Flavors of the month involved some fearless eats (kangaroo!), some new favorites in Dallas, a new brewery called 4th Tap, another gyro and the juiciest burger!
Kimchi Fried Rice at The Peached Tortilla
I’m a fan of The Peached Tortilla and I like what the restaurant is doing. I enjoyed dinner service back in March and thought their dishes were fantastic. For brunch, I went with nostalgia and ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice because it has Spam mixed in. I know. I haven’t had Spam in years but it was a part of my childhood, for better or worse. Despite the health factor, I did enjoy the dish and wouldn’t mind ordering it again for a family-style meal.
4th Tap Brewing Co-Op
A new brewery opened in North Austin near Circle Brewing and Adelbert’s. Since it is near boyfriend’s work, I got the inside scoop and tried it early. I like 4th Tap because they have an IPA called the Long Walk that isn’t too hoppy. They already have three beers canned. While they are new to the physical building, they are not new to Austin’s craft brewery scene; they’ve been going at it since 2011. Check out their grand opening party on November 7th!
Quiche at Bolsa (Dallas)
I’ve been wanting to try brunch at Bolsa for years. Years! I finally checked it off the list and enjoyed this skillet quiche. The crust was soft and flakey unlike a usual crispy pie crust.
Sweet Treats at Joy Macaron (Dallas)
After brunch at Bolsa, we were close enough to stop for some macarons at Joy Macaron on the way out of town. Yum! We got a six-pack with salted caramel, Nerds, blood orange, rose and lychee, pistachio, and Italian cream. All dainty and delicious. My favorite was the salted caramel (of course).
Gyro at Shahi Café
This hidden gem in North Austin is my favorite place for a quick, filling bite. The gyros are fresh and flavorful. The service is top-notch. Their summer drink, the ginger basil limeade, is a must every visit, though they may be transitioning to a fall drink now.
Crab Cake Benedict and Oysters for Brunch at Mongers Market + Kitchen
Mongers Market + Kitchen is delightful. Inside is a beautifully designed dining room and outside is a roomy patio. The menu has an abundance of seafood items. The mimosas are on point. The raw oysters are high-quality. All in all, it was a lovely brunch with my friend MJ. The Crab Cake Benedict comes with tomatoes, potatoes and arugula and is a very filling dish. My few bites of MJ’s slightly caramelized French toast were the perfect end to the meal. This restaurant will be a top choice for my seafood fix!
Kangaroo Carpaccio Nacho and Meatloaf at Lonesome Dove
I ate kangaroo! It tasted like beef. I also had a hearty dish of meatloaf, collard greens and mashed potatoes and finished the meal off with butterscotch budino. Lonesome Dove missed the mark for me. While the restaurant is beautifully constructed and presents the opportunity to eat exotic meats, the dishes lacked spark. I wouldn’t mind dining here again but my expectation will be a meal that is good but not great.
San Francisco and Sonoma Eats
I’ve updated my San Francisco Eats post by adding a few restaurants enjoyed on trip number two. Check out my notes on farm:table, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, R&G Lounge, Jane, Brenda’s French Soul Food, and Comstock. Also check out the phenomenal Sonoma restaurants in my Sonoma Travel Guide.
$6 Happy Hour Burger at Gardner
I had dinner at Gardner late last year and it wasn’t my favorite, but this burger has me denouncing all other burgers I’ve eaten. It’s juicy and it comes with addicting French fries. They have drink specials and as low as $15 bottles of wine. To top it off, their bar and patio area is looking good and patio time in Austin has arrived. This burger special is on their patio during happy hour until the end of November and I highly recommend taking advantage of this deal! Get there as close to their 5:30 pm opening time as possible to snag a seat.
What recommended eats do you have to share?
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