Food and drink specials for the humans and a Mini-Me Costume Contest for all our four-legged friends and their matching owners! Don’t miss the dog dance and trick show from 6:15-6:45! Marilyn Nichols, with Happy Puppy Tutoring will be showing you why “training people and coaching dogs” is her specialty! Bark-tastic vendors with some fantastic goodies, including a generous gift card from Bark’n Bubbles for our contest winner. This is going to be a yappin’ good time, so come out and see what we’re all about!

So, on to the food… Had to try the burgers. We both got a basic cheeseburger. There is a fatty and a flatty version (1/2lb vs 1/4lb). Hillary got the flatty with cheddar and I got the fatty with bacon and American cheese.  It was a good solid burger, the patty was moist, seasoned well and had good flavor, the bacon was crisp (a must!) and was served on a basic, fresh hamburger bun. It definitely satisfied our burger craving. Hillary mentioned hers was a little dry and that may have had something to do with the “flatty” side of things, but she still enjoyed it overall. We also ordered a basket of chips and queso, it was a splurge kind of day. The queso was on the runny side and not entirely memorable. The chips could have been any store bought brand, however it did the trick for our snack attack. The service and staff were very friendly and efficient. When we asked for more chips so that we could polish off the queso, they actually brought more queso along with them.

The menu offers up your standard pub type food with nachos, cheese fries, dogs and sandwiches. One item of note, that we will try next time around, is the “Purple Bubba” which is vintage grape soda mixed with vanilla ice cream – yum!

We came back one evening about a week later to get a couple beers (they also serve wine) and be outdoors. There was a Hawaiian Luau themed party in full swing in the back yard. At first we thought we were intruding on a private party but learned it was something the owners try to do once a month – host some kind of themed party with food and beer to match the occasion. We still managed to find a spot. The tiki torches were blazing and everyone was sportin their Hawaiian shirts and having a good time. It made for some good people watching and we enjoyed the surroundings. Check it out the next time you want to catch a game or grab a good burger and a beer. Cheers!

THE HUB

3815 Dry Creek Drive
Austin, TX 78731
512-432-5390

Lunch and Dinner Hours
Sunday 11am – 9pm
Monday thru Thursday 11am – 10pm
Friday thru Saturday 11am – 11pm

I landed on the Berry Melon-O simple smoothie which consisted of: strawberry, mango, raspberry and fresh watermelon. No added sweetner, no nothing, just the fresh juice and frozen fruit blended up to a nice texture. Some fruit smoothies end up being cloyingly sweet. These were not, it had just the right amount of natural sweet and we were able to savor and detect the different fruits in the mix. Hillary chose a fresh squeezed juice. The Prototype had cherry, organic goji berries, fresh Texas grapefruit, fresh pineapple and lime. The grapefruit and lime shone through and cut the sweetness of the cherry – very satisfying and refreshing.

There will be lots to try on future visits. Some are veggie and spice blends that sound intriguing and particularly good. The Thai Curious is a blend of organic carrot, ginger, beet and cilantro with coconut juice, cayenne, lime and Himalayan salt. Mmm… interesting. They also offer several ”add-ins” that include super healthy proteins, miracle foods and plain ol’ natural flavor enhancers. Some items on the menu are sweetened, however they only use agave nectar which is lower on the glycemic index and considered a healthier option than other processed sweeteners. Get ready to pay a premium for all of this freshness — but it is only slightly more, especially when you compare it to some of the less healthy and less tasty choices around town.

This location has a pretty cool vibe. It is somewhat Zen-like, although not because of any overt decorating style… it just seems to exude it. The parking is sparse and I get the feeling that they cater to the Town Lake walkers and joggers, the local neighborhood, and to the bikers riding the trails in Zilker and the nearby greenbelt. We saw plenty of folks in their various exercise gear. When you walk into the smallish, but comfy shop, you are greeted by a blast of cool air as the AC seems to be blowing on high. I could easily imagine some making this a weekly ritual. Hit the trails, come here for a nice cool reprieve from the heat, and then order-up something that is good for the body and soul.

So, let us start with the one we cooked up the day it arrived. The Chicken Muffuletta was super simple to prepare. It was just a matter of turning on the oven and popping the tin container in for 15 minutes. This dish was basically a hammered out chicken breast wrapped around a mixture of Salami, ham, provolone cheese and a black olive tapenade mixture. There were two portions and each were sprinkled with dijon bread crumbs. The chicken was moist and you could distinctly taste all the different flavor components of the stuffing. The bread crumbs came out nice and crunchy and added a great texture to the dish. The stuffed chicken breasts were served over some dirty rice, which was fluffy and seasoned well. Overall this was a great tasting dish and you could not beat the ease of preparation. The packaging indicates it serves 2 and we were pleasantly satisfied without any other additions to the dinner. On the Soup Peddler website you can rate each dish on the soup-o-meter scale and look at its ranking before ordering. The rankings are anywhere from 1 to 5 spoons. We rated this one 4 spoons, which equates to: “Damn good. I look forward to seeing this on the menu soon”.

