparing an artichoke

Belly up at the Belmont

The Belmont on 6th street is one of my all time favorite restaurants in Austin. It's close to downtown so you can eat and enjoy a chaotic evening of the 6th street hubbub afterward.

It is designed to emulate the 1920's Rat Pack era with leather bar stools and the low lit circle chandeliers and dark cherry woodwork. It takes you back to wearing flipper skirts and of course,, celebrating the abolition of prohibition by taking advantage of their yummy drink menu.

When I dine in, I usually choose a booth to sit in because it's more personal and it's away from the hustle and bustle of the bar traffic. I recommend that you do make reservations, but it is possible to just show up and get a seat if you are lucky.

Of course the waiter will provide you with A LOAF of bread with butter to munch on while you are deciding on what to order from their wonderful dinner menu.

I usually order the Caesar salad ($5) for an appetizer. Sometimes if I am with friends they insist on ordering the cornmeal fried calamari with tomato basil sauce and caper aioli. ($9) Absolutely mouth watering and so sinful to eat. But SO worth the calories. That's why you have to share it so you don't feel as guilty when eating it...I guess.

A couple of entrees that are my top picks at The Belmont since I have been a million times:

• Butternut squash Ravioli served with sage brown butter, pine nuts, shaved Parmesan with fresh nutmeg sprinkled on top. ($13)
  
• It is so sweet to eat and a very unique entree. I believe it is MY top pick.
• Chef Ben's Famous Spit Roasted Half-chicken served with heaping mashed potatoes doused in lemon sage brown butter and watercress. ($14)
• The chicken is so tender it literally melts in your mouth and the mashed potatoes are sweet and salty...my favorite flavor combination!
• Last but not least, the peach BBQ glazed pork chop served with sweet maple mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans. ($18)
• This entree in my opinion is TOO MUCH for a girl to eat but it is to die for. I suggest making a boy order it because it's a pretty heavy entree... a very boy thing to order ... and you can nonchalantly pick off of his plate!

Now the drinks.

My favorite drinks are OF COURSE wine... they serve Toad Hollow chardonnay from Sonoma and I usually order it. ($8 per glass)

My favorite cocktails are:

• The Belmontini; a mixture of vodka, champagne and pineapple juice. ($9)
• The Pomegranate Cosmo; a mixture of vodka, pomegranate, orange liqueur and a dash of lime. ($9)
• and if you are feeling hardcore you can always order a SIDECAR cocktail; Cognac, orange liqueur and lime juice. ($10). By far the strongest and stiffest drink you will ever have.

Now the dessert menu!
All desserts are $7 each. You can also have an Irish coffee to spice things up.

My favorite is the creme brulee, but that's my favorite dessert anywhere.
I have also had the warm molten chocolate cake and the warm apple crisp, both served with a side scoop of Amy's ice cream.

All in all, this is a wonderful restaurant. It may be a little expensive for the college student wallet, but I believe it's worth the money and a GREAT place to take a girl on a first date to make an excellent first impression!

10 on my Food Freak scale.

That is all.


Butternut Squash Ravioli Recipe!

Donde esta El Chile

An awesome place that not a lot of people know about to eat at is El Chile on Manor Rd. right by the baseball stadium. I discovered it when a friend and I traveled down here my senior year of high school to check out the University and surprisingly it was my first Austin restaurant experience so I may be a little biased in this blog post.

The restaurant is very cute... half of it lies outside on a porch with patio lights lining the ceiling. The other half is housed inside a small cantina-like atmosphere.

There is always a wait, especially on the weekends BUT don't fret. Most take a seat on the patio and enjoy one of El Chile's Perfect Margarita...Don Julio, Patron, or Herradura tequila with Cointreau and fresh lime juice on the rocks. PERFECTO and makes the meal taste EVEN BETTER after having a bit of a buzz before being seated. Click here to see the drink menu.

Ordering an appetizer is a must. When I dine-in, I usually convince whomever I am with to order the Queso Flameado with tortillas. Starts the meal off right... and of course a second margarita to go along with.

