HADDINGTONS Restaurant Review

Located on hip West Sixth Street, HADDINGTONS offers an impressive selection of food and beverages at this upscale gastropub.  You will feel the warm, welcoming atmosphere immediately upon entering HADDINGTONS, whose interior is adorned with brick, longleaf pine, stained glass, metal work, and throw-back decor reminiscent of the American Industrial Age.

HADDINGTONS - Blackened Grouper

The menu at HADDINGTONS evolves with the monthly calendar, providing their customers with a constant variety of seasonal items to accompany their regular menu favorites and staples.  No matter the current menu, what you can expect is a diverse selection of rustic American flavors with a modern, upscale twist.

With a superb cocktail selection as eclectic as their food menu, HADDINGTONS is a great place for a dinner date, or just to grab drinks with friends.  I’m glad to have finally visited and would highly recommend you do the same.

HADDINGTONS WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  YELP

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Double-Double Animal Style

On my recent trip to San Diego I was finally graced with my very first IN-N-OUT BURGER experience.  This place has been on my mind ever since The Big Lebowski came out in 1998.  Since then I’ve heard countless stories of this fast food franchise in California which doesn’t like to share with the rest of the country.  Of course I had to go with the legend of the “Double-Double Animal Style”, which is something you can find off their “Not so secret menu”.

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IN-N-OUT BURGER definitely blows all other fast food burger chains out of the water.  Not only were both their burger and the fries delicious, but they’ve got their shit in order here.  I showed up in the middle of the afternoon and this place was more packed than 6th Street on Saturday night.  Have no  fear though, they move people through this place at rapid speed.  With what seemed like 30+ employees in the kitchen, they keep the line moving and sling out an order almost every 10-15 seconds.  They’ve got a great recipe for success.

Fortunately they have expanded into Texas earlier this year, specifically the Dallas area.  That means it’s only a matter of time until we’ll have one near Austin.

 

Noodles & Company – A Fresh Take on Fast Casual

Austin has recently been introduced to a restaurant chain that offers  a fresh new approach to fast casual.  Based out of Boulder, Colorado, Noodles & Company has stormed into the Lone Star State with the opening of three locations in the Austin area.

Noodles & Company - Truffle Mac & Cheese

Noodles provide the foundation to a well crafted, diverse menu featuring three global cuisine flavors: Asian, Mediterranean, and American.  Under each of their cuisine/flavor profiles you’ll find a selection of noodle dishes, sandwiches, soups & salad.  Their concept provides a huge diversity of options sure to satisfy whatever you’re in the mood for.  It also proves to be very accommodating for large groups, or families with picky eaters.

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Not only does Noodles & Company provide lots of healthy meal options on their menu (many with 500 calories or less), but their food is also freshly prepared and cooked to order.  Nothing’s prepackaged here, as I got to witness fresh prep & cutting of all 14 varieties of veggies served in house.  A lot of pride and extra care goes into their ability to customize any dish, for any customer, at any time.

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After you order and pay for your meal, their staff delivers it to your table within minutes, in real dishes and silverware.  Not only is it a nice touch which creates for an enjoyable experience, but it also cuts down on lots of waste which is common in most fast casual or fast food restaurants.

Noodles & Company - The Med Duo

During my initial visit I indulged in a handful of their menu favorites to experience the variety of flavors and options offered at Noodles & Company.  I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of food and fresh flavors that pull through in every dish.  Their noodles dishes like the Truffle Mac & Cheese and the Japanese Pan Noodles were both excellent and are sure to satisfy your cravings, but don’t sell short the rest of the menu as their soups and sandwiches excel also, hint: be sure to try “The Med” sandwich: Chicken, mushrooms, spinach, red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, their zippy Med dressing, cilantro and feta on warm flatbread.  Damn it’s good.

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So go give Austin’s newest fast casual restaurant a try and you’ll surely be impressed with their high quality fresh food, great prices, quick service, and diverse menu options.  And with three new stores in Austin, there’s sure to be a location near you.

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Welcome to the wonderful world of noodles!!!

