Go to City Grill!
Written: Aug 26 '01 (Updated Oct 20 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of great restaurants.
Cons: Too full of "the newcomers" to want to go anymore.
The Bottom Line: Don't go in March! You can't get into a restaurant unless you're U2 or some other big-selling band. Check to make sure SXSW isn't that week.
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| miselainis's Full Review: Austin Restaurants |
(I have updated this review to add more detail since it was completed while I was still a newbie)
My favorite restaurant in Austin is City Grill, at 4th & Sabine.
The prices are medium to a little high, but the atmosphere is great, and the food is terrific!
The main dishes consist mostly of grilled entrees, like fish and chicken. You pick the type of fish you want (the Coho Salmon is usually on the menu and is top notch) and you have a choice of several sauces to go with... Cocktail, Horseradish Cream, Tomatillo, Mustard-Brandy, Szechuan, Bearnaise, Provencal (tomatoes, garlic, capers & olive oil), or Aioli (garlic lemon mayonnaise). They can change from year to year. I don’t recommend the Szechuan Filet though. I tried it once, and it was one of the choices I didn’t enjoy much. Steaks also rate a good mention. There are several cuts to choose from, as well as kebabs with jalapeno, and a mixed seafood grill as well. The pasta choices tend to change with the seasons, but are usually tasty and filling. The fettuccine piccata is quite good. Great Caesar salads for starters and amazing desserts. Pretty much anything you order will be good.
We like to get the "Besotes Calientes" as a starter ("hot kisses" for you out of towners...). They're jalapenos and shrimp wrapped in bacon. They're really not as hot as you might think. Just order them. They're wonderful!!
For dessert, try the Mexican vanilla ice cream if it's on the menu. They serve it with strawberries, and it's very subtle and flavorful. After dinner, try a "snowshoe," steamed milk with creme de menthe and chocolate. Helps everything go down well!
They have a full bar, and an outside patio for spring and fall visitors. You can probably handle the patio in the summer months if it's past dusk and the temps have begun to fall a bit. The decor is casual yet elegant, with blond wood tables and chairs and white napery, and amusing Botello prints on the walls of pneumatic looking people who look like Weebles (Remember them? They wobble but don't fall down?) You can sit in the main room where the high ceilings and wood floors can make for a bit of a noisy dining experience, or sit off in the side room for a cozier, quieter meal.
The service is usually good, and we notice the same waiters again and again. That's a good sign to me. Signals that they've been there awhile and know what they're doing.
Attire? Come on, It's Austin. You'll see everything from kids in prom finery to adults in more casual wear to rock stars in town for the South by Southwest music conference. Wear what you want.
Because Austin is getting more and more crowded and the downtown spaces are becoming more crowded accordingly, there is now valet parking out front. I think the price is usually around $3.00 to $3.50.
To reach City Grill from the north, head south on I-35 to the 8th thru 3rd St. exit. Stay on the access road down to 4th St, turn right and the first right is Sabine. From the south, head north on I-35 to the 6th St exit and loop around on the access road back down to 4th. From Mopac, take 1st or 5th street over to Red River.
If you’re planning an evening down on Sixth Street for whatever reason, this is a great stop beforehand. It’s nice for special occasions, dates, family get-togethers, or just about any other occasion.
They accept Visa, MC, American Express, Diner’s Club, and Discover cards. Their hours are 5 pm to 10 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 5 pm to 10:30 Friday and Saturday nights. Check out their webpage (http://www.virtual-restaurants.com/citygrill/index.cfm) for a $10 off coupon!
City Grill
401 Sabine
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 479-0817
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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Epinions.com ID:
miselainis
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Laini
Location: Rowlett, Texas, USA
Reviews written: 60
Trusted by: 15 members
About Me:
"Chagrinned and Bewildered"
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