Hawaiian visits Austin

[sua sponte]

Nuu, I don't know if you know sua but he's good people. The degrees of separation would be few. I suspect you would enjoy his company should the opportunity ever present.

We have met....on his turf!!

 

[nuufaola]

We have met....on his turf!!

The shortages of cabernet and red meat are only now being restocked in inventories around the world...

 

[pkrchkr]

Waterloo was excellent when I was in college. But those were the days of GM, Mad Dogs, Jorge's etc. And Texas Chili Parlor.

I graduated in 88 and grew up in Austin before that. Those names were all on my “every week” list.

As a sidenote, I love these threads. We’re buying a home in Austin and will be starting to go back more often, and being an old Austin guy I don’t really know the new places to go. I wish this was a running thread for people trying new restaurants and bars as the city opens back up. Thanks Nuu for your report and hope you had a good time with your kids.

 

[pkrchkr]

I appreciate your point, but yes and no. I lived in NYC for a decade and SF for 20 years now. I have no complaints. But I'd trade most of it for a jalapeno cheeseburger from Mad Dog's or enchiladas from Jorge's on Lavaca (still the best hot sauce ever). Or Matt's on First Street (before the fire and before South Congress). Or Jaime's (after a pitcher or two of Jaime Ritas). Or good-natured abuse plus a great cheeseburger from GM. Or Kerbey Lane at 2 AM. Or a T-Man from Bert's - at the Captain's table of course. And followed by that icebox pie Gary's mom made. And maybe some cold beer from the 7-11 and playing cards with the boys.

Just sayin'.

Man, you and I hung out at all the same places. Jaime’s was a given most every Friday night. Honestly miss that place more than most. We hit Matt’s on first constantly. Used to enjoy La Tapatia too on the east side. Berts BBQ and Nau’s cheeseburgers and the queso at the old posse and dry creek cafe...that was a fun time in A town.

 

[Uncut Degenerate]

I am in investor in Comedor and I appreciate all of the nice comments. It is very good and the atmosphere is beautiful.

Happy to report that it is still very good even without Gabe there. It is interesting to see him on Top Chef though, curious to see where he will end up next in the Austin scene as he was/is a rising star in the community.

 

[chefbm636]

I graduated in 88 and grew up in Austin before that. Those names were all on my “every week” list.

As a sidenote, I love these threads. We’re buying a home in Austin and will be starting to go back more often, and being an old Austin guy I don’t really know the new places to go. I wish this was a running thread for people trying new restaurants and bars as the city opens back up. Thanks Nuu for your report and hope you had a good time with your kids.

I’ll start a thread. There’s a Houston one on here, there damn sure should be one for Austin.

 

[Black Scholes]

Man, you and I hung out at all the same places. Jaime’s was a given most every Friday night. Honestly miss that place more than most. We hit Matt’s on first constantly. Used to enjoy La Tapatia too on the east side. Berts BBQ and Nau’s cheeseburgers and the queso at the old posse and dry creek cafe...that was a fun time in A town.

La Tap was popular in my crowd but I didn't love it.

First time at Matt's as an incoming freshman I look over and sitting a few tables over are DKR and Willie. I knew then I was definitely in the right place.

Getting my first charge account from Gary at Nau's was a rite of passage. We'd eat lunch there all the time; couldn't beat the club sandwich and fries. A rallying point for many a hangover.

The Johnson family became dear friends by the time we left Austin. Spent many, many hours in that front room playing cards after a T-Man.

Dry Creek. So many memories. Special place. Remember Sarah, the woman who ran it? She was so cranky it was fantastic. She'd tear you a new one if you left your empty bottle on the deck. She ripped into one of our friends one time that was so awesome and appropriate we still bring it up to this day.

My wife and I talk about going home to Austin, but it's changed so much I have a lot of mixed feelings.

Jaime. Loved that little guy. Treated us very well. He is another that is missed.

 

[pkrchkr]

La Tap was popular in my crowd but I didn't love it.

First time at Matt's as an incoming freshman I look over and sitting a few tables over is DKR and Willie. I knew then I was definitely in the right place.

Getting my first charge account from Gary at Nau's was a rite of passage. We'd eat lunch there all the time; couldn't beat the club sandwich and fries. A rallying point for many a hangover.

The Johnson family became dear friends by the time we left Austin. Spent many, many hours in that front room playing cards after a T-Man.

Dry Creek. So many memories. Special place. Remember Sarah, the woman who ran it? She was so cranky it was fantastic. She'd tear you a new one if you left your empty bottle on the deck. She ripped into one of our friends one time that was so awesome and appropriate we still bring it up to this day.

My wife and I talk about going home to Austin, but it's changed so much I have a lot of mixed feelings.

Jaime. Loved that little guy. Treated us very well. He is another that is missed.

