What’s Up, Drag? 11/03/11

Don't tell me you're not drooling for a Reuben now

Döner kebap, Über yum

Happy November everyone!

Well, it’s been quite a while writing on this blog and it’s going to take me some time to get back into the pattern of writing I did before, but there is food news along the Drag I can’t help but want to share. I’m sorry I don’t have pictures as I didn’t have a real camera on my walk today, but here are some places to check out this coming month:

1)      Co-op Market – The Co-op Outlet site has gone through many changes. Almost as many changes as where Arpeggio Grill stands today. It used to be a sort of outlet store for inventory from the University Co-op, but was slowly transitioned into a store with themed goodies to bring home to family, friends, and strangers. Now, it has been renovated once again, but this is a change I like. It is now a sort of grocery store for all your student needs. Forgot to buy sliced mushrooms for a dish you’re making? Come here. Feel like a glass of wine or a beer for tailgate? Come here. Need some milk or a craving for Bluebell ice cream bars on the Drag? Come here. Admittedly, there are places on campus to buy these kinds of things as well as Wheatsville Co-op or CVS. The prices also are similar in being much higher (about $0.60-1.00) than what you would get away from campus. However, it’s in a nice location right in the middle and just has an extra range of items you may not find at the other stores, especially if you’re off-campus. Whether this place still stays next year remains to be seen, but definitely a place to check out if you’re a little low on some groceries.

2)      Fricano’s Deli – Yay! Finally! The sandwich place I like that was in North campus has now moved near Juicytart. I may never leave that area. I have yet to post a review on Fricano’s, but it is a sandwich place I like to go to now that Katz’s Delicatessen no longer hangs out in Austin. Fricano’s has a similar style with a staggering amount of meats, cheeses, and toppings for sandwiches that are combined together into a delicious sandwich. I am especially a fan of the hot sandwiches they have like their prize-winning Paul’s Reuben. So good, a good size, with some real sauerkraut and crunchy bread. If you don’t feel like making your own sandwich or trying your luck with the Ainsworth (put your sandwich into their hands), there are also hot dogs, pasta salads, and soups to fill you up. Definitely try this place out, especially now that it’s close to campus. It is open now from 11-7 on M-F and 12-5 on Saturday.

3)      Verts – Filling the sad gap left behind by Hot Slice is a new restaurant called Verts. It is an interesting place that is trying to popularize Germany’s Döner kebap to UT students. I’m not exactly sure how to explain it, but I will try my best. It is kind of like sliced meat at Arpeggio’s put into a pita pocket with lots of vegetables and their delicious house sauce. It was a huge serving just to receive half a pita pocket, but it was yummy and I’m glad to have tried it. Definitely, if I was hungry for something different near campus, Verts is a fun place to go. The people are friendly and they do their best with the narrow space, creating lots of sitting room with the benches on the walls.

4)      Qdoba –  Though I have a review to write up on this restaurant too, I wanted to make sure you all know that Qdoba has now opened up where Intellectual Properties bookstore used to be. The building has seen quite a few changes too, but the most recent one has divided up the large, two-story building into multiple food venues that include Qdoba, Noodles & Company (a real pasta restaurant the Drag was needing), and the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. All these places are ones I will be writing reviews on, but want to make sure you all know about the multiple new places to eat near campus. Qdoba, specifically, is like another Chipotle with the choose-your-stuff burrito line. However, Qdoba tries to mix it up by emphasizing their other options like nachos, quesadillas, and taco salads. The most interesting aspect of Qdoba, though, is the option of two small portions of the dishes they provide. A popular choice in our group was half a quesadilla and a smaller portion of 3-cheese nachos. Their 3-cheese queso was, by the way, delicious, but definitely salty.

5)      Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – A new coffee shop trying to compete for attention with places like Starbucks and Caffe Medici. It definitely tries to appeal to tea lovers as well, giving more tea options than I’ve seen at the other coffee shops near campus. However, if you’re a non-coffee, non-tea drinker like me, I feel like the options they provide are more simple. It may not taste as great as the other branches around Austin, but it is definitely a nice place to stop for a drink right in the middle of the Drag with lots of windows to look out and stare at strangers as they do the same (kind of like Chipotle).

6)     Noodles & Company – Finally, the last new place I want to talk about near the Drag is Noodles & Company. Though it has not opened yet, I am eager to try it as I have always felt like restaurants were missing a prime niche on the Drag: pasta. This place looks interesting as it tries to cover all the types of noodles at once. It has Asian style, Italian style, and just plain ol’ American style meaning any other pasta that doesn’t fit those other two categories. Noodles & Company has been opening up around Austin and now it is time to find out if this pasta company can make it or break it here on the ever-revolving restaurant merry-go-round of the Drag. Come try it out with me on November 15!

Well, there you go. There have been a lot of changes in terms of food on the Drag and it’ll be exciting to tell you all about it in the coming year. Hope you had a good Halloween and looking forward to a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Coffee Grind: Cherrywood Coffeehouse

As you can see, coffee isn't the only drink sold at Cherrywood.

It seems appropriate that the first review after a final should be about a coffeehouse. Admittedly, coffeehouses are not my first choice for studying, but this was a good place to chill and study in a place that wasn’t always full of college students. Not only coffee is sold here, but a menu full of real food and strong drinks to marathon your way through another study session.