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Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  YouTube  |  Flickr

Noodles & Company – University of Texas, Austin

2402 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705

Noodles & Company – Burnet & Anderson

2525 W. Anderson Lane  (SW Corner of Burnet & Anderson) Austin, TX 78757

Noodles & Company – Austin Arboretum (Opening Late December 2011)

9761 Great Hills Trail Austin, TX 78759

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Pine State Biscuits – Portland Oregon

Look at that sandwich!!!  I’m not sure how I randomly stumbled across Pine State Biscuits out of Portland, Oregon, but it’s been driving me crazy for the past few days and I just had to share it with somebody.  Pine State Biscuits is now atop my list of restaurants to visit, unfortunately it’s about as far away from Austin, TX as you can get while staying within the continental U.S.  Oh well, hopefully someday.  Take a look for yourself…

 

Pine State Biscuits:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Yelp

Hours & Locations:

3640 SE Belmont Street  |  (503) 236-3346  |  Open 7 days a week, 7am – 2pm

2204 NE Alberta  |  (503) 477-6605  |  Open 7 days a week, 7am – 2pm, Fri/Sat late night 6pm – 1am!!

 

 

Authentic Philly Cheese Steaks in Austin, TX – ‘Way South Philly’

Oh the joys of a good Philly Cheese Steak!  Back in college they were our go to sandwich to cure a hangover on Sundays after a long day of tailgating or hard night out on the town.  We’d go up to the deli at Publix and get massive Philly’s to enjoy while watching football on the couch.   I can’t even count the number of times we stormed into Publix for these, we were like a small Swat Team raiding a meth lab.  Honestly, it never got old.

The Balboa

So after I heard the news of Cheese Steak Legend Joey Vento passing away back in August, I went on a quest looking for a new spot to get a good Philly here in Austin.  Up to this point I am only aware of one place in Austin to get a really good Philly (Hog Island Deli).  I really love living on the East Side because no further than the food trailer lot at East 6th St. & Waller is where I came across “Way South Philly”, ran by William Pearce, a Philly native.

Way South Philly was exactly what I was looking for;  a small, simple eatery with a menu completely based around Cheese Steaks.  And when you make legit, authentic cheese steaks, that’s really all you need.  Not only due they use real deal Cheez Whiz, but you will also get you Philly served on authentic Amoroso’s Rolls, just like the ones found in Philadelphia.

To kick things off, I started with “The Balboa” which is your standard Philly Cheese Steak: seasoned and grilled Philly Steak, cheese whiz, and sauteed onions: Dead on, and damn near Philly Perfection!  Now, if you’re a fan of hot sauce and spicy food, like myself, be sure to try “The Clubber Lang” which gives you the addition of Jalapenos sauteed in Franks Red Hot Sauce: you won’t be disappointed.  Another star on their menu which is definitely worth trying is known as “The Mickey”.  This my friends is a solid portion of Tater Tots covered and smothered with sauteed peppers & onions, Philly Steak, and Cheez Whiz!  Ya you heard me!  It may sound a bit different, but it’s damn tasty and makes a great item to split with your friends along side your Philly, or just order it as a meal to itself.

So be sure to go visit ‘Way South Philly’ and treat yourself to one of the best Philly Cheese Steaks I’ve ever had!  I’ll definitely be back to get my Philly-Fix real soon!

6th and Waller, Austin, TX 78702  |  (512) 771-6969

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Yelp

Mon – Tue:  11:00 am-2:30 pm

Wed – Thu:  11:00 am-2:30 pm6:00 pm-9:00 pm

Fri:  11:00 am-2:30 pm6:00 pm-12:00 am

Sat:  6:00 pm-12:00 am

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Franklin Barbecue – Good things come to those who wait…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (among the food community), you’ve inevitably heard all the hype and rave reviews about Franklin Barbecue.  Magazine articles, newspaper write-ups, fellow bloggers, yelp reviewers, and even that foodie friend of yours are all making claims that Franklin Barbecue is the best of the best.  Shit, even Bon Appettit magazine called Franklin “The Best BBQ in America”.  My claims will be no different!

