1519 W. Anderson Lane
452-4382
Men's room rating: 1. (I've seen better restrooms in gas stations.)
Dwight's comments:
Average barbecue. Standard complaints apply (though they were generous with chips as a replacement for my side orders).
There's no reason in the world for anyone to go here.
Lawrence's comments:
Good decor (a really weird collage of old tools, newspapers, and whatever they had just lying around stuck on the wall), and the ribs are perhaps a touch better than average, but nothing special. Looks like more of a lunch joint. The BBQ was sitting in a steam warmer rather than fresh off the grill, and Ben's Long Branch does better bannana pudding.
Dwight's comments:
No conspiracy this week: Lawrence was in Houston, doing the family holiday thing.
2938 Guadalupe
476-5955
Men's room rating: 1.5. (So small, I'm not even sure it's wheelchair accessible. And badly in need of paint and patching.)
Dwight's comments:
El Patio may very well have the worst parking lot in Austin.
Once you've found a place for your car, what is it like?
Well, it's very "traditional" (in the sense of TexMex from the 50's and 60's) food: the sort of bland, inoffensive Mexican food you could take your grandparents out for. (And much of the crowd on Saturday night looked like grandparents with other family members.)
Good service (and the sherbert after the meal was a nice traditional touch), but I wasn't left with any kind of desire to go back soon.
Lawrence's comments:
Very, very traditional TexMex that's been operating in Austin practically forever. They bring out crackers (with butter and salsa) rather than chips. Perhaps the only Mexican place in Austin that doesn't serve fajitas. Not outstanding, but generous portions at low prices. TexMex comfort food, for lack of a better description. Be forwarned that parking is a problem.
11590 Research
345-8232
Men's room rating: 3.5. (Good size, clean, well lighted.)
Dwight's comments:
It's a chain, and not quite as good (I think) as Mama Mia's: but I like it.
The bread is pretty good (as well as the tiramisu): as far as main courses go, I'm fond of the pasta weisse. This time, though, I tried the Pollo Rosa Maria: it wasn't too bad, but I didn't care much for the pasta dish served on the side. (They serve the "tagliarini picchi pacchiu" with far too many of their dishes. Is it just me, or does this dish sound sort of like a Mayan funeral site? "What do you want to do today, honey?" "Oh, let's drive out and see the ruins at Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu.")
Personally, I wish they'd add some more dishes to their menu: there's only a few currently that appeal to me. (They are well done, to be sure, but I'm not always in the mood for alfredo variations.)
The Research location is usually pretty crowded (though not too bad when we went: some of the pressure may have been taken off by the nearby Joe's Crab Shack and Chuy's): I've also been to the Lincoln Village location, which doesn't seem to be as popular.
Lawrence's comments:
One of my favorite Italian places. I was a bit miffed that they wouldn't put your name down on the waiting list over the telephone, but there wasn't any wait when we arrived. As usual, the food was good (though I thought the fettucine alfredo was a bit blander than usual) and the service excellent. Perhaps the best calamarri in town.
Send e-mail to Dwight Brown (stainles@bga.com).
Return to the main Saturday Dining Conspiracy page.
See the logs for January of 1997.
See the logs for November of 1996.