The dinner menu is full of great things to order... it's just a matter of what to decide on that is the hard part. Usually it's hard for me to stray away from the Pescado Entortillado: Tortilla crusted tilapia with blackened jalapeño aioli sprinkled with poblano corn relish with ranchero sauce. It's served with rice and beans on the side. I never thought the fish and Mexican food would mix until I experienced El Chile.

On another note, their salsa it to die for. It has a Smokey Chipotle flavor which is irresistible and it's hard to put the chips down when you are waiting for your entree.

It's a place to go for a date when someone else is being. The Tilapia is $14, the Queso Flameado is $8 and oh yes, THE DRINKS range anywhere from $8-$12 depending upon what you order.

I definitely recommend it and on my food freak scale, it receives a 8.5, only because one time the tilapia kind of made me sick BUT it was only ONCE!!!! The Tilapia probably wasn't in season or something. But the enchiladas have never made me sick nor have the wonderful Maragaritas.

They also serve brunch!

See below to view Brunch, Lunch and dinner menus.
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner

That is all.

Reviews
El Chilito


Tropical Tilapia Recipe

El Patio Yummy!

Everytime my parents come into town, they always say it's an Austin tradition to stop by the popular Mexican food joint nestled close to campus, El Patio (Right next to Centennial Liquor!). Established in 1954, and still cooking strong, when you walk into El Patio on a Saturday night you should expect to not be able to find parking and to wait because it has become a habit of many Austinites dining out schedules.

The inside is your basic Mexican food restaurant with paintings from Mexico, pinatas hanging and also advertisements for Dos Equis and Tecate on the walls. It looks like a patio that has been covered on the inside hence the name I guess.

Once we sit down, a waitor rushed to our assistance within the matter of 2 minutes and asked us for our drink order. Feeling obligated due to the massive amounts of Mexican beer advertisements, we all order some mexican import beers to enhance our experience.

The menu is decently priced. All entrees are under $10. The waitor urged us to order the chili con queso for an appetizer... so we did. It is served with fried tortillas which is definitely recommended by the doctor if you have high cholesterol. Deliciosa para mi estomaga!

After stuffing our faces with our queso appetizer and gulping our Dos Equis and Tecate, we had to order our entrees even though we were already full. I ordered 2 crispy chicken tacos with cheese and rice... my parents order the Senorita Special which came with 2 beef tacos and one cheese enchilada with chili which they said was AWESOME. Click here to view the menu.

The meal was TO DIE FOR and I particularly enjoyed it because it was authentic and not Tex-Mex for once. I believe sometimes Tex-Mex can take away from the true flavor of Mexican food with too many spices.

El Patio is definitely recommended. Sadly, I do not remember our bill total because I had 3 beers with my meal which could take account for why I enjoyed it so much. I know that my dad said it was really cheap for how much food and the abudance of drinks that we had.

Either way, I read these reviews before I went to El Patio and it was well worth it. Everyone should try it because it is a landmark in Austin and the food is still great after over half a century of being in business.

That is all.

Austin 360

Austin Chronicle

How to make Enchiladas!

A cheek full at Chez Zee

So Sunday rolls around when my mom is here for the weekend and after a shopping spree and Big Lots for the essentials, we decide to try out a hip restaurant off of 2222 called Chez Zee!

It was hard to find a parking spot for the first 10 minutes, but once we found one we walked to the hostess desk to put our name down through a ivy vined tunnel laced with Christmas lights and dangling miniature disco balls. Very interesting first impression.

The hostess was rude to say the least. She was not happy to be working on a Sunday I suppose. The place reminded me of a collector's haven from the 70's. The piano player was playing 70's music, there were mini disco balls hanging everywhere.

It took us about 20 minutes to get a table. Once we sat down we knew that mimosas were a must: two champagne glasses with fresh-squeezed Orange juice with a strawberry on the rim for garnish. It was wonderful, but a bit pricey for $5 a piece when there was only enough to barely quench your thirst.

