As discussed in a previous post, Indian Palace is in good company as a nondescript strip center Indian buffet. Indian Palace rises far above its generic name and location and quickly became my favorite Indian buffet a few years ago.
The buffet offerings are always hot and fresh, hardly resembling typical buffet fare. They hit home runs with all of the standards, including their light, flaky samosas, heavenly saag paneer, and crispy vegetable pakoras. They also offer a rotating set of delicious vegetarian dishes, such as malai kofta and cauliflower in cream sauce. I am particularly fond of their bite-sized fried potato and cheese balls, which are always present in the buffet.
Just writing this review makes me wish I was enjoying Indian Palace's amazing food for a second time this weekend.
Considering how delicious Indian Palace's buffet is, their dining room is always nearly deserted, which is very unfortunate. I strongly encourage any Indian food lover (and even the uninitiated!) to seek out Indian Palace.
Indian Palace
3616 Far West Blvd.
Austin, TX
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Cipollina
Not only was Cipollina recommended to me by a good friend, I also discovered while investigating this Italian Bistro that it is owned by the owner of Jeffrey's, an institution of Austin gourmet dining. It also happens to neighbor two of my favorite Austin cafes, Galaxy Cafe and Zocalo. All of these pieces of information provided a pretty compelling case for trying Cipollina, and, fortunately for my friend, I was not disappointed.
Cipollina has a casual atmosphere and simple yet sophisticated food. I was disappointed that their menu did not offer any vegetarian pasta dishes, but I chose the delicious Seasonal Vegetable Sandwich with a side of their Hand-Cut Fries. The veggies on the sandwich included thick, juicy zucchini, grilled red peppers, and caramelized onions. They were accented by pesto and mozzarella cheese. Overall, the sandwich was delicious, albeit messy. The remarkably good hand-cut fries had a light topping of thickly-shredded Parmesan and were served with homemade catsup.
My partner ordered the Spinach and Artichoke pizza, which was also topped with goat cheese and mozzarella. Their pizzas are on astonishingly thin and crispy crust, which is not my preference, and I thought that the pizza could have used some kind of sauce to add moisture. There is just something about a layer of congealed melted Parmesan that is very off-putting on its own. However, the goat cheese was ample, which almost made up for it, and my partner enjoyed it.
Despite the somewhat disappointing pizza, I still recommend Cipollina for its inexpensive fare and delicious sandwiches and fries.
Cipollina
1213 West Lynn
Austin, TX
Cipollina has a casual atmosphere and simple yet sophisticated food. I was disappointed that their menu did not offer any vegetarian pasta dishes, but I chose the delicious Seasonal Vegetable Sandwich with a side of their Hand-Cut Fries. The veggies on the sandwich included thick, juicy zucchini, grilled red peppers, and caramelized onions. They were accented by pesto and mozzarella cheese. Overall, the sandwich was delicious, albeit messy. The remarkably good hand-cut fries had a light topping of thickly-shredded Parmesan and were served with homemade catsup.
My partner ordered the Spinach and Artichoke pizza, which was also topped with goat cheese and mozzarella. Their pizzas are on astonishingly thin and crispy crust, which is not my preference, and I thought that the pizza could have used some kind of sauce to add moisture. There is just something about a layer of congealed melted Parmesan that is very off-putting on its own. However, the goat cheese was ample, which almost made up for it, and my partner enjoyed it.
Despite the somewhat disappointing pizza, I still recommend Cipollina for its inexpensive fare and delicious sandwiches and fries.
Cipollina
1213 West Lynn
Austin, TX
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Cool Cafe
Perhaps the only disadvantage of a restaurant having a wide selection of vegetarian options is the dramatic increase in the difficulty of choosing a meal. Not only does Cool Cafe have a large selections of vegetarian dishes, they have dishes representing a wide variety of genres, compounding this problem further. Their menu offers pasta dishes, rice dishes, both savory and sweet crepes, Mediterranean dishes, and all-day breakfast. Overwhelming, yes, but totally worth the mental effort involved in ordering.