Let me jump right into it and state that the brisket at Franklin Barbecue is the best I’ve ever had.  Now, living in Austin/Central Texas we are blessed with being smack dab in the epicenter of Texas BBQ, which is often referred to as “The Barbecue Belt”.  The essence of Texas BBQ revolves around the time dedicated, labor of love process required of producing top notch smoked brisket.   This time honored craft has been perfected by Aaron Franklin.  And before you ask yourself, yes.  Yes, I’ve been to all the other top joints in the area including: Snow’s, Kreuz, Smitty’s, Blacks, Coopers, City Market, Louie Mueller, Salt Lick, etc. etc. etc.  No disrespect towards the aforementioned, but Franklin Barbecue officially reigns supreme.

Brisket from Franklin Barbecue

This is what you’re here for so order yourself a large portion of their fatty brisket and don’t be ashamed when you eat more than expected.  Remember, you waited in line for this, so have at it.  Also, it’s just as good as leftovers eaten cold or reheated the following day.  The brisket is tender, extremely moist, perfectly seasoned with salt, pepper, and smokey goodness.  Upon initial consumption, your eyes will roll back in your head, which is immediately followed by a few seconds of confusion and brain synapse misfires.  When you do finally reenter consciousness, expect to hear yourself mutter one of the following:  ”Goddamn” or “Holy Shit”.  My friends, this is perfection.

The pork ribs are very tender and require only the slightest pull to completely come off the bone.  Some purists may say they’re too tender, but you’re not gonna hear any complaining.  The sausage is right up to par with everything else: a great smokey flavor and perfect snap in the casing.  As expected, the pulled pork is top notch.  Not as traditional to Texas BBQ, but a staple on the BBQ menu to southerners.

The Tipsy Texan

One of their signature items, this sandwich starts with a generous portion of chopped beef piled high on a bun, followed by sausage slices, and topped off with their home made coleslaw and pickles.  It’s an epic concoction that qualifies as a meal in itself.  Stacked tall, and full of the good stuff, this sandwich will fall apart after you set it down once so be ready to dig in and make a commitment.

Franklin Barbecue’s Sauces

Their perfected meats showcase why great barbecue doesn’t need sauce.  However, their sauces are soooooo good that you’re a fool not to try them.  Franklin Barbecue provides it’s guests with three sauce options; one that’s a traditional texas style sauce which is perfectly peppery and smokey, another carolina vinegar style sauce which is a great accompaniment to their pulled pork, and the atypical, out of this world, third variety which is their Espresso BBQ Sauce: try it on your brisket.  If Aaron Franklin doesn’t get rich from his restaurant, he could by bottling this stuff and stocking it on the shelves of every grocery store in America.

Franklin Barbecue is a mere 2 miles from my house, but due to their popularity and rabid following, it’s never quite as close as it seems.  The line starts forming at least an hour (typically more) before their 11am opening six days a week, closed Mondays.  Franklin Barbecue sells out every single day, so plan on getting there early, waiting, and enjoying the anticipation that builds from barbecue nirvana.  My first trip was on a Sunday: we arrived at 10:30am and made it to the counter to order at 12 noon.  For my second visit, we arrived at 10am on a Friday and finally reached the counter around 11:45 am.  Waiting this long may seem crazy to some people, and all I can say is: “GOOD”!  If you’re not willing to wait, you don’t deserve it.

Self Proclaimed “Barbecue Nerd”, Aaron Franklin, has mastered his craft and we’re lucky to have him sharing it with us right here in Austin, TX.  Take a couple hours out of your day to go see the good folks at 900 East 11th St.  You’ll be happy you did!

900 E. 11th street, Austin, TX

(512) 653-1187  |  franklinbbq@gmail.com

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Yelp

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RELATED ARTICLES:

Bon Appettit – “The Best BBQ Restaurant in America”

Full Custom Gospel BBQ – “Franklin Barbecue”

Eat Drink + Be Merry – “The Texas BBQ Trail. Part Two: Smitty’s Market. Black’s BBQ. Franklin Barbecue.”

Texas BBQ Posse – “Franklin Barbecue – Is this the best brisket in Texas?”

