Haddington's

This week I had a lunch meeting with a client and a prospect at Haddington's.  We were deciding between Haddington's and one of the new restaurants at the bottom of the Austonian, Second Bar + Kitchen.  I already have a lunch scheduled at the Second Bar so today we decided on Haddington's.  It was described to me as an English Pub.  I was thinking, Fish & Chips.  It is instead an American Tavern.  I was not overly impressed by the menu.  Since it was a running day, I chose to avoid a heavy meal like a Hamburger and chose the Chicken Salad Sandwich instead.  The description sounded good.  The Chicken Salad had grapes mixed in.  The bread choice was not great.  It was either white bread, sour dough or cornbread.  I personally like a good whole grain bread for a sandwich like this.  It was served with some steak fries.  The fries were very tasty.  Considering that right next door at Walton's, you can have a great Chicken Salad Sandwich, I was disappointed.  It looked like it may be a good place to drink but the food was average.  The guys I was with split a hamburger and a sliced lamb sandwich.  The indicated that it was very average as well.  Especially disappointing was the lamb sandwich.  The comment was that it did not even taste like lamb.

I won't be running to eat here again.  Not bad but there are much better places to go.

Doing my part to Keep Austin Weird,

Alan
 

Madam Mam's

I am making up some missing blogs.  I realized I have had a couple of business lunches at some places that I have not discussed previously or at least in some time.  A while back, I went to my old stand by Thai Restaurant, Madam Mam's.  I have to admit, I am not too adventuresome with Thai food.  I usually get Pad Thai, Chicken.  The version at Madam Mam's is a little on the sweet side but I still love it.  Something about all of the flavors coming together.  The noodles, chicken, crushed peanuts, egg with a squeeze of lime.  I sometimes have one of the appetizers like the Spring Roll with Shrimp served with the spicy peanut sauce.  The other one that I have had is the Chicken Satay also served with spicy peanut sauce.  There seems to be a peanut pattern going on here.  The bottom line is I like to get my Thai fix in at least once a month.  I used to hit the Madam Mam's on The Drag.  It was nice to feel young again being on Campus. But I have to admit, it is nice to have a location just around the corner on Anderson Lane.

Doing my part To Keep Austin Weird,

Alan

Ranch 616

Today I had a business lunch at Ranch 616.  I had not been there in a while.  I have never been there for lunch.  I was there with two attorneys.  I was trying to eat somewhat light and healthy due to a training run scheduled for after work.  It was tough.  One of my fellow diners was telling me about how good the burgers are.  From my previous blogs, you know I am always on the hunt for a good burger.  I ended up with a sort of light meal.  It was chicken.  That was the light part.  It was tortilla chip encrusted and served with rice and beans.  I have to believe it was still better than eating red meat before a run.

The fellow diner who told me about the hamburgers of course ordered a burger.  It looked very good.  I will have to go back and try it one day.  The other diner ordered something I am aware of but never seen anyone eat.  Frog Legs!  He indicated that they were very good.  I don't think I am ready for that leap yet

I had forgotten how good Ranch 616 is.  They had a full crowd at lunch.  Glad to know it is a great lunch option.

Doing my part to Keep Austin Weird,

Alan

Takoba

I recently heard that Takoba in East Austin was a very good Mexican Restaurant.  I did not know anything more than that.  We decided to hit it up last Sunday Night.  The restaurant itself was not anything like what I expected.  We walked in and I thought we were just in the Bar area.  I looked around for the rest of the restaurant.  I quickly realized that the 10 or so tables plus bar was the entire place.  I got a little nervous that we had made a mistake with this restaurant.  We decided to go ahead and stay and give it a try.

The menu was limited but looked good.  We both decided on taco's.  Jo got the fish taco's made with Tilapia.  I ordered the vegetable taco's.  While we were waiting for our food they brought incredible hme made tortilla chips and salsa.  We had a Michelada, beer mixed with bloody Mary mix.  This was a problem for me.  A self described chip junkie.  I ate so man chips I did not really need my meal.

The fish taco's had cabbage apple slaw inside and were served with rice and charro beans.  She indicated that the taco was very good.  I tried a bite and they were good.  I am picky about fish taco's.  I just do not like fish that has a fishy taste.  These were very good.  Jo went on and on about the beans.  She indicated that they were the best beans she has ever had at a restaurant.

My taco's had roasted corn, sweet potato, zucchini and queso fresco.  I am not a vegetarian so this was an unusual meal for me.  The taco was great.  I ended up only eating one since I had made a pig of myself with chips and salsa.

While the restaurant was smaller than I anticipated, the food was very good.  I will be back for sure.

Doing my part to Keep Austin Weird,

Alan