My mother and I decided to order off of their eggs Benedict. I ordered the Canadian bacon and my mom ordered the portobello mushroom Benedict. Each entree comes with skillet potatoes and a croissant with raspberry cream cheese.

My entree was awesome. I really did not care for my mom's because I don't like to mix breakfast with asparagus and peppers. I am weird like that though. She tried to give me a sample and ended up dropping one of her eggs Benedict on the table making a huge mess and it was really embarrassing.

Another thing that I really liked about the restaurant was that the piano was a fire engine red Baldwin with puzzle pieces on the top. It seemed that the piano was the center of attention of the restaurant because everyone was singing along with the well-known songs being played such as Queen, Mama and Sweet Caroline.

The bill ended up being around $50.

Overall I give the place a ......9. Only because the hostess was really rude. If she would've been nice it would've scored an extra point on my food freak scale.


I would definitely recommend trying this place out. It was by far the best brunch I have ever had.

That is all


THE PERFECT EGGS BENEDICT with Regis & Kelly!

Wholey Moley!

Who would have ever thought that WHOLE FOODS on 5th and Lamar would be a great place to dine out.

Not only do we have one of the best Whole Food grocery stores in Austin since it is their flagship grocery store, but it's also a wonderful place to spend an evening of indulging in flavorful fun and also get your grocery shopping done at the same time.

The Whole Foods in Austin has restaurants from BBQ to Vegan; Italian to sushi. You name it, they have it.

When I graced the Whole Foods with my presence, I was feeling some good fish for dinner. So, we decided to dine at the fish bar.

We ordered two gourmet crab cakes with marmalade sauce and spinach greens for an appetizer. Some of THE best crab cakes I have ever had which went perfect(o) with our 5 oz glasses of chardonnay. (if you have not noticed I am quite a chard fan!)

We decided to eat light, and ordered one entree and split it. We ordered the pecan crusted tilapia with balsamic reduction, sauteed green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. The chef even split the entree onto two plates to make us feel special.

The meal was awesome. The only downfall was that I was freezing the entire time since we were sitting at the bar and my legs were pressing up against a cooler of ice and fish.

For two glasses of chard (Chardonnay), two crab cakes and the tilapia entree, our bill ended up being about $30. NOT BAD!

I rate it a 9 on my food freak scale, because the food was to die for, and I got my grocery shopping done after the meal.

Definitely recommended.

That is all.

How To Make Crab Cakes!!!

My Vino-tastic Friday

My mom came into town this weekend and OH did we treat ourselves to some great dining and drinks. Friday night we were really wanting some good quality VINO!

At first, we drifted toward the popular Vino Vino wine bar on Guadalupe st. , but after much deliberation, decided on the new undiscovered wine tasting bar Uncorked located on E. 7th street. You have to drive up a very steep hill in order to even get to the place. The parking lot is a very vintage dirt and rock lot right in front of a new apartment complex.

Uncorked is housed in an old 1920's home with a great patio that's traced with Christmas lights lacing in and out of the 100-year-old Oak Trees, which is where the majority of customers are seated so they can admire the gleaming view of downtown Austin at night.

The service was horrible. I am going to go ahead and say it and not sugar-coat that fact. We weren't even given a menu until 20 minutes after we were seated and in order to get the waiter's attention, we had to send off a smoke signal. It's like they had to go on a scavenger hunt in order to find just find some menus.

When we were finally given menus, we decided to order some wine samplers and a goat cheese board. I ordered the Chardonnay Chic sampler and my mom order the Under the Tuscan Sun. The samplers come with three different tastings and they range between $9-$13 according to what type of wine you order. Both samplers were amazing along with our array of goat cheeses with grapes and honey, which eased the annoying fact that the service was horrible.

When our entrees were brought out (an hour later) my mother and I were so hungry we were about to punch the waiter because she was SOOO SLOW. You had to feel bad for her though because she had her hands full. The place was packed and they were obviously short-staffed.

