Y? Because we like you!

We're not crazy about your hostess, but we like you!

The good outweighed the bad first impression the older hostess? manager? lady? gave us on our inaugural visit to Jack Allen's Kitchen. I only point out that she was older to differentiate her from the younger lady that took us to our table and was very nice. The older one... well, my exact words were, "She's a bitch." And I'll leave it at that.

What I won't leave is the Smashed Guacamole with pumpkin seeds, cojita cheese and house-fried chips. I'm glad avocado has the good kind of fat because I stuffed myself with it. I obviously wasn't too stuffed to also enjoy the Baja Style Fish Tacos and the Texas Gulf Blue Crab Gratin. Or the Chocolate Bombe. Or any of the three kinds of mojitos I tried.

Started by a team from Z'Tejas, in a totally redesigned building, using fresh and local ingredients, Southwest Austin is blessed to have this gem right off The Y at Oak Hill.

Just tell that lady at the front door to smile.

Jack Allen's Kitchen

7720 Highway 71 West

Austin, Texas 78735

512.852.8558

http://www.jackallenskitchen.com/index.html

Good. Lord.

I may have died and gone to heaven last night.

It was my second visit to Max's Wine Dive and it only confirmed what a crazy good restaurant it is. CRAZY GOOD!

First time I went I had the blue cheese chips (OMG), fried chicken (what the heck have I been eating all these years?!) and New Orleans bread pudding (could not stop eating it!). Zilla had the pot roast (mouth-watering) and shared my appy and dessert, lest you think I ate all that myself. Although I could have. Watch me.

Last night, after a film fest and a Guinness, we needed sustenance and were mere blocks away from Max's. How convenient! We pored over the menu and I tell you what, every. single. thing looked delectable. We settled on: the Yama Kobe beef burger for me (#16 on Texas Monthly's list and way higher on mine), the Fried Egg Sandwich for Wonderhands (good god almighty) and the Drunk Bread for Nay-Nay (simply divine).

In a nutshell:

Burger - perfect beefy goodness, you taste every layer of flavor, nothing overwhelms (except the spicy-ass ketchup for the fries! Wow! Hot!), it was a fantastic, upscale, yet basic, burger.

Sandwich - bacon and eggs on a whole new level; homey and delicious.

Drunk Bread - like a lazy man's fondue - no dipping required! the wine and Gruyere were up front and personal... I loved it.

And I didn't even mention the Tres Fritos we started with - fried green tomatoes, pickles and okra... mmmm... fried okra... mmmm...

I absolutely adore this restaurant and I hope no one reads this and spreads the word so it gets so busy I can't get in anytime I want. In fact, forget everything you just read - "These aren't the droids you're looking for."

Move along you looky-loos, there's nothing to see here!

Max's Wine Dive

207 San Jacinto Avenue

Austin, Texas 78701

512.904.0106

http://www.maxswinedive.com/austin/index.php