Dishola: Reviews by the Dish

360 Nueces Street, Retail E, Austin, TX
512-320-0297

laura on 10/11/08

This is my new favorite Austin wine & food nook. I say "nook", because Mulberry only has 2 or 3 tables. The rest of the space is dominated by a U-shaped bar with an inviting feel to it. Pull up a chair, it beckons. Order a glass of wine. Tuck into a bowl of fragrant lamb agnolotti or savor fresh, cold oysters on the half shell. And though Mulberry is in the heart of downtown Austin, it's surprisingly reminiscent of a NYC corner restaurant. But I digress. I came to dishola to dish about Mulberry's meatballs. In a word, they are excellent. I say that not just because these meatballs are a flavorful ground beef-pork combo, nor because they are hearty in size and pair beautifully with a glass of Pinot Noir. No, what makes this dish truly special is the white wine and lemon broth in which the meat is served. It is delicate, yet still manages to pack a tangy punch. Oh, and how can I forget? For my fellow Austin garlic bread aficionados, this may be some of the best I've tried in Austin. At once crisp, buttery, salty, and oh-so-garlicky. It is a perfect compliment to the rest of the dish.

P.O. Box 999, Austin, TX
(512) 751-3955

laura on 10/06/08

I surprised a friend with 12 of these peanut butter-chocolate cupcakes recently, and she practically danced around her kitchen. Honestly, I have yet to taste a Black Hole I like better. Bonnie (of Planet Bonnie) hand makes each one. You can almost taste the love she puts into them. The peanut butter cake is moist and flavorful, and that chocolate icing is rich and milk-creamy. The black hole in the middle is a luscious burst of peanut butter and chocolate. Paired with a cold glass of milk, these peanut butter-chocolate delights will brighten any gloomy day. Now the questions is; can you stop at just one? www.planetbonnie.com

1000 W Lynn St, Austin, TX
(512) 478-3434

laura on 09/30/08

I should've picked up on the cashier's tone of voice. "How's the portabella wrap?" I asked her. "It's good," she said. But the way she answered sounded more like a question than a matter of fact. I grappled for a second, but then decided to go for it. Ironic how whenever I go to Galaxy, I always find myself ordering the same star: fish wrap, sweet potato fries, and an iced tea. Turns out the pesto portabella wrap is good, but not great. Something about the portabella mushrooms tastes canned. They are too smooth and slick, like the marinated button mushrooms you find in cafeteria salad bars. That said, the rest of the wrap - lettuce, red pepper, Jack cheese, and carrots - was snappy and fresh. It's not like this dish is a complete black hole, but it does go to show you that sometimes it's okay to go with what you know is tried and true.

1000 W Lynn St, Austin, TX
(512) 478-3434

laura on 09/30/08

Hm, this strawberry bread is delicious. I believe that Galaxy Cafe only offers it on their brunch menu - and it is freshly baked in-house. I'd never had strawberry bread before (strawberry cake, yes), and I must say, I was struck by how moist and rich this breakfast bread is. The strawberries are baked right into the cake, and add a tart contrast to their sweet surroundings. So why the score of 8? Galaxy might consider serving it warm with a small pad of butter on the side. Now that might be worthy of a dishola.

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
(512) 916-4808

laura on 02/07/08

Is it any wonder that the maguro sashimi is one of the most popular menu items at Uchi? Just look at those tender, rich chunks of tuna, drizzled with pumpkin seed oil. Locally-sourced goat cheese, paper-thin Fuji apples, and a dash of cracked pepper round out the flavors and textures of this dish. Paired with a glass of crisp white wine, or one of Uchi's various sakes...you'll wish you could freeze this culinary moment in time.