I had the portabello pasta - penne pasta and portabello mushrooms with a sun dried-tomato cream sauce. The mushrooms were moist and flavorful, and the cream sauce was delicious but not overly rich. I also tried my boyfriend's crepe, which was stuffed with portabellos and artichokes and smothered in sauce. It made me question my choice in entree, but only until I dove back into my delicious pasta. It did affirm, however, that you can order just about anything off of the menu and be thoroughly satisfied.
It will take me a very long time to get through tasting everything on their menu, which will keep me coming back for more. Next time, I hope to try their Greek omelet or one of their crepes.
Cool Cafe
12651 Vance Jackson Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78230
I had the portabello pasta - penne pasta and portabello mushrooms with a sun dried-tomato cream sauce. The mushrooms were moist and flavorful, and the cream sauce was delicious but not overly rich. I also tried my boyfriend's crepe, which was stuffed with portabellos and artichokes and smothered in sauce. It made me question my choice in entree, but only until I dove back into my delicious pasta. It did affirm, however, that you can order just about anything off of the menu and be thoroughly satisfied.
It will take me a very long time to get through tasting everything on their menu, which will keep me coming back for more. Next time, I hope to try their Greek omelet or one of their crepes.
Cool Cafe
12651 Vance Jackson Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78230
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Simi's India Cuisine
If you are put off by the idea of an Indian restaurant in a shopping center, then you probably haven't been to very many Indian restaurants. Very few Indian restaurants that I know of are housed in stand-alone buildings (in fact, I can only think of one off of the top of my head), and indeed, some of the best are nestled in nondescript strip malls.
Simi's India Cuisine is housed in such a location, and like many of its fellows, Simi's is a great find.
We opted for the daily lunch buffet, because when I am craving Indian food, which I almost always am, I am usually craving A LOT of Indian food. Simi's buffet had a bunch of great vegetarian dishes, which is par for the course for Indian buffets, one of the many reasons why I love them. Their samosas were decent, but not great, the pastry was a little too doughy. The naan, on the other hand, was exceptionally good. Instead of the usual plain naan, Simi's offered hot garlic and herb naan, which was quite a treat. They offered the requisite saag paneer, which was good but the paneer was not very noticeable. The standout dish in the buffet was a pureed eggplant, potato, and onion dish, which I have not seen at other Indian restaurants. The eggplant dish was very flavorful, savory, and delicious. Simi's also offered a melt-in-your-mouth zucchini dish with perfectly-cooked slices of zucchini.
I will definitely be returning to Simi's for the lunch buffet and to explore their dinner offerings.
Simi's India Cuisine
4535 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
Simi's India Cuisine is housed in such a location, and like many of its fellows, Simi's is a great find.
We opted for the daily lunch buffet, because when I am craving Indian food, which I almost always am, I am usually craving A LOT of Indian food. Simi's buffet had a bunch of great vegetarian dishes, which is par for the course for Indian buffets, one of the many reasons why I love them. Their samosas were decent, but not great, the pastry was a little too doughy. The naan, on the other hand, was exceptionally good. Instead of the usual plain naan, Simi's offered hot garlic and herb naan, which was quite a treat. They offered the requisite saag paneer, which was good but the paneer was not very noticeable. The standout dish in the buffet was a pureed eggplant, potato, and onion dish, which I have not seen at other Indian restaurants. The eggplant dish was very flavorful, savory, and delicious. Simi's also offered a melt-in-your-mouth zucchini dish with perfectly-cooked slices of zucchini.
I will definitely be returning to Simi's for the lunch buffet and to explore their dinner offerings.
Simi's India Cuisine
4535 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
The Good List
For my first review post, I'm going to start by giving a brief yet effusive rundown of some of my favorite restaurants around Austin. Eventually, I intend to post full reviews of most of them, but I want to give y'all a taste of what I like and you know, my tastes.
1. The Clay Pit
The Clay Pit is the restaurant I usually choose for my family birthday dinner - my default "special occasion" restaurant. The food is just amazing. Clay Pit brings Indian cuisine to a whole new level of sophistication and elegance. I usually start with the vegetable samosas, savory turnovers filled with potatoes, peas, nuts, and raisins, and one of their fun cocktails (like the mango pina colada). Although they have a wide array of delicious vegetarian dishes, I almost always return to the Kashmiri Kofta Korma, potato and paneer balls covered in a rich cashew and almond cream sauce. I can pretty much forget about having room left for dessert after such a meal, yet I always leave feeling satisfied.
