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Look What the Tide Brought In
I’ve driven down South First hundreds of times and one of my favorite stops on the way home used to be the El Chile restaurant on the corner of SoFi and Mary. I always enjoyed a chelada and the chicken enchiladas with green sauce. But no more! Alas, out with the Mexican plates and in with coastal flair. Alcomar has burst onto the food scene with a very big splash and a wildly divergent menu form the former offerings.
I loved the place – albeit a tad too loud for my comfort. The food was great, the atmosphere festive and calming, the cocktails delicious and the service very agreeable. The Gulf Oysters were served ice cold with tasty sauces. The rest of my meal consisted of random appetizers; the snapper ceviche, I believe. I like a bit of heat in my ceviche and this was on the less spicy side, but it was very fresh and well presented.
Kudos to the team for another great place to join the family that includes; El Alma, El Chile, El Sapo and now Alcomar.
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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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Who Doesn’t Want Cheap and Easy? Food, That Is.
Tex Mex abounds in Austin, but sometimes you just want to get some good food fast and not break out the Ulysses S. Grant’s to pay for it. Give Taqueria Arandas a try. You might have some screaming kids, or a server that might not quite master the English language, but you will get consistently good food, filling portions and not have to break the bank for it. They do have beer and some margarita like cocktail. (They also serve an inexpensive pancake plate with eggs and bacon that is not on the menu.)
