Dishola: Reviews by the Dish

Highway St, Coon Rapids, IA, 50058

hamburgler on 07/31/08

Coon Rapids, Iowa. Rolls of the tongue, doesn't it? Gotta put some twang in it when you say it. The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is the northern yin to the southern yang of chicken fried steak. Why the two can't exist in the same region I'll never know. Swayze says it has something to do with the Civil War and the Mason-Dixon line. Some agreement between Lincoln and Lee ... fried pork to the north, fried beef to the south, free the slaves, restore the Union. Like a good chicken-fried steak, the perfect pork tenderloin sandwich should be larger than your head and should stick out at least 4 inches from the biggest bun available. The first bite should sear the roof of your mouth allowing for the sharp coating to shred the tenderized skin. Pickles, onions, lettuce and mustard. Nothing else. Ketchup is for chumps. This sandwich is huge, has a great breaded crust, juicy pork and is perfectly seasoned. Get the fries. This is probably the best pork tenderloin in Iowa with some unnamed cafe in Colo, IA coming in a close second.

4800 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX
(512) 454-7827

hamburgler on 01/28/08

Damn. I wish I had some of that pie right now. I'm sure Rachel Ray would say something like Yum-O or some other sort of bullshit like that and after I dislodged my coffee cup from her skull I'd probably have to agree with her. Then I'd steal her cigarettes. In my experience, the cookie pie is one of the hardest pies to pull off. Mixing a cookie with a pie is a lot like genetic engineering. Sort of like breeding a cat with a small Mexican dog. Shut up Swayze--you thought it was a good idea too. My point being, what looks good on paper after you've had a few drinks doesn't always turn out like expected and can end a relationship real quick. Anyway this pie was perfectly gooey and the perfect temperature. The ice cream did not seize the chocolate. This pie was so good it attracted a small child from a neighboring table. It's like she could smell it. At first I thought she wanted a drink of my beer, but Swayze quickly pointed out that she was pointing at my pie plate which was nowhere near my beer glass. Now, I know you're thinking. Don't get all bent. I know that small children are allergic to chocolate, so I didn't give her much. Go have some Toll House Pie!

1112 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
(512) 478-4567

hamburgler on 12/13/07

Voluntarily paying 4 bucks for a bowl of oatmeal? And no meat or cheese? Do it. Eating oatmeal is like kissing grandma on the mole. You know you should do it every now and then and sometimes you throw up in your mouth, but in the end you've done a good thing for your heart. Makes you poop too if you chase it with a cup of coffee. Anyway, this oatmeal is more like kissing your hot first cousin. You feel like you shouldn't be enjoying it this much but it's so good you can't stop. And in the end there's nothing wrong with it --science says so. Here that, Swayze? Science. So here's the deal on this oatmeal: Organic steel-cut oats, rice milk, honey, apples, mixed nuts and a whole lotta love from chef Emily Crumpton. She makes some damn fine food. You can heat it up, which is pretty good, but I personally like to eat it chilled right out of the tub. Comes in a smaller size. Cost's less too. Open to the public except for Mayor Wynn who's been banned. He knows why.

9911 Brodie Ln, Austin, TX
(512) 233-6000

hamburgler on 12/15/07

I have no idea what makes chai, chai, but this is some damn good tea. Just a warning. This tea is hot. I'm not a tea aficionado (I spelled that without having to look it up). I drink coffee black. I fart in elevators. I'm not even sure why I ordered this but I did like it. My pal Swayze thinks I'm a puss for drinking tea. I'm going to get that guy one of these days. Have this with one of the ginger cookies.

9911 Brodie Ln, Austin, TX
(512) 233-6000

hamburgler on 12/15/07

Damn, this is one fine burger. I love burgers. That's why they call me the Hamburgler. No relation. I also love Donkey Kong, but that's another story. The theme of this burger is balance. All flavors combine to enhance each other rather than fighting for supremacy. The patty is just the right thickness. The bacon was cooked perfect. Mayo on the side.The bleu cheese is genius. Add the onion. Do it. Not greasy at all. You can't have a burger without fries. The fries are thin, crispy and also not greasy. Wish I could say the same thing about my date.