Chi’Lantro – Food Truck Review

Korean + Mexican Fusion

Hopefully by now you’ve tried Chi’Lantro sometime during your late night escapades on 6th street.  If not, you’ve probably at least seen their truck with the bold banner calling out at you: “KOREAN BBQ TACOS”.  Chi’Lantro is serving up some legit Korean+Mexican Fusion with clean, bold flavors.  Their tacos are fresh & light, which will leave you satisfied without weighing you down, so they’re great both for lunch or to feed your late night cravings between bar hops.

Chi’Lantro Korean BBQ Tacos

Walk up and order yourself their go-to item, the Korean BBQ Tacos.  You can pick from your choice of Bulgogi: Beef, Pork, Chicken, or Tofu.  Served on a double layer corn tortilla with: Soy Vinaigrette Korean Salad, Cilantro, Onion, Chi’Lantro Salsa, and Sesame Seeds.  Two tacos will only cost your a five spot, and you’ll end up much happier than with a cardboard slice from many of the windows slinging pizza on 6th street.

Although I have yet to fully explore their menu, I’ve heard great things about all of their food, surprisingly even their burgers.  (Honestly I’m not quite sure why burgers are on their menu though?)

Make note that Chi’Lantro is not a food trailer, but a mobile food truck that actively moves around town and locates where they best see fit.  I most commonly find them at the corner of Trinity & 7th Street during the late night hours, but be sure to check their Facebook or Twitter feed where they post daily updates with their location.

Contact Info:

http://www.chilantrobbq.com/  |  Team@chilantrobbq.com  |  512-568-0256

Live Oak Barbecue – Restaurant Review

PREFACE:  I have been meaning to give you the heads up on Live Oak BBQ since my initial visit about 3 weeks ago, but work’s been busy and I’ve fallen a bit behind on sharing my food love.  Sorry, guess you’ve gotta take the good with the bad.  Anyways, there’s a new BBQ joint on the East Side and it happens to be a mere 3 blocks from my house!  Sometimes I feel as if the food gods are looking down upon me.

Live Oak Barbecue - Ribs & Brisket

While searching Google Maps on a sunday afternoon, I randomly came across something which popped up right around the corner form my house listed as Live Oak Barbecue.   “What the hell is this?”, instantly ran through my head, because if there’s a BBQ joint next to my house I should know about it.  Well come to find out they had only opened two weeks prior and located on East 2nd Street, just out of view from main roads and the intersection of Ceasar Chavez and Pleasant Valley it was easy to see why they were still unheard of.

For myself, approaching a new BBQ joint is always an exciting experience.  It’s everything from the exterior of the building to the people inside to the smell of the smoke, it just gets me excited.  Now they’re simple setup and decor aren’t going to impress you, but thats not the purpose of a BBQ joint.  The only thing that matters at a BBQ joint is the food, and Live Oak did not let me down.  I went with high priority meat items; Beef Brisket and Pork Ribs, which I accompanied with a side of beans and a side of their cucumber salad.

Live Oak Barbecue - Sides: Baked Beans & Cucumber Salad

The Ribs were on point with their dark smoky crust and fall of the bone tenderness of the meat.  The brisket also had a beautiful dark crust accompanied by a nice smokiness.  There was a nice amount of juicy fat on the brisket to accompany the meat, which could have been more moist on this particular day.  Now, the brisket was good, but not quite ready to take home any awards.  Not yet anyways; a brand new place is still working out the kinks and perfecting their craft at this point.  The beans were better than most;  I especially like that they come cluttered with chunks of meat.  Well done.  Also, the cucumber salad is legit and well worth ordering.  This cold, crisp, refreshing side dish is a great companion to BBQ during the hot Texas summers.