2. Austin Java Company
I get a variety of entrees at Austin Java Company, but I never go without a cup of their Spicy African Peanut Soup. It is tomato and cream based, topped with chopped peanuts, and has just enough of a spicy kick. I've never had a soup quite like it, and I have never been able to successfully reproduce it in my own kitchen, which keeps me coming back. Austin Java also has a variety of tasty vegetarian pastas and sandwiches. Their Veggie Sandwich is simple yet so delicious with swiss cheese, avocado, greens, and sprouts on barbari bread. Weirdly enough, I go to Austin Java mostly for their food, but their frozen, blended Javaccino is super yummy.
3. East Side Cafe
Another of my "special occasion" restaurants, East Side Cafe is particularly cool because they grow many of their own vegetables in an on-site garden. Their Baked Brie with Apple Chutney is a divine starter for my meal, which usually consists of either their Artichoke Manicotti or their Wild Mushroom Crepes. They offer half-portions, which I usually choose so I can taste as many of their rich dishes as possible.
4. Veggie Heaven
The ambiance is certainly lacking sophistication, but it lends an endearing quality to this all-vegetarian pan-Asian hotspot. I recommend the amusingly-named Protein 2000, crispy protein nuggets and broccoli topped with brown sauce, to Veggie Heaven novices. I have expanded beyond the Protein 2000 to their other dishes, such as the Basil Tofu, although I often return to good old Protein 2000. The steam bun, filled with mushrooms and soy protein, is also worth trying as an appetizer, although the food usually comes out all at once.
5. Chipotle
You probably haven't heard of this little burrito joint; it's mostly for those of us in-the-know. Kidding aside, you may be put off by my inclusion of a chain in this short list. However, the truth is I eat at Chipotle more often than just about anywhere else. The food is cheap, tasty, and fresh, and I just have to get behind a national chain that uses and promotes natural, locally-grown produce and meat. You can get a filling meal for less than $6 (even less if you are willing to settle for just rice and beans), which is always a plus for a student.
6. Hyde Park Grill
I can't tell you how happy I was when they opened a second Hyde Park Grill down south in the Wesgate shopping center. Their menu represents a lot of different genres, including American-style, Thai, and Italian, to name a few. I usually get the Eggplant with Fettuccine, crispy breaded eggplant patties topped with spicy chipotle marinara and pesto on a bed of fettuccine. Unlike eggplant parmigana, which is usually smothered in mozzarella, their eggplant is lightly sprinkled with shredded parmesan, which allows you to really appreciate the eggplant and sauces.
That's all for now. This list is ongoing, so stay tuned for more of my favorites.
1. The Clay Pit
The Clay Pit is the restaurant I usually choose for my family birthday dinner - my default "special occasion" restaurant. The food is just amazing. Clay Pit brings Indian cuisine to a whole new level of sophistication and elegance. I usually start with the vegetable samosas, savory turnovers filled with potatoes, peas, nuts, and raisins, and one of their fun cocktails (like the mango pina colada). Although they have a wide array of delicious vegetarian dishes, I almost always return to the Kashmiri Kofta Korma, potato and paneer balls covered in a rich cashew and almond cream sauce. I can pretty much forget about having room left for dessert after such a meal, yet I always leave feeling satisfied.
2. Austin Java Company
I get a variety of entrees at Austin Java Company, but I never go without a cup of their Spicy African Peanut Soup. It is tomato and cream based, topped with chopped peanuts, and has just enough of a spicy kick. I've never had a soup quite like it, and I have never been able to successfully reproduce it in my own kitchen, which keeps me coming back. Austin Java also has a variety of tasty vegetarian pastas and sandwiches. Their Veggie Sandwich is simple yet so delicious with swiss cheese, avocado, greens, and sprouts on barbari bread. Weirdly enough, I go to Austin Java mostly for their food, but their frozen, blended Javaccino is super yummy.