At least there's lots of room to sip your coffee.

Cherrywood Coffeehouse is located close to I-35 on the East side of Austin. Near to some food trailers, Cherrywood is quite reflective of the Austin spirit. A large patio outside includes an outdoor stage for live music or poetry performances. The place is comfy and cozy with lots of light sources to allow you the pick of your study spots. However, that does not mean the place is the most ideal for a study spot. The music is pretty loud and not soothing and if there were more people, the calling of orders from the counter could be distracting.

Look past the computer to a doorway to peace and quiet...maybe.

For these cases, there is also a side room if you need a bit more quiet or privacy and a computer for free internet access. Wi-fi is generously provided free. Happy hour goes from 3-7pm and the place is open ’til midnight, perfect for a late night study group.

:P

My roommate and her boyfriend were kind enough to bring me along to the coffeehouse. Entering the place, there were tons of tables and it was not too busy at 10pm on a Saturday night. Their favorite choices there include the breakfast tacos. They are a good size, ranging in about half the size of a Chipotle burrito. What makes them unique is the potatoes  are not cubed, but more like crispy shoestring potatoes. For less than $5, you can customize a breakfast taco that is both delicious and satisfying. A perfect snack to enjoy with your coffee or strong drink.

Mmm, just the right size.

It was pretty late so I ordered a hot chocolate to keep my brain awake as I prepared the next post for the blog. It was good, but a little more on the sweet size. Fair 8 oz. size and in a nice cup. More sugary than creamy. Chocolate taste was not muddied and quite delicious. It was also nice that they asked for the choice of milk in my hot chocolate. I chose whole milk, but it can range to soy milk and even almond milk.

So many pie slices were lined up!

If you’re feeling like a sweet dessert, there is more than enough to satisfy sweet tooths. I was too full to try anything, but there are pies and croissants and a number of other pastries.

Overall, Cherrywood Coffeehouse is a welcoming place to sit down and hang out for a good long time or enjoy the music scene on the patio. The prices are fair and the food is fair. If Bennu is too busy, why not try another coffeehouse like Cherrywood?

Rating: for lots of study spots, pretty good food for pretty good prices, and also lots of distractions.

Yes, I Will Marry You Ken’s Doughnuts, Love B.

The run-down looking doughnut shops always seem to be the yummiest ones.

I have long heard of and seen Ken’s Doughnuts as I’ve been going north on the Drag. It is a walkable distance from campus, though you best be careful of the many cars whizzing by and very wide road crossings. It looks a little run down, but you know it’s going to taste good when the place does not rely on looks alone. What makes Ken’s Doughnuts even more unique than other doughnut places is that it is a nice, family-run store with Indian pastries along with the doughnuts. Now presenting…Ken’s Doughnuts!

Cannot miss that pink elephant.

Now that it’s finals time and my last post until after finals are done (see you in a couple of weeks!), it’s the perfect time to let you know about a late-night eating spot in case you get midnight munchies while studying. What makes Ken’s Doughnuts so awesome is that it is open 24 hours! Or close enough with 6am to 5:30am hours, 7 days a week. I went with my friend around 11pm and doughnuts were still coming out along with fresh samosas. Also, 4am is apparently a good time for fresh doughnuts, but don’t ask me how I know. And if you don’t want to move from your room, consider Longhorn Delivery to fill your fried dough needs.

Oops, sorry. Cut off the top.

So not only is the place open late, but the prices are great too! $1 samosas that are a good snack size and doughnuts for less than a $1. My doughnut holes were only $1.50 for a dozen and that is equal to like two doughnuts with extra glazing. Low low prices and doughnuts that taste GOOD! Heck yes!

*crunch crunch* Yum!

Onto the food! First, the samosa was big, yummy, and warm. It was spicy, but in a good tasty way. The dough was just chewy enough with a lot of potatoes and warm spices inside. If you like samosas, you’ll probably like this one.

The amazing insides of a palak paneer and pretty big too.

My friend got the palak paneer. It had a similar dough to the samosa, but was a little less spicy and full of spinach and a special type of cheese called ‘paneer.’ It cost a little more than the samosa, but it was very yummy and definitely something we’d both get if we went again.

Ohh, delicious doughnuts, you make me hungry just looking at you.

Finally, the doughnuts. I am a Shipley’s Doughnuts fan and those are the type of doughnuts I like. No Krispy Kreme for me, sorry guys. If you like Shipley’s though, you’ll like Ken’s Doughnuts. These doughnuts have an airier texture and less cakey, though those are available as well. Bunch of varieties like bear’s claw and cinnamon twists are also there. I am a fan of the doughnut hole, however, and they were absolutely delicious. A little less chewy and more cakey than the usual doughnut holes I eat, but that made it much more substantial and still delicious. Next time, I am definitely trying some more varieties including the fritter.

Trying to imitate the art at the bottom of the Tower.

Late-night doughnut craving? Need something to eat after studying until 3 in the morning? Go to Ken’s Doughnuts and have delicious fresh breakfast pastry at any time of the day. Or ice cream. There is also a little ATM machine inside if you don’t have any cash and just want to make it easier on you. Prices are great and so are the food so you’ll enjoy lots on a college student budget.

Rating: for airy doughnut texture, a little run-down, and great prices.