I never really feel cool enough to eat here (it's popular with the uber-untrendy crowd), but I've lived on the East-siiide before, so I feel I have some street cred. Probably not. El Chilito is not to be confused with El Chile, which is owned by the same people, but it feels light years away. Every time I pull up to El Chilito, I imagine the cleaners across the street is really the ocean, and my darling little El Chilito is a simple walk-up beachside eatery. The sunny colors add a sense of cheeriness to the Manor Road Restaurant Row.
My old roommate turned me on to this joint, it's a college kid's dream. The breakfast tacos can cure any hangover -- not that I've tried, but I've heard. I prefer to hit El Chilito mid-afternoon. Lunchtime--there's a line, dinner--a line. If you time it just right, no crowd, no fuss -- Saturdays around 4PM seem perfect.
The menu is about as uncomplicated as you can get. Only a few items that you can order as tacos or burrritos, splurge on the side of black beans and rice, it's worth it. My favorites are the Cochinita Pibil and the Picadillo, I always request the corn tortillas because, well, just because. The Picadillo is as close to authentic as anything I've ever had in Texas. Picadillo is typically a spicy ground beef with cilantro, potatoes, tomatoes, it's comfort food at its yummiest. The Cochinita is legendary, I've tried making it at least three different times, but it never tastes as good. This is a dish that takes some serious lovin' ... it's achiote and citrus marinated pork (usually marinated over 3-4 days), steam roasted in banana leaves. Cochinita is usually topped off with pickled onions, a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt. A girl can't ask for more. Okay, well maybe a frozen sangria and the banana paleta, but no more.
If you have time to stay and eat, do. All of the tables are on the screened in porch, but no worries, during the winter you have blankets and heaters, during the summer, you're under the shade. Everything must be ordered with a side of patience because tacos this good, need time, but don't worry just order a side of the spicy guacamole and enjoy!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Uchi-Uchi-Ooh-La-La!
Uchi, I hate you. You have officially ruined every other sushi restaurant for me. I can no longer enjoy the ubiquitous California roll, or the seaweed salad that I used to begin every sushi meal with. It's just not the same.
My mouth is watering just thinking about the Maguro Sashimi and Goat Cheese. Yeah, you can have maguro sashimi at any Japanese restaurant in Austin, but where-oh-where can you find the freshest tuna, served on sweet, crisp slices of Fuji apples, and the creamiest-of-creamy goat cheese, all of which is drizzled in pumpkin seed oil. Killer. Sure, it’s $17 and we’re only talking about an appetizer, but I just can’t start an Uchi meal without it. Oh, and how do I love thee, Brie Tempura Ringo?! Sure, it’s probably not very Japanese; it’s lightly fried, creamy brie with sweet potato chips and apple chutney. I’m crying, just thinking about it, okay maybe not, but seriously! And, I always have to order at least one Shag Roll. It’s a lightly tempura fried roll, filled with avocado, sundried tomato, white soybean paper and salmon, drizzled in salmon and squid ink, sumiso sauce. Don’t even get me started on how delicious this roll is, all reasonably priced at $14. I also love the Crudo, which is thinly sliced sea bass, coated in grapeseed oil, garlic and black pepper, drenched in a citrus vinaigrette, amazingly light and refreshing. You can find all of these on the permanent menu, but Uchi also offers a daily menu that takes advantage of what’s fresh. And, I think, it allows the chef’s real creativity to shine through. The desserts are pretty outstanding, but to be perfectly frank, I’d rather have an Elvis from Amy’s ice cream.
Uchi does have a few downsides: it will ruin all other Japanese restaurants for you, so don’t go if you can’t make it back at least once a month, which brings me to number two: it’s expensive. If you’re taking a date, you probably won’t leave without dropping $100. It's completely worth it to hit the happy-hour, which is from opening until 7 p.m. Let’s be honest, you’ll want a glass of Prosecco or a bamboo shooter of cold, unfiltered sake. And, the portions aren’t huge, they’re intended for sharing, so you end up ordering more than you would at other restaurants.
Uchi, you are single-handedly killing my bank account, and I love you for it.
uchiaustin.com
My mouth is watering just thinking about the Maguro Sashimi and Goat Cheese. Yeah, you can have maguro sashimi at any Japanese restaurant in Austin, but where-oh-where can you find the freshest tuna, served on sweet, crisp slices of Fuji apples, and the creamiest-of-creamy goat cheese, all of which is drizzled in pumpkin seed oil. Killer. Sure, it’s $17 and we’re only talking about an appetizer, but I just can’t start an Uchi meal without it. Oh, and how do I love thee, Brie Tempura Ringo?! Sure, it’s probably not very Japanese; it’s lightly fried, creamy brie with sweet potato chips and apple chutney. I’m crying, just thinking about it, okay maybe not, but seriously! And, I always have to order at least one Shag Roll. It’s a lightly tempura fried roll, filled with avocado, sundried tomato, white soybean paper and salmon, drizzled in salmon and squid ink, sumiso sauce. Don’t even get me started on how delicious this roll is, all reasonably priced at $14. I also love the Crudo, which is thinly sliced sea bass, coated in grapeseed oil, garlic and black pepper, drenched in a citrus vinaigrette, amazingly light and refreshing. You can find all of these on the permanent menu, but Uchi also offers a daily menu that takes advantage of what’s fresh. And, I think, it allows the chef’s real creativity to shine through. The desserts are pretty outstanding, but to be perfectly frank, I’d rather have an Elvis from Amy’s ice cream.
Uchi does have a few downsides: it will ruin all other Japanese restaurants for you, so don’t go if you can’t make it back at least once a month, which brings me to number two: it’s expensive. If you’re taking a date, you probably won’t leave without dropping $100. It's completely worth it to hit the happy-hour, which is from opening until 7 p.m. Let’s be honest, you’ll want a glass of Prosecco or a bamboo shooter of cold, unfiltered sake. And, the portions aren’t huge, they’re intended for sharing, so you end up ordering more than you would at other restaurants.
Uchi, you are single-handedly killing my bank account, and I love you for it.
uchiaustin.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)