The Red House Pizzeria (1917 Manor Road) that is.
Manor Road in East Central Austin has become quite the little restaurant row for off-the-beaten path diners. There are two great tex-mex establishments: El Chile Cafe and Vivo, a southern home cookin’ Chicken Fried Steak joint, Hoover’s, and today’s eatery of choice, The Red House Pizzeria (formerly Stortini).
The abrupt down-tick in posts around here can be directly correlated the departure of most our writers to cooler climes in the wake of what seems like our 60th consecutive day over 100º. So lets talk vacation food. I tend to take great issue to other states interpretation of Mexican food (I’m talking to you, Colorado), but there’s a highly unique burrito that I would drive 12 hours for, even if it weren’t situated in oh-so-lovely Taos – The Fatty.
Late last year, Austin was all abuzz about the guy from Man vs. Food’s visit to Juan in A Million on East Cesar Chavez, and his valiant effort to conquer the Don Juan Taco Challenge. No disrespect to the Man vs. Food guy, but this girl knew about the Don Juan and Juan In A Million long before the Travel Channel came to town. If you don’t know about the Don Juan, it’s time to get acquainted.
I was wearing the wrong outfit for East Side Show Room. I should have dressed more like Amelie – a bit French, a bit vintage, a bit, I don’t know…less Banana-Republican-work-appropriate (to my credit, I did come straight from work). They still let me in and didn’t even give me dirty looks, and I’m glad for it.
Tonight I introduced my better half to the yummy Thai goodness that is Titaya’s restaurant on North Lamar. Tucked away in an aging shopping center, this restaurant is a gem among Thai cuisine in Austin. I mean, I’m not an expert on Thai cuisine, but I know good food. This, my friends, is good food.
Cantina Laredo is a chain with locations in Oklahoma and Ohio, so expecting high quality fare was probably asking a little much. It’s also entirely possible that today’s lunch at is not their fault. It could be one of a thousand things like the economy, Rick Perry’s hair or the fact I may or may not be in a pretty foul mood this week for reason’s that are entirely not the fault of this downtown eatery.
Excuses aside, I still paid for lunch there, and I’m still sorry that I did.
If you haven’t yet been to Cissi’s Market (1400 South Congress), the little oasis of gourmet food and vino in Soco, let me give you a fun excuse.
Tonight, Cissi’s premieres “Julie & Julia,” the foodie film headed to theaters Aug. 7th. Directed by Nora Ephron (of “When Harry Met Sally, “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail”), the film stars Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. It’s the true story of Austin native Julie Powell who blogged her way thru all 524 recipies in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
For the past week or so I’ve been gallivanting about the American west, sleeping the back of my car, and smelling questionable at best. So, my first foray back into civilized dining was expected to be a bit shocking. We journeyed into the heart of the beast that is the warehouse district, paid for parking (something I am normally loath to do, but it was 105 and I’m still not quite adjusted back to the insane heat), and headed to 219 West.
I wish I could live near the Mediterranean Sea. I’ve dipped my toes in it on the shores of Spain and France, and I long to visit Greece one day. And the food…ohhh, the food. I’m sure that what we call “Mediterranean” food in the states is some kind of watered-down amalgamation of food from multiple countries – a regional mish-mash of dishes that are vaguely flavored and mostly inauthentic. Kinda like the vast majority of Chinese buffets. But I gotta admit, whenever I hear the word “Mediterranean” applied to food, I jump at the chance to try it. So when a friend mentioned a new joint called Tarbouch and uttered “Mediterranean” in the same breath, I did not hesitate.
Austin, say “hello” to the grown up Apple Annie’s (319 Congress Ave). Formerly seated at the foot of Chase Tower serving lunch to busy 9 to 5′ers, Apple Annie’s has come into it’s own, now serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night fare.
Every Texas town has a chicken fried steak staple. Since 1947, Hill’s Café (4700 South Congress Ave.) has been serving Austin the crispy, peppery fried goodness with their famous chicken fried steak. Here, the beer is cold, the people are warm, and the sizzling steak smokin. Here are 10 things behind our love affair with Hill’s.
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