Oh, I got chewed out a couple of times at dry Creek for sure. It was part of the deal. Jaime was awesome. Matt’s was my favorite place for lunch in the good old days where high schoolers could leave campus. We would haul out from AHS and race to Matt’s on east first. Still hate the four seasons because of that. Where did u go to high school?

 

[PaulieD]

He’s a fabulous date

I should recommend our local Taco Bell to him. Quality food, zips right through ya.

 

[UT Big Daddy]

Because it’s a 3 hour dinner, and the cost is really high to run a restaurant like that. You almost need one employee per patron, and you need them trained. My theory is that Texans find that offensive. Although, now that I type it out I realize I don’t really know the answer.

I think your theory is on the money. I went to French Laundry and did not find it to be a relaxing, enjoyable, or satisfying experience. It just wasn't for me - a native Houstonian. If I go to another restaurant like that in my lifetime it will be because I was deceived by someone in my family or a friend.

 

[MidTexHorn]

Got so f’d up at Dry Creek once that I had to stop and puke in the driveway of some rather nice nearby house. Too many free bottles of cheap champagne followed by lots of beers on the last day of my 1L year at UT Law. My wife was piiiiiiissed.

 

[nuufaola]

I think your theory is on the money. I went to French Laundry and did not find it to be a relaxing, enjoyable, or satisfying experience. It just wasn't for me - a native Houstonian. If I go to another restaurant like that in my lifetime it will be because I was deceived by someone in my family or a friend.

I love French LaunDry. Did you go to the one in Yountville CA?

If you come to NY and want to get pissed off, Stonebarns will be perfect for you. Daniel would also probably require a touch of lying....

 

[edmondhorn2]

Austin and NYC are both over-the-top with their Covid response at this time. Cutting their noses to spite their face.

 

[nuufaola]

Austin and NYC are both over-the-top with their Covid response at this time. Cutting their noses to spite their face.

Its funny, we open back up soon. GS and JPM and MS asking everyone back to the office Jun 1. Restaurants are jammed. I don’t know a single person who isn’t vacccinated.

 

[UT Big Daddy]

I love French LaunDry. Did you go to the one in Yountville CA?

If you come to NY and want to get pissed off, Stonebarns will be perfect for you. Daniel would also probably require a touch of lying....

Yes. I went to the one in Yountville.

In fairness to them, I had just finished the two day Waves To Wine MS ride from Oracle Park to Sonoma. I had ridden ~170 miles on my bike and wanted calories. HAHA, probably not the best restaurant given my condition. What a beautiful and grueling ride that was, wow.

 

[UT Big Daddy]

Austin and NYC are both over-the-top with their Covid response at this time. Cutting their noses to spite their face.

The differences across the country, and even on a more regional level across this state, are crazy. My son, in Houston, has been attending school all year without a mask and with no social distancing. They had no issues at all that I'm aware of and have had 4-6 very large gathering events (all outside) with no masks.

Overall, in Houston, things have been largely normal since April of last year. For a while you had to wear masks when you entered a restaurant, and there are still a few places that require masks, but that's really all.

 

[MidTexHorn]

Austin and NYC are both over-the-top with their Covid response at this time. Cutting their noses to spite their face.

Yeah, I think you're behind the times here dude. Agree that Austin was a bit over the top, but I really haven't had any restrictions on anything I want to do for months. I've seen live music, been to fairly crowded bars, eaten inside restaurants, etc.

 

[tsw]

Ms nuffy is gluten free. At the halfway point she went back to work in NYC. I left out a bunch of details on the stay, but they were details that the hotel used to nail, but now they don’t. Particularly in a suite, where the yield on my room is 3x average.

we work 10 hour days, and the zoom calls go from 7 till 5. We need room service or we end up eating a bag of chips at 3pm for lunch, which sucks.

 

[tsw]

Yes, I had exactly 30 min to walk from van zandt (where they were not serving lunch) and get a sampler. It was that or a bag of chips for lunch. There is simply no food on rainy during the week. None. The room service was not delivering food that day.

I did not fly to Austin to go to iron works. I flew to Austin to spend a week with my kids, who I had not seen since Jan 20th. Have you gone 2.5 months without seeing your kids? If seeing your kids required eating a few meals that one considers sub optimal, would you make that sacrifice?

depends on if it was gluten free meal or not...

 

[Texas2Big]

Yeah, I think you're behind the times here dude. Agree that Austin was a bit over the top, but I really haven't had any restrictions on anything I want to do for months. I've seen live music, been to fairly crowded bars, eaten inside restaurants, etc.

Yes I would concur. The difference is that many places in Austin are choosing to open or to not open fully. It is not because of any city mandate it's just that some places are just more cautious (especially the music venues) than others.