9033 Research
339-7444
Men's room rating: 3.5 (I like the high-tech look and feel).
Dwight's comments:
Pearl's has been around a long time, even surviving near total destruction by fire.
The question I have is, "Why?"
The prices are high (especially relative to other Cajun places in Austin, like Gumbo's), but the food isn't nearly as good. Both the gator tail and calamari appetizers seemed a little too tough and chewy: the fried seafood platter I had for dinner was okay, but I've had better and cheaper versions at both Marisco's Seafood and Castaways.
Combine those factors with relatively small portion sizes, and you've got something that doesn't encourage me to return. Nor, apparently, does it encourage many other folks: I expected a crowd at 6 PM on a Saturday, but Pearl's was nearly empty.
If you want to run with the big dogs, you've got to piss in the tall grass: if you want to compete with Gumbo's, you've got to hire good chefs and give value for money.
When will they learn? When will they ever learn?
Lawrence's comments:
The quick review of Pearl's: good food (especially the sauces) and good service. There are a lot more dishes on the menu I'd like to try, and it's easier to get into than Gumbo's or Pappadeaux's. However, several caveats:
1. With the possible exception of the shrimp en brochette and my creme brulee, the food was good, but not exceptional. There was nothing wrong with my blackened platter, but I could name a half-dozen restaurants where I've had better blackened entrees. Given the high Cajun standards set by Gumbo's and Pappadeaux's (both always packed), merely good may not be good enough.
2. Likewise, the portions are adequate, but hardly generous. I think there should have been about twice as much gator tail and calamari on the plates to measure up to other Austin offerings.
3. The prices are a bit steep for what you get. Though not far out of line for the Fine Dining Continuum, both Pappadeaux's and Gumbo's give you a much bigger bang for the buck.
4. They charge for soft drink refills. Repeat after me: This is an UNACCEPTABLE POLICY (especially at these prices) and results in a mandatory one star deduction.
Pearl's is good enough that they could be a real contender. However, first they'll have to prove they're as interested in my satisfaction as my wallet.
4109 S. Capital of Texas Hwy.
443-1911
Men's room rating: 2.5.
Dwight's comments:
Generic strip mall TexMex. Bland hot sauces, average fajitas with little or no seasoning, tasteless margaritas.
Even the Trudy's in this same center (Broadie Oaks) is better.
Lawrence's comments:
El Rey promised "Sonoran Style Specialties," leading us to believe they might offer something beyond bland, unimaginative TexMex. When we got there, we found that they offered...bland, unimaginative ArizonaMex. Hardly an improvement.
The hot sauce tasted like out-of-the-five-gallon-restaurant-sized-drum tomato sauce with a bare minimum of spices thrown in. They brought us some hotter sauce that was slightly better. My manchaca tacos were, if anything, even blander than your usual fast food taco fare, and none of the "pupu platter" sampler items stood out. Dwight and Andrew "White House Intern Pre-Screening Service" Wimsatt's fajitas were OK, but wouldn't break my top ten list.
Frankly, I've had tastier meals at Taco Cabana. Don't bother.
8301 Burnet Road
892-6699
Dwight's comments:
I used to be really fond of Tien Hong: I stopped going after the service started to go downhill.
I'm happy to report that on this visit, the service problems seemed to have been worked out: at least our server was efficient and polite.
But the food that I used to like doesn't excite me as much now: though the pan-fried dumplings are still the best in town, the hot and sour soup is just okay, and the subtle contrasts of flavor and texture that characterize the chicken with walnuts have been lost.
There are plenty of Chinese places here in town, but not many in Tien Hong's price class. I actually find Chinatown's food a bit more interesting these days (and a bit more expensive, too). But Tien Hong has been around forever: I hope the kitchen gets it together before they become history.
Lawrence's comments:
Tien Hong is my second favorite Chinese place in town, behind Pao's Mandarin House. Though the meal was good, they don't seem to be doing anything to move into first. Though the crab puffs were rather tasty, the fried dumplings and my Chef's Special Chicken entree were both solid but somehow unexciting. Service was just a touch scattershot (the waiter forgot whose drink order was which) but otherwise acceptable, and I can live with the .30 soft drink refills (though keep an eye on the check, since they tried to charge me for three Dr Peppers, rather than one and two refills).
Maybe we just need to try some different dishes (there are probably at least a hundred on the menu we haven't sampled yet), but I get the feeling that Tien Hong is running on autopilot.
4206 Duval
458-3168
Men's room rating: 1.5. (Major point lossage for having a one-hole men's room in a place this popular and crowded. No points for the changing table, which is stuck in the hall outside the bathrooms: the reasons why this is a bad idea should not require elaboration.)
Dwight's comments:
A place to see and be seen, not to eat.
Average food, limited menu, constant crowds (why?), but pretty good service. There's nothing here I would miss if it vanished tomorrow.
Dull, dull, dull.
Lawrence's comments:
Excellent service, good French fries, and good chipolte ranch dressing on the salad (though it could be hotter). Alas, I think Ruth's Chris has spoiled many for any other steak, since my rib eye was more than adequate, but still somehow unexciting, and the new potato side confirmed, once again, that I really don't like the damn things.
Hyde Park does what they do pretty well, but I would prefer a wider selection of appetizers and deserts, and perhaps a little more innovation among entrees. Still, I wouldn't mind going back to try some of the other offerings.
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See the logs for April of 1998.
See the logs for February of 1998.