I got a chuckle from this the moment I saw it. A picture of Flo from Mel’s Diner graces the label of Shrimp and Grits. Some of you may not get the reference, but it was from a sitcom named Alice that was a popular tv series back in the early to mid 80′s. The character’s main catch phrase was “Kiss My Grits!” and it was in a definite southern twang. This dish took just a bit more preparation, but not much. You actually had to take it out of the tin container and heat it up in a pot (tres dificile); then add some water to get it to your desired thickness and consistency. I made the mistake of adding a little bit too much water, so it turned out more like soupy grits. I only added about 3/4 of a cup. I would advise maybe adding a Tablespoon at a time. The ingredient list is short (shrimp, grits, bacon, cheese, butter, bell pepper, onion, scallions, parsley, garlic, spices) and the flavor is wow. The marinated shrimp had a good texture and were very plump and large. He did not skimp on the number of shrimp either. The grits were rich and cheesy, despite the soupy texture and it was all seasoned nicely – it deftly embodied the spirit of the dish. It held up to the freezing process well and I’d say you wouldn’t have been able to tell that it had been frozen for a few weeks. This one ranked in at 4.75 spoons and I would have rated it around that range.

Now I am on their e-mail list and get the weekly menus. Each week there seems to be a great deal of variety and most of the dishes sound intriguing. So far I have not seen any repeats, but there probably has been. I would definitely order from the Peddler again. Very convenient and easy and so far has been tasty. He entices you too. He threw in a $5 off coupon for the next order. Maybe next time we will actually try a soup.

Shrimp Scampo
On Portabella Polenta
in Basil-Garlic Butter Sauce
Colterenizio Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige, Italy
Mesquite Seared Sea Scallop
With Sundried Tomato Pesto
And Green Chile Bruschetta
Swanson Pinot Grigio, Napa Valley
Intermezzo
Cordoniu Sparkling Pinot Noir and Strawberries
Mesquite Seared Yellowfin Tuna
With Roquefort Butter and Pomme Frites
With Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise.
French Malbec (yet to be decided)
Mesquite Grilled Tornado
With Chimichurri Butter
On Whipped Parsley Horseradish Potatoes
Llama Malbec, Lujan de Cujo, Argentina
Dessert Course

We’ve been here twice and have loved it both times. It is quaint, unpretentious and serves up some extremely good tropical-infused dishes. My 36th birthday (first visit, second was for the 37th, will we go on the 38th?, it’s coming up) was one of those evenings where all the elements come together to make for a memorable, fine dining experience. Our waitress, Kat was outstanding. She was friendly and full of great recommendations. We started with the calamari, which Hillary and I both agree is probably the best we’ve had in Austin. The flour batter made them; perfectly crisp and seasoned yet still let the tender calamari shine through. The chipotle aioli just added to the goodness. Hillary ordered their signature dish, the pepita crusted redfish with a mango habenero butter and I ordered the mesquite grilled pork with spiced rum glaze. Both dishes were tasty but the redfish was just incredible. The fish was tender and flavorful, the pepita crust added just the right amount of crunch and earthy, nutty flavor and mixed well with the other chile sauces doled out on the plate. Dishes are served with basic sides like black beans with cotija cheese or fresh veggies; both are cooked well and let the main item be the superstar. We enjoyed all this with a great bottle of Rutherford Ranch 2006 Cabernet. To polish off the evening we had the blackberry ginger crisp, made with Amy’s Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream. The ambience can’t be beat–it has the charm of a small neighborhood restaurant. The menu offers up few selections but all of the choices are something you would be happy to try.

I met up with Hillary and she had been stalled at work due to some unforeseen delays and frustrations, so we decided to skip the scavenger stuff and just get a bite to eat. We drove up to Cipollinas on West Lynn and they were packed. At this point we wanted instant gratification (hunger and headache factor) and opted to skip it. We have been wanting to try Zocalo’s as well and they appeared to be fairly empty. 

The space is clean, minimalist with a slight modern flair. The menu is stream-lined as well with primarily tacos, soups and salads. They describe their cuisine as something that you could get in a Mexico City taqueria.  You place your order at the counter and then they bring the food out to you. We chose a window seat that was looking out at Nau’s Pharmacy, the neighborhood drug store. I actually ran over there while we were waiting on the food to get something to alleviate the aforementioned headache.

