Restaurant: San Francisco Bakery & Cafe
Location: North Central, 2900 W Anderson Ln, Ste L, Austin, TX 78757 Map
Phone: (512) 302-3420
Price: $6 – $8
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am – 6pm, Sat 7am – 3pm

Food (6/10)

(5/10) Avocado & Fresh Vegetable Sandwich
Avocado, lettuce, tomato, alfalfa sprouts, marinated carrots, red cabbage, cucumber, provolone and mayonnaise. We ordered this sandwich on wheat bread. All sandwiches come with either chips or carrots and celery sticks. This vegetables in this sandwich were fresh, but there wasn’t enough avocado on it.  It was difficult to eat this sandwich as it was very large – so you have to compress it and try not to let the insides fall out. Ask for extra mayo on the side as this sandwich is dry and bland.

(6/10) Grilled Eggplant & Veggie Sandwich
Eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, & bell pepper, all grilled and topped with melted provolone & pesto sauce. The eggplant was slightly bitter and had lots of seeds, but the zucchini and bell pepper were good. The cheese melted nicely over the vegetables and the bread was soft. The pesto sauce was not flavorful, but was also probably on the healthier side and contained less oil.

(7/10) Italian Ham & Genoa Salami Sandwich
Cappicola, peppered ham, genoa salami, lettuce, tomato, Italian dressing & provolone. This sandwich was more flavorful because of the salami and ham. We ordered this one on a baguette, and it was a little tough. Luckily, this sandwich did have a good amount of dressing on it. If we went back we’d order this one and then try something from the bakery.

(6/10) Santa Cruz Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Marinated grilled chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, alfalfa sprouts, provolone & ranch dressing. We ordered this one on sourdough bread and the bread was good. The chicken was cooked well, and this sandwich has a good amount of sprouts and veggies on it. Overall a messy sandwich, but a fun one too.

(6/10) Service

We dined on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. You place your order at the counter, and they bring it out to your seat. When we asked them to toast the bread on one of our sandwiches, they said they couldn’t do that, but didn’t offer any further explanation. The cashier was efficient and read back our order correctly. We got our own drinks, napkins and silverware. Our food came out about 15 minutes later, which was fine considering how packed it was. When we asked for some extra pesto sauce, it took the server 10 minutes to bring it to us. We enjoy supporting local businesses but did wish the staff was friendlier in their interactions with the customers.

(7/10) Ambiance

San Francisco Bakery & Cafe is in a plain, unassuming building. The inside looks like a regular cafe. A few framed pictures adorn the red walls. There are plenty tables and chairs with outdoor light streaming through. The menu is written on the chalkboard behind the counter. Nothing stands out about the decor, but the inside of this eatery is well-maintained and clean. We’ve been to a few sandwich shops in San Francisco, and this place definitely has the healthy food aspect down, but the sandwiches could use a little more flavor.

Restaurant:  Afin Sushi
Location: 6519 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX78752 Map
Phone: (512) 614-4974
Price: $10 – $30
Hours: Mon-Sun 4:30pm – 10pm

Food (7/10)

(6/10) Seaweed Salad
Your standard, run-of-the-mill seaweed salad, but the flavor is above-average. However, the seaweed is a bit crunchier than others we’ve tried.

(8/10) Karai Escolar
Slices of super white tuna with garlic chips, jalapeno slices, Korean chili pesto and spicy cilantro. This dish is scrumptious! Soft, tender pieces of escolar in a tasty sauce. The sauce is a little watery but we didn’t mind too much. The escolar pieces were not evenly cut and the presentation could be better