3. East Side Cafe
Another of my "special occasion" restaurants, East Side Cafe is particularly cool because they grow many of their own vegetables in an on-site garden. Their Baked Brie with Apple Chutney is a divine starter for my meal, which usually consists of either their Artichoke Manicotti or their Wild Mushroom Crepes. They offer half-portions, which I usually choose so I can taste as many of their rich dishes as possible.
4. Veggie Heaven
The ambiance is certainly lacking sophistication, but it lends an endearing quality to this all-vegetarian pan-Asian hotspot. I recommend the amusingly-named Protein 2000, crispy protein nuggets and broccoli topped with brown sauce, to Veggie Heaven novices. I have expanded beyond the Protein 2000 to their other dishes, such as the Basil Tofu, although I often return to good old Protein 2000. The steam bun, filled with mushrooms and soy protein, is also worth trying as an appetizer, although the food usually comes out all at once.
5. Chipotle
You probably haven't heard of this little burrito joint; it's mostly for those of us in-the-know. Kidding aside, you may be put off by my inclusion of a chain in this short list. However, the truth is I eat at Chipotle more often than just about anywhere else. The food is cheap, tasty, and fresh, and I just have to get behind a national chain that uses and promotes natural, locally-grown produce and meat. You can get a filling meal for less than $6 (even less if you are willing to settle for just rice and beans), which is always a plus for a student.
6. Hyde Park Grill
I can't tell you how happy I was when they opened a second Hyde Park Grill down south in the Wesgate shopping center. Their menu represents a lot of different genres, including American-style, Thai, and Italian, to name a few. I usually get the Eggplant with Fettuccine, crispy breaded eggplant patties topped with spicy chipotle marinara and pesto on a bed of fettuccine. Unlike eggplant parmigana, which is usually smothered in mozzarella, their eggplant is lightly sprinkled with shredded parmesan, which allows you to really appreciate the eggplant and sauces.
That's all for now. This list is ongoing, so stay tuned for more of my favorites.
Background
No one is paying me to do this. No one has even asked me to do this. I have no qualifications to write a food blog. My knowledge of culinary terminology is noticeably lacking.
But!
I love food. I really. love. food. On my bad days, eating a great meal is often the best part of my day. On my good days, I still take particular relish in my meals.
I am a grad student whose life is pretty damn occupied by work and school (which explains my "On my bad days..." comment), so writing about something I love seems like an excellent choice for a hobby.
I go out to eat every weekend in restaurants around San Antonio (where I currently live) and Austin (my hometown). As a vegetarian, I am always on the lookout for restaurants with excellent and expansive vegetarian options. Even if a restaurant just has one particularly delightful vegetarian dish, I will probably end up a repeat customer.
So yes, this is a vegetarian food blog. However, other than the no-meat restriction, I will try just about anything. I won't limit my reviews to vegetarian-only restaurants or any particular genre of restaurants. I have certain biases and preferences (Indian food - yes! Steakhouses - no!), which will become apparent, but my tastes are pretty broad.
Enjoy. And feel free to educate me about terminology, undiscovered veggie havens, etc.
But!
I love food. I really. love. food. On my bad days, eating a great meal is often the best part of my day. On my good days, I still take particular relish in my meals.
I am a grad student whose life is pretty damn occupied by work and school (which explains my "On my bad days..." comment), so writing about something I love seems like an excellent choice for a hobby.
I go out to eat every weekend in restaurants around San Antonio (where I currently live) and Austin (my hometown). As a vegetarian, I am always on the lookout for restaurants with excellent and expansive vegetarian options. Even if a restaurant just has one particularly delightful vegetarian dish, I will probably end up a repeat customer.
So yes, this is a vegetarian food blog. However, other than the no-meat restriction, I will try just about anything. I won't limit my reviews to vegetarian-only restaurants or any particular genre of restaurants. I have certain biases and preferences (Indian food - yes! Steakhouses - no!), which will become apparent, but my tastes are pretty broad.
Enjoy. And feel free to educate me about terminology, undiscovered veggie havens, etc.
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