As an appetizer we landed on the chips and queso. The chips were just fried and the queso was  made with white cheese and roasted peppers. The texture was interesting and took a bit to get used to, but after a few bites, we were on board. This stuff was yummy.  My carnitas (pork) tacos were very good. I ordered them with crispy corn shells and they are served with a super fresh pineapple pico de gallo. The meat was marinated well and when combined with the tiny chunks of pineapple, peppers (guessing serrano) and fresh green shreds of leafy lettuce it was a flavor combination that can’t be beat. Hillary ordered the jicama salad, which was a simple dish of julienned jicama, carrots and cucumber and was topped with a jalapeno honey vinaigrette and cilantro. Once again, came across as very fresh and tasty. While I was at the drug store, Hillary overheard the manager talking to the table next to us and he was saying that they only use fresh ingredients and avoid anything out of a can.  He came out a couple more times during our stay to see how all the dining patrons were doing and how the meal was. We gave him a big smile and a thumbs up. We will be back.

Next time, though, we will sit outside. They have an arbor-shaded spot right on the neighborhood sidewalk. In the evening it is lit up with strands of lights. I love this little neighborhood. It reminds of something that you might see in the East (think: DC / NYC) minus the parking lots. It just has a cozy and welcoming charm. It is not close to any major roads and the shops and restaurants are nestled directly in a functioning neighborhood.  There is a good coffee shop and a few good restaurants, mixed in with a mom-and-pop drug store and an adequate market to get your essentials. It is also close to one of our favorite restaurants in town, Cafe Josie. I can imagine Clarksville residents enjoy having the luxury of being able to walk to all these hidden jems.  This is one neighborhood I would seriously consider moving to. Maybe someday.

They have a fairly limited menu; basically burgers and tacos.  Heard good things about both but we went with the tacos. These are simple tacos served up in corn or wheat tortillas. Opted for the corn and they were soft, flavorful and did not crumble (frustrating) when trying to handle and stuff all the fillings in. Topped with cilantro, diced onions, lettuce and tomatoes. There are 7 choices of meats to choose from, including Tilapia. The theme here is FRESH!  We tried the ground beef, chicken, and the adobado chicken tacos. I had ordered a pastor (pork) but got a plain chicken one instead. I’ll let them slide on this one because the chicken was great as were the rest of them.

Outside The Screaming Goat Facing West Towards Lamar

What is turning me into a rabid fan is the chips and salsa. I’m a chips and salsa nut. I could probably subsist on this alone. The chips are fried-up white corn tortilla triangles that you can tell were made just  before coming out. If my memory serves me, there were about 6 different salsa choices, each with a unique description and on a heat scale. Looks like it went from very mild to probably atomic. We ordered up the Salsa Mexicana to go with the chips. It is incredible with some definite heat.  I think a whole truck load of garlic cloves must’ve gone into a single batch of this stuff. Yum! If the rest of their salsa’s are as good as this one I will be a very frequent visitor.  You can buy 20oz mason jars of the salsa for $5.99. Next time.

As we were sitting there we noticed random numbers painted on the walls, near the ceiling and above each entry way. “What are those?” we said. “Are they longitude / latitude coordinates?” “Hmm… nope, that can’t be it.” Suffice it to say curiosity got the better of me and I had to go ask the staff.  They did not know specifically what each one was but they gave me the overall theme. Let’s just say the owner has an interesting sense of humor. A random sampling of some of the numbers: 

• 298.8
• 302.7
• 296.8
• 302.73
• 5150

So, will your curiosity be piqued? If you love tacos, salsa and a little bit of character, I’d suggest checking them out. I’m already planning the next visit : )

~Lee

On to dinner. Decisions, decisions… I was not sure what I wanted before I got there but the burger kept winking at me. I had never had one here before and there were three options. I asked our waiter if the Kobe beef burger was worth it. It was about a $1.50 more than the “high-end” sirloin burger (the “low-end” was ground chuck). He steered me away from the Kobe and suggested the sirloin and that it might be worthy to add some cheddar, crispy bacon and jalapenos. Sold. This was one of those burgers where the last bite was just as good as the first. The patty was the star and had a wonderful char-grilled flavor. The fat ratio was about perfect. Bacon was crisp, cheese was melty but not gooey or stringy and it was served on a plain wheat bun that allowed you to experience all the other flavors. All the condiments (mustard, mayo and ketchup) are served on the side so that you can lather it up to your liking. I ordered this with their fries. My first time for these too. They are famous for their fries and would agree they are something special. It’s almost as if they have been twice fried. Once to get them soft and another time after a light dusting of flour to give them a very nice crunch. Definitely not too greasy as you might expect. I could be way off base on that, but that is the only thing I could figure.

Hillary had the Dijon Artichoke chicken and didn’t have anything bad to say about it but was not glowing about it either. I tried her green chile cheese mashed potatoes and these were very good. So why the major focus on the burger? You never hear Hyde Park mentioned when it comes to the best-burger-in-town discussion. Names like Hut’s, Dirty Martin’s, Casino El Camino are always at the forefront but I got to say… I think it is a contender!

~Lee