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Freddy’s Place, Trust Displaced?
Freddy’s is a South Austin icon that is known for its easy going atmosphere, SoFi vibe, quick food, live music and outside bar. A family place, certainly. Dogs welcome, I believe. So when my family was passing through, I suggest we grab a bite there for lunch. I got the short end of the stick as everyone raved about their meal. I had the lunch portion of Green Chile Pepper Mac & Cheese and a Bloody Mary. The mac and cheese was served lukewarm and the bloody mary so salty I could barely drink it. Sans 1000 mg of salt, it would have been fine. Everyone else had sandwiches or salads and all said their meals were great. Maybe it was a one-off day for me. I was just expecting my food to be hotter and cocktail more flavorful. The service was top notch, a guy named “Stoner,” I kid you not.
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Follow Up on St. Philip Bakery
The dining in the pizzeria was wonderful, the one item I had from the bakery; not so much. The pie was a gingersnap pecan pie. Interesting concept, but something happened in the execution. My pie was very hard to cut, particularly around the crust, and the texture was not consistent throughout the pie. 14 people and this is what is left.
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Great Food. Great People. St. Philip Pizza Parlor + Bakeshop
When you dine out, it is not always about the food, but the experience. What the Uchi crew has done with the old nursery, turned Italian restaurant, turned pizzeria is nothing short of transformative. A beautiful and open space that is surprisingly quiet. From entry through dining and to departure, the experience was quite nice. Clever pizza makings, wine on tap, and a few surprise appetizers made the evening enchanting. Initially, I turned a blind eye to the flash fried cauliflower, but some strong-arming by our waitress, Heather, changed my mind. What a treat! They’re delicious.
A special mention to the smart-thinking management to pass out nibbles to the “waiting on a table” crowd. A simple pretzel to dip in mustard sauce was a great treat to distract me from the wait – which was about 12-15 minutes.
Pricing was fine. We got a little carried away with wine, which pushed the bill for two beyond $70. They sneak in those 1.5 glass pours which go down so easily.
Give them a try! If you have a large party, maybe I can help get you in and taken care of.
P.S. I purchased a pie to take to my family for Christmas. (I’ll keep you posted)
The bake shop was almost magical.
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They All Want Your Money!
Stores are offering their best Christmas deals for the last-minute shopper. My friend, Eve Michaels, has some great ideas on what you might consider for that special someone; all under $100. Good Morning America also had a feature on bargain gifting.
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Build Your Own Cheesecake, Really?
Build You Own Can you imagine anything better than choosing your very own combination of ingredients in a custom cheesecake? The decadence. The allure. The calories. You only live one, so they say. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about Austintatious Cheesecakes. A perfect gift idea for around 30 bucks.
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Ferrari of Austin + Circuit of the Americas
For some a Ferrari seems out of reach, but there’s many ways you can enjoy the prestige and panache of the Ferrari experience without the cost of ownership. Check out Ferrari of Austin or the Circuit of the Americas website for information about track rental days. You can even be a track enthusiast in your own street-ready vehicle. Eric Clover, Studio Manager at Ferrari of Austin, will work hard to take good care of you.
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P. Terry’s Ben White Needs Some Help
First of all, I work out so I can eat and if I eat a hamburger, I prefer P. Terry’s. One P. Terry’s burger stand is not like the other. The South Lamar location knocks the Ben White location out of the park. My burger was fine, but every time I ask for crispy fries, I get mushy, soggy, oil soaked fries. It is maddening enough to send me across the street to Wendy’s. Is it really that hard to turn up the heat or count off 60 seconds?