I’ve got high hopes for this new joint, and I definitely plan on going back soon.  So please stop by and try out Live Oak Barbecue to take care of your Que cravings.  The other amazing thing which I haven’t told you yet is that they’re open till midnight.  Yep, BBQ open till midnight, now thats something to get excited for in itself.  I can already foresee many late night snacks in all of our futures…

2713 East 2nd Street – Austin, TX – 78702

liveoakbbq@gmail.com

Austin Java = Piss Poor Service

I know the main philosophy of this food blog is “only the good stuff”, meaning I only write a review for a place if it is significantly above average or at least has something particularly worthy of writing about.  And yes I know I said that I don’t write bad reviews, well rules are made to be broken and today is the day.

Upon walking into Austin Java on Barton Springs Road I went to the counter to order a cup of joe.  The girl behind the counter told me that I could only order “To-Go” from the counter and that if I was staying to have a seat and a server would be right with me.  SHE LIED.  Granted, I’m sure she didn’t intend to lie, however after 45 minutes of sitting here working on my computer, I am yet to be greeted by a single member of their waitstaff.  There have been at least 4 servers who have walked right by my table, even the male server waiting on the tables in my section just cleared the table right next to me and rearranged all the seats while I’m writing this.  I was really hoping that he’d look over and catch a glance of this blog post while he was wiping down the table three feet from me.   (FYI Austin Java: I was sitting in the Northwest corner of your establishment right next to the thermostat)

I guess thats what you get when you decide to mix it up and go to a different coffee shop once in a while.  Almost one hour now and still nothing, suppose I’m going to head back over to one of my regular joints for the rest of the evening.  Both Dominican Joe and Progress Coffee always take care of their customers.

P.S.  - Still no service.

Gut Paks rule supreme at Vitek’s BBQ – Waco, TX

Gut Pak at Vitek's BBQ

I love when people come to visit me here in Austin, as it’s always great to spend time with friends and family from out of town.  I really enjoy the opportunity to show them around and introduce them to the great things Austin has to offer, especially the food.  However, I was recently posed with finding a place to eat in a foreign town, yes I’m talking about you Waco.  My cousin, who resides in Denver, travels extensively for his job and when he happened to be spending a week in Ft. Worth we decided that the best idea was to meet for dinner somewhere in the middle to help split the drive time.  Since Waco isn’t necessarily know for its food like some other larger cities in Texas, it led me to this question:

Where’s a good place to eat in Waco, TX?

After extensive research no single place jumped off the map at me as a must visit restaurant in Waco, until I finally came across the website for Vitek’s BBQ.  Being established nearly a century ago (1915) provided the first sign of hope that I may have found something.  Beyond that I see that they have a 40′ mobile trailer used for Baylor game days and catering events.  I like it.  I see they have a signature menu item called a ‘Gut Pak’.  I can dig it.  Finally I see that they celebrate ‘Third Thursdays’ in their Biergarten.  Wait a second, isn’t our meetup in Waco planned for the third Thursday of this month?  Why yes indeed, Vitek’s BBQ it is!

Third Thursdays at Vitek’s BBQ in Waco, TX

On the third Thursday of each month Vitek’s BBQ has a party in their outdoor ‘Biergarten’.  Songwriter Jeff Posey hosts Waco’s original monthly dinner concert and showcases different guest songwriters every month.  Stop by for the party between 7-9pm for some live entertainment to accompany your BBQ and Beer.

Gut Paks and Guitars in the Biergarten

Vitek’s signature menu item is the infamous ‘Gut Pak’ consisting of: Fritos, Cheese, Chopped Beef, Beans, Sausage, and a couple slices of bread.  Pickles, onions, and jalapenos are offered on the side if desired.  Basically a frito pie on steroids, it’s easy to see why this is their signature menu item, both at their restaurant and from their 40′ mobile food trailer dubbed ‘The Gut Pak Shak’.  This hearty meal gives you a little bit of everything, it is well concocted, satisfying and would make the perfect tailgating fuel for those Baylor football home games.

BBQ Sampler Plate from Vitek's BBQ

So if you find yourself in Waco on the third Thursday of the month, definitely stop in to Vitek’s BBQ for ‘Gut Paks and Guitars in the Biergarten’.

Vitek’s BBQ Website  |  Facebook Page

1600 Speight Ave. - Waco, Texas – 76706 

254.752.7591  |  viteksbbq@gmail.com