Coffee Talk: Thunderbird Coffee

Took a mid-morning coffee break this morning and drove my co-worker down the street to Thunderbird Coffee. After maneuvering my car into their oddly spaced parking lot (watch out for the people illegally turning left into the lot from Koenig Westbound), my co-worker ran in to grab a cup of coffee. Here's what he had to say:

-Stood at the counter for 5 minutes, there was no line, no one acknowledged me (even though 2 non-working, chatty employees saw me) -Ordered small coffee at a cost of $ 2.15 (Starbucks small cup $1.30) -Coffee prep station dirty, various creamer and half/half containers empty -Coffee was hot with a mild taste. -Not at all impressed with service or quality of coffee.

There you have it. At least they have a cool cup.

Thunderbird Coffee 1401Koenig Lane Austin, Texas 78756 512-420-8660 http://thunderbirdcoffee.com/

NoRTHbound

*sigh*... and not in a good way.

Went to NoRTH (in The Domain) for lunch today with the hubby. (Had to go to the Apple store there as the one in Barton Creek is always annoyingly busy.) We love North - everything I've ever had there has been fantastic. So how do they mess up a salad?!

I had the Chopped Chicken Salad with Pine Nuts, Baby Romas and Gorgonzola Vinaigrette. Sounds good, right? Looked good too. But one bite and I immediately reached for the salt and pepper which is a BIG thing for me. Food should come out seasoned correctly and I trust the people behind the line to know what that means. The S & P helped, but the chicken still tasted boiled - like boring hospital boiled, not Italian Grandma boiled - although it was shredded which was a plus. The pine nuts were toasted and tasty and the tomatoes were very good... very tomato-y, but they were almost overpowering since there wasn't much flavor otherwise. Oh! and I swear the gorgonzola was A.W.O.L.! I didn't even remember it was supposed to be in there until I re-read the menu.

Now don't get me wrong. I still ate the whole thing. It was fresh, it was healthy and that yummy roasted red pepper butter stuff with the ciabatta was awesome.

I just won't get that salad again. But bring on half-price wine night on Mondays!!! Enough of that and I won't care if the gorgonzola was on unauthorized shore leave with a transgender hooker.

http://www.foxrestaurantconcepts.com/north.html