I ordered the Mushroom Truffle Spinach risotto and my mom ordered the mandarine orange gnochii with greens. Both were amazing, but I would have to say the serving sizes were very European-sized (small). Usually that would not be a problem if the entrees were not $15 a piece.

After we made our last smoke signal for the waiter to bring our check, the Uncorked experience ended up costing around $70 for both of us.

I would recommend that you go to it for only wine and cheese, but wait until the figure out their wait staff because it's obvious they don't have it together. I would just go so you can sip wine and admire the view though. The entrees are what were really expensive and I wasn't even full when I left.

6.5 on my scale, only because the service was terrible. If the service would have been good it would have scored WAY higher on the Lauren foodfreak scale.

After our tidious experience at Uncorked, my mom and I really wanted to try out VINO VINO on N. Guadalupe st. So we decided to go for champagne and dessert.

It was packed full of young people with money. The walls are lined with bottles of wine that only someone on a nice salary can afford to buy. The entire place is in old wood, including the tables and chairs which were my favorite part of the place because they were so antique. We ordered an express0 cream brulee with two glasses of Louis de Grenelle. The champagne was awesome and went perfect with the cream brulee. The service was also ok. Not great, but not as bad as Uncorked.

Our bill for two glasses of champagne and a very small expresso cream brulee was around $35-$40. A little ridiculous. I would not recommend it unless your mother is in town and wants to spoil you for your birthday.

I give it a 5 because I am a poor college student and can't afford to go back unless someone else is paying. Plus, it was really loud and I could barely converse with my mom, let alone give the waitor my order.

WINE GLASS MUSIC! I just thought this was cool.

Austin Land and Cattle

On my birthday, a friend of mine insisted on taking me out to a nice dinner. I really wanted to try somewhere that I had never been before and that also had a homey feel to it BUT it had to be a nice place!!! After Google searching several nice restaurants in Austin, Austin Land and Cattle caught my eye since I had a craving for a great fillet.

We arrived 15 minutes early to catch the happy hour at the bar [$1 off all drinks from 5-7pm, 1/2 off all bar menu items], but we were seated immediately without having to wait. The atmosphere reminded me a lot of an old country tavern transformed into a nice steak house for those who are willing to drop $100 on a great meal. The atmosphere was very quite and quaint with wooden carved cowboys peering in the corners and card board cut outs of famous old Western movie stars.

After sitting for what seemed to be a brief moment, the waiter took our drink order and we were browsing the menu while sipping on some wonderful Smoking Loon Chardonnay. I ordered the 7 oz. fillet which came with sauteed spinach and carrots and some heaping garlic mash potatoes. My "friend" ordered a 22oz rib eye (disgusting amount of meat) with the same sides. We both also ordered small Caesar salads to tide over our hunger until the entrees arrived.

The zesty Caesar salads had hunks of shaved Parmesan cheese with spicy dressing and wonderful garlic croutons and the greens where crunchy and fresh. Just enough to ease our hunger and mouth-watering from the aromas seeping from the kitchen.

The table was decorated with a country elegance... a huge steak knife that had a carved wooden handle for the serious steak eaters like my friend. [he ordered the 22 oz steak...ew.] and I wired candle holder to give the country steak house a touch of romance.

Once our entrees arrived, the conversation quickly stopped as we were savoring the flavors of the grill on our steaks and we began eaves dropping on conversations over Obama and McCain and an older couple next to us who were debating over whether or not they wanted to order es cargo.

The meal was delightful, other than the fact my "friend" finished his 22 oz rib eye which made me a bit nauseous and to make things even more gross, he wanted to order dessert. Fudge chocolate pie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. It completely melted in your mouth. Best chocolate pie I have ever had.

Our bill ended up being $140 with gratuity, but I did not mind since I did not have to pay for it.

All in all, I think Austin Land & Cattle is a great place to take a date on a special occasion with the atmosphere and the quality of food, but I am not going to lie, I really like Louie's 106 on the corner of 6th st and Congress much better.

I give it an overall score of a 8.5 for steak houses.

That is all.


Here is a BBQ steak Recipe!