Fun at Fixe

Foodie Fun at Fixe

Fixe - Austin's Southern House

Visit Austin, TX

Fixe is a great addition to the Downtown Austin dining scene. It encourages sharing meals, which is always a lot of fun. The restaurant owners say they want the meal to seem like you're having a Sunday night supper in the South. There are a lot of Southern favorites with a twist. Therefore don't be surprised when you see three types of grits on the menu! This is my second time to visit and the chefs have really brought their A-game both times. The best bite of the night came from the biscuits. There is simply no question... they are the best you'll have in Austin and they only cost $6. It's hard to say exactly what makes them so special. But they're warm, buttery and they melt in your mouth. The biscuits are also very filling. Shortly after my husband and I devoured them we had second-thoughts about ordering six dishes. My second favorite dish was the Herbivore grits. It's the vegetarian option, but it's also the best (the first time I went to Fixe I tried all three types of grits). They work in this incredible salsa verde and it just sings with the grits, farm egg and kale. My next favorite was the Veal Brisket with the confit sweet potatoes, espelette marshmallow and pecan fois gras. The veal is tender and the seasoning on it was dynamite. There was also just a tad bit of sweetness, which worked really well with the sweet potato and marshmallow. The fried chicken was also fantastic - mostly because of the flavor of the batter. Though I will say they really talk-up the fried chicken and it's great... but it just doesn't live up to the expectations. The grilled shrimp with white beans, ham shank, arugula and horseradish was also really enjoyable. And finally the crispy beef tendon was fun to start the meal. They really have an interesting texture that puts it a step above a typical flaky chip. I look forward to visiting again in the near future.

Dining @ G A R D N E R

A Veggie Adventure at G A R D N E R

G A R D N E R

Austin, TX

For me, dining at Gardner was a very new experience. I love trying all different types of foods, but I don't think I've ever been to a place where vegetables are such a big focus - maybe even the primary focus of what is served. A good friend of mine who is a vegetable lover suggested we try it. It's from the same owners who started Contigo, which is part of what sold me. Contigo is one of my fave places for a casual, delicious and enjoyable meal. When you first walk into Gardener, the design is very minimalistic and modern. It's very pleasing to the eye. Then you begin and the menu is fairly unique. You have the options for bites, a first course, a second course, cheese and dessert. My friend Erica and I each got the Crudite for our "bites." Then we shared the Cabbage with Monkfish, Jalapeno and Marjoram and a special using Cobia (a gamey fish). Then we each had our own main course. I dined on the celery root, which was really like a risotto with black truffle and other spices. Erica enjoyed the Brassicas with grains, preserved lemon and chili broth. Finally, we ended the meal sharing a cheese option, which was covered in all sorts of herbs and spices. My favorite bite came from the Cabbage, which was the first course. It packed a lot of flavor and worked nicely with the jalapeno and fish. But the special was a bit of a disappointment. The Cobia was cooked nicely, but it was covered in popcorn. That really wasn't needed and took away from the overall meal. I also truly enjoyed the Celery Root dish. The rice packed a lot of punch and really highlighted the truffle that was used. My only complaint was that it was quite a small portion for an entree. Erica's entree was also excellent, but very simple. Too simple for me. It was the best grouping of vegetables you could taste, but it was still just vegetables. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the cheese dish - although Erica really enjoyed it. I'd definitely like to return to Gardner, but I also realize you need to order carefully. And I definitely don't think I'll be able to convince my husband to come... He's more of a meat and potatoes guy.

Stories Fine Dining - Hyatt Lost Pines

Stuffed at Stories Fine Dining - Hyatt Lost Pines Resort

Stories Fine Dining Establishment

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa

Wow! I haven't been this full walking out of a restaurant in quite awhile... and we didn't even get dessert! Of course my husband and I didn't do ourselves any favors by both selecting the Parmesan Potato Gnocchi and the 12 ounce Prime Ribeye with jalapeno-cream cheese mash potatoes, bordelaise sauce and smoked broccolini. It is extremely difficult to decide which dish provided the best bite, but I think I'm going to have to select the gnocchi. The texture of the gnocchi was perfect. Plus the baby cream leak sauce was divine. It worked incredibly well with the mushrooms. Then the chili-spiced shoestring potatoes helped provide crunch and round out a very rich and creamy dish. On the other hand, the steak was dynamite. It was extremely tender and contained just the right amount of pink in the center. It was also combined with honeycomb bacon butter and the bordelaise sauce. It was decadent and delicious. Despite the incredible meal, we will change our orders next time! The amount of food was just too much. For example, the gnocchi is on the list of starters, but I definitely could have enjoyed it as an entree.