Jump to content

coolranch

participating member
  • Posts

    190
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by coolranch

  1. This is Mike Capochiano from the Peacock. Thank you for all the king comments about The Peacock.

    I saw this thread and I wanted to update Austin eGullet members about The Peacock. We have gone through many changes in the past few months and more are coming. If this is inappropriate to post, please let me know.

    Manhattans:  I was a little surprised that Blanche and hangston got Manhattans on the rocks without asking for them. I spoke to some other bartenders and, yes, a lot of people want their Manhattan on the rocks. Still, the customer should be asked. We are going to ask from now how you want your Manhattan made. I always go for straight up. Also, The Belmont makes a good Manhattan.

    Patio: Our patio is still closed. You can still go out there to smoke, put you can't bring your drink. We are in talks with the landlord about extending the lease so it will make sense for us to rebuild the patio legally and have enough time to recoup our costs.

    Music:  We're no longer booking bands (except, perhaps on rare occasions) and any DJs will keep the volume down to a level where people can carry on conversations. We want to be the best cocktail bar in town and loud or off-putting music does not help us in that goal. We'll have a specific genre of music each night from about 8 to midnight. Details are on our new (!) web site. Also, the jukebox is gone.

    Cocktail of the Week:  It's coming back as the "Cocktail of the Month" now. You can get on our e-mail list to be notified of each new Cocktail of the Month.

    Bartender Skill: Slim's been working with the staff to make sure cocktails are made correctly and consistently. We have a great staff of experienced bartenders now (Slim, Carmen, Chris, Amy). I'm pretty sure the bartender who "didn't seem to care" about hankston's drink has been let go.

    New Furniture:  We're getting some high tables and chairs so customers won't feel crowded in if the bar has lots of customers. Also, we're getting some new low tables that will make it easier to sit around and have a conversation. Our original interior decorator, Joel Mozersky, is helping with the changes.

    New Hours:  We now open at 5 PM Wed.-Fri. and 7 PM Sat.-Tues.

    Happy Hour:  It's extended to 9 PM each night.

    I hope I haven't been to long winded. In short, we're going to be more about the cocktail and less about the hip and trendy.

    Also, Fino makes great cocktails, some of the best in Austin.

    If you

    this is great news---I look forward to getting back to the Peacock. I must say I wasn't a huge fan of the live music, (just because we had to move the last time I was there to accomodate them).

    thanks for posting!

  2. I'm glad to see this thread back up there. We found Nantucket was a great place to truly get away from it all...so we'll be heading back soon for our 3rd trip.

    I have to throw in another vote for American Seasons, last time we were there; it was one of our favorite meals.

    As for affordable options, we do like Something Natural for lunch. Grab a sandwich (get a half -it's more than enough) and head out to the beach to eat it.

    And Queequegs, out on the patio. And Black-Eyed Susans (breakfast or dinner)

    We look forward to checking out Sfoglia, Oran M'or, and the Straight Wharf this go-round.

    And yes, a blazer does come in handy, but you get to wear them with Nantucket reds, green pants with whales embroidered on them, or some such look that Mr. Coolranch finds hard to pull off here in Texas.

  3. Taco Grande  Yesterday's breakfast - fresh made breakfast tacos at the drive up sheet metal trailer on Lamar, between the Genie car wash and the Starbucks

    $1.50 gets you your choice of 2 ingredients, extras are $0.25.  The tacos are freshly assembled to order which I like.  They are friendly, the tortilas are fresh, and they use a generous portion of cheese. 

    2 Thumbs up based on value and solid quality.

    cool, I was meaning to try that place. I drive by it almost every day.

  4. Did you see Charlie Sexton there? We used to live up the street from Flipnotics and I used to see him (and his vintage cars) there all the time-a nice perk!

    Come make your way down south 1st street--there are some great shops (closer to Barton Springs) and of course, the "Tex-Mex Mile". I'd also recommend Freddie's (if you can find a freakin' place to park!) on S. 1st - huge outdoor patio, great burgers, and homemade potato chips.

    Welcome to the zip code- "we're all here because we're not all there"

    - that's my favorite 04 bumper sticker.

    -t

  5. I just read through this entire thread--then promptly made reservations for next month when we'll be in Chicago for a wedding. I don't know if my meat-and-potatoes husband will be able to handle food levitation, but it will be fun to watch him try. :raz:

    As a side note, I see a cocktail list for their lounge on their website...is the lounge completely separate from the restaurant? No one has mentioned whether it follows the same philosophy with its cocktails...

    Has anyone tried it?

  6. I really want to check it out---and we're due for a shopping trip--but it looks like it will be a madhouse for some time. I may go today, just to scope it out.

    On the news last night, they were interviewing some woman who was there for SIX HOURS, just eating the free samples!

  7. There is an exemption, apparently, for places that do a certain percentage of their business selling tobacco products.

