I have no idea where or what this is.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Perla's before swine...
What started as an "oh, let's try this place" turned into an "oh my goodness!" last night.
Hubby blissed out on a half dozen mixed raw oysters from the Cold Bar, I licked the plate of the Crab Louie & Cornmeal Fried Green Tomatoes with Russian Dressing that I was talked into by our waiter (thanks Matt!), we both enjoyed our salads (Iceberg Wedge with Texas Lump Crab and Roasted Fennel Waldorf, respectively) and we just about wet our pants over Hubby's Steamed Alaskan Halibut and my Pan Roasted Grouper with English Peas, Baby Carrots, House Cured Bacon and Parsley Butter. Start and end that with a great cocktail, add wine in the middle and you have yourself a very special night. I may have just found my new favorite fancy food place.
"Give not that which is pan roasted unto the dogs, neither cast ye your peas before swine, lest they trample them under parsley butter, and turn again and house cure you."
Perla's Seafood & Oyster Bar
1400 S. Congress Ave.
Austin, Texas 78704
512.291.7300
Saturday, January 16, 2010
I'm not blaving...
"Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world. Except for a nice MLT: a mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. They're so perky, I love that."
- Miracle Max, The Princess Bride
I was killing time before Hubby's dry cleaning was ready so I grabbed a bite for lunch. Trying not to eat too much meat... cheese sandwich sounds boring, not sure I want a salad, wrap sounds weird, what's this? a prosciutto, mozzarella, lettuce and tomato sandwich on a baguette with pesto mayonnaise? With a side salad?! Well, OK!
It was perfect. Like what you'd make at home except... you didn't have to. Super fresh and just enough of everything. It was awesome.
As for the true love thing... you're on your own.
Friday, January 15, 2010
In the dark
I will probably not see a movie if it's not at Alamo Drafthouse. I have grown too accustomed to drinking and/or eating during a movie. Which leads to my complaint.
My most recent excursions have all been to the South Lamar location as that is closer to my house, so all these observations are geared toward them, at least for now.
1. They have started keeping the lights so damn low before the movie starts that you have to bring a G.D. flashlight to see the menu. What? Those little wuss-ass lights under the table? To put it bluntly, they suck.
2. They have no idea how to service that many people at once. I don't know if all the start times are too close together or what, but we waited 35 minutes for popcorn. For popcorn!! So unless you get there a whole hour early, you'll be eating in the dark. Have you ever eaten salad in the dark? It ain't easy.
3. The staff that cleans after the movie (and I know they have to) talk so freakin' loud that you can't enjoy the credits and/or outro music if you're into that sort of thing. Which we are. Especially when the movie you just watched was dedicated to a friend of yours that passed away. Hubby is two years away from being that guy that yells at people to shut up. Please follow your own "Don't talk during the movie or we'll take your ass out" rules!
4. As for the food, they had a new burger (The Big (Organic) One) and while it had great flavor, the meat was so overcooked it was dry and chewy. They say it will be cooked medium-well, which I completely disagree with anyway, but it was well done and I don't mean "Well Done!". Hubby's Chicken Tacos didn't come pre-assembled and didn't come until 15 minutes into the movie (see #2) and he said they were bad and he meant bad as in bad not bad as in good.
That sad part is I'm not going to stop going. In general the food is still good, I think they are working on a new staff as they transferred all the good people to The Highball and I still want to drink while I watch a movie. I'm not repeating high school when Miller and I sneaked beer into The Chateau and then accidentally kicked our empties over and had to listen to them roll down to the front of the theater.
So damn you, Drafthouse and your tasty beverages!
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Monday, January 11, 2010
Saturday, January 09, 2010
I've seen the Golden Light
If you think grease should be a food group, you need to go to the Golden Light.
It's the oldest restaurant in Amarillo on the historic Route 66 and on it's fifth owner, all of whom have added their own touch to the classic greasy-spoon burger joint.
One such touch is the Waller Burger: a regular cheeseburger with jalapenos between two pieces of melted cheese. Add a bun shiny with burger grease and hand-cut fries (order a small to share... trust me, it's more than enough) and you've got a meal worth working out for.
But first I'm gonna go take a nap.
Golden Light Cafe & Cantina
2908 West 6th
Amarillo, Texas 79106
806.374.9237
Monday, January 04, 2010
Do you see what I see?
Notice anything about these bills? Anything similar? Anything in common?
They're both from awesome restaurants in Toronto? Yes, but that's not it.
Both table numbers have 4 in them? That's not it either.
There's three different taxes? Nope.
The liquor was more than the food.
And that's how you do it, ladies and gentlemen.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Previously on 24...
The following takes place between 11pm and 1am.
11:01pm
Group of seven walks into Annie's for an after-show snack... and a drink. They close at midnight so all seems well, a few people at the bar, cute server, cute place.
11:17pm
Website never said when Late Night Menu kicks in, but that's what is available. Very limited, but doable, Late Night Menu with no descriptions of the food although it's all fairly self explanatory. Cocktail menu looks interesting, albeit some odd choices. The Monkey Gland?! We place our orders and open presents!
11:25pm
Receive a Glenfiddich, when we ordered a Glenlivet.
11:41pm
Start to wonder where our food is. There are only three other couples in the restaurant: one was already eating, one only drinking and the one that came in after us has received their burgers.
11:55pm
Look around and see chef putting pizzas in the oven. At 11:55pm! For the first time, server comes over and says it will just be a little longer, "the pizzas take awhile". She offers to bring out what's ready. Well, duh!
12:04am
Brings out Margarita Pizzas. Decent pizza, good crust.
12:07am
Brings out Bacon Blue Burger. Immediately ask for a to-go box as it is... time to go.
12:09am
Brings out Truffle Fries. Sprinkled with Parmesan and drizzled with truffle oil. Continuously stuff in mouth as they are delicious.
12:12am
Brings out Sausage, Fontina and Oregano Pizza. Sausage is sorta like hamburger, but a little sausagier.
12:16am
Brings out Antipasto Salads. One full hour after we'd ordered them. One. Full. Hour. Good salad, crispy lettuce, was supposed to have more than one kind of meat, but didn't... not worth the wait though. THE ONE HOUR WAIT!
12:25am
Server brings complimentary brownies to placate the situation (way, way too late), followed by muffins to take home. Brownies are just OK. Have not had said muffins yet. Order a Stella.
12:30am
Group fights over check as it's a birthday dinner. Did I mention it was a birthday dinner?!?!
12:40am
Server brings back check, that she has already rung up, with the wine on it that she forgot on the first check. Officially cancel Stella that never came.
12:47am
Over tip. Food delay not really her fault, possibly the fault of the one chef cooking one thing at a time, while she does closing prep or lean on the counter talking to him. What should not have been rewarded was her complete lack of skill in handling a bad situation. No explanation of what was a ridiculous amount of a delay on a late night menu that is supposed to be fast and easy. Brownies don't excuse bad service.
12:51am
Grab coats. Walk out.
Stay tuned for scenes from next week's episode where we decide if we'll ever go back.
Annie's Cafe & Bar
319 Congress
Austin, Texas 78701
512.472.1884
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