Dishola: Reviews by the Dish

258 W 2nd St, Austin, TX
(512) 477-1001

natanya on 12/19/07

As much as making risotto in my own kitchen is my ultimate comfort activity leading to my ultimate comfort food, Taverna's Parmesan Risotto is my favorite risotto in town. The risotto grains are just the right texture and the entire offering creamy without being so rich it's off-putting. A base of white wine provides depth to the dish and the onions (or possibly shallots) blend well with the rice and broth without being overwhelming. The restaurant clearly uses true Parmigiano Reggiano and they top the entire glorious serving off with good quality olive oil and a few shavings of cheese.

4002 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
(512) 467-8533

natanya on 12/19/07

These are my regular Friday breakfast and even when I'm not driving into downtown to work I'll still drive to 38th and Lamar to get my chorizo, egg, and cheese tacos. The eggs are fresh, the chorizo crispy, and the cheese plentiful. What's more, the staff at every Taco Shack I've ever been to have been fantastic. No matter how rushed or crazy things are they are efficient and polite. Gotta love home-grown businesses.

312 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX
(512) 481-0100

natanya on 12/26/07

Zax is a great little dining spot close to downtown but not in downtown so there is plentiful parking and manageable traffic. The fare is good if not predictable and they have an unexpected variety of wine to choose from, as well as a nice collection of beer. The Grilled Shrimp starter was a simple execution, which isn’t always a bad thing, but I’m only giving it a 6 because even in the simplicity the flavor could have been so much more. The shrimp were lightly seasoned but not really enough to be interesting and the cilantro-lime cocktail sauce I was anticipating for dipping was really just a drizzle for plate decoration instead of a true condiment. I think the idea behind the dish was to let the cocktail sauce provide the main taste, but there simply wasn’t enough to compensate for just fair flavoring on the shrimp. I’d still recommend Zax as a place to try, but opt for another starter if you are looking for more intense or exciting flavors.

12611 River Bnd, Austin, TX
(512) 372-7300

natanya on 12/26/07

I’ve come to realize that Terry Conlan and his flavorful, healthy, beautiful food found only at the Lake Austin Spa are one of Austin’s best kept secrets. Terry is a proponent of cooking in-season with the best ingredients, all the while creating healthy meals without sacrificing one bit of flavor. This tuna and noodle dish is a shining example of his culinary style. The tuna is seasoned with a combination of Asian spices and quickly seared but still completely pink in the middle. Slices of baby bock choy, cucumber, and scallions offer a crisp accompaniment to the tender soba noodles. The vinaigrette dressing for the noodles and veggies is light and full of flavor, while the two slices of avocado lend a final creamy finish to this party for your tastebuds. If you’ve been looking for a reason to treat yourself at the Lake Austin Spa, even if only for half of a day, Terry’s food is it. He also teaches classes regularly at the Central Market Cooking School, so if you don’t plan to be at the spa any time soon, look for a chance to experience his great food and learn how to cook in Terry’s remarkable style on the CM website.

301 E 5th St, Austin, TX
(512) 472-1860

natanya on 12/28/07

This is absolutely the best mac and cheese you'll ever eat. Sometimes I'm not quite sure of the current trend of high-end mac and cheese dishes - I mean after all, it's mac and cheese, a comfort food that somehow shouldn't have fancy ingredients in it. Even so, truffles and mac and cheese are a great match. I suppose you should order and entrée to go with it -- or not. The wait staff will probably understand if you order just the mac and cheese along with a nice glass of zinfandel or even bubbly.