    Circa Tabac is one of those that comes to mind. According to their website, it is one of five. I've also had luck at certain dive bars who just don't care... :cool:

    CircaTabac

  8. I would recommend the Driskill's tasting menu.

    There's a 3 course option that changes, but I'm not sure how often--and a 9 course option. Last time we went, my husband had the lobster 3 course tasting menu (there was an asparagus option, too)---but the waiter let us know that the chef loves a challenge and can create a tasting menu for any ingredient, theme or dietary requirement.

    Driskill Grill website

  9. *sigh*  I still have yet to make it. Looks like I might get to go the last weekend.   Life has a strange way of happenin', ya'know?  I hear they have a new "spicy"  corndog?  I'm really gunnin' for that!

    Spicy corndogs? oh no. must try that. With game being so early this year, we better win, otherwise I'll be too upset to have my corndog after the game. I don't think I have the stomach for a 9am spicy corndog :biggrin:

    Any unusual fried things this year? I was disappointed with the fried cheesecake last year...

    edited to add:

    OU sucks!

  10. Wow, I will definitely head there for lunch tomorrow. I wonder if the 7-11 at MLK and Guadalupe has the same stuff--that's on my way home.

    Last time I had a Slurpee, they only had 2 flavors: coke or cherry.

    But, hey.  That's Austin.  Remember the GM steakhouse downtown on Congress Ave between 4th & 5th?  Ted added souvlaki, Greek salad, taratoor sauce, and gyros before they were the latest thang.  Had the highest sales for all of the GM stores - but chain mgmt didn't like him dancing his steps and so threatend him with a sacking.  He bought the store, renamed it Ted's, kept the GM menu, and ran, for years, the best Greek restaurant in Austin.  Ted was, of course, Greek.  He became a wealthy Greek with his restaurant.

    Speaking of Ted's, I was missing them last week when we decided to try McCormick and Schmick's (had a gift. cert.) in the new Frost bldg.

    Terrible! Bad service, salty food, and Mr. Tuesday found a piece of Saran wrap in his ceviche. Maybe Ted or one of his ex-patrons put a curse on this place. :wink:

  11. That is a great article. I've found that most Manhattan drinkers inherited their love of the drink from their fathers/grandfathers.

    My husband's father always gave him the cherry from his drink.

    I had a great take on the Manhattan made with Wild Turkey Rare Breed and sherry instead of vermouth.

  12. Last time I was there (March) we devoured a roast chicken covered in garlic cloves and served w/thick homemade potato chips.

    I don't think it's on their menu---but we were with some friends who know to ask for it--ate it in the bar (we were able to grab one of the few tables).

    It was absolutely delicious--I'd recommend asking for it if you don't want to mess with lunch or can't stay for dinner.

    That place always becomes our home base/place to meet up with friends. Great bartenders. The pics bring back great memories.

  13. I usually go for the paper--I use it to hold paper recycling.

    I really should do the canvas bags, mr. coolranch and I were talking about that the other day.

    Foodie---I had a great bagger at the south store. She was slower than a pregnant pole vaulter, but everything was packed so well we could forgive that. It is a dying art.

    Does David Letterman still have the champion grocery bagger on his show every year? I remember he used to compete against them.

    I usually try to pre-sort the groceries on the conveyor belt.

  14. I started reading this thread because I was planning on eating at Babbo during my next trip to the City.

    :hmmm: not so sure anymore.

    If we do, I'll be sure to report back on how a Texan and my (midwestern??) husband (from Pittsburgh) fare. :biggrin:

    It will be on a weeknight, so we may just sneak in at the bar and bypass the whole reservation song and dance alltogether.

    Or maybe just postpone it until I return again in November and see how if the service gets better.

  15. Some financial details about Rocco and The Restaurant...not sure if this info has been previously cited on this thread.  The story was sent to me by my friend Andrea...

    =R=

    Rocco'$ details

    That reminds me, I saw Rocco's mug on a pasta pot at Target this weekend. I can't remember the brand--but there he was on the box "the only pot imported from Italy" or something like that on it.

  16. Been to Rounders many times. I posted about it on the food trail thread some time ago. I 'spose I should have started a new thread for him.

    I know the owner through a mutual friend. He had some hiccups in the beginning, but the pies are great. We were lucky to try just about everything on the menu one night before he opened. The calzones are really delicious (I think it's the ricotta).

    I live south, and we used to trek up to Saccone's and Reale's once or twice a month for a NY/NJ pizza fix.

    Adam will be happy he got some more pub on egullet.

  17. Mr. coolranch had a stint as a barista several years ago...smoothies were part of the repertoire.

    He used apple juice as the base and frozen fruits--usually peach, strawberry, or blueberry, then always added a peeled, sliced, frozen banana--no ice--it would water it down.

    Good stuff. Very good with a pull from the frozen yogurt machine, too.

    At one point he was adding all sorts of stuff from bee pollen to protein powder--but I found that some of those powders gave the smoothie a grainy texture.

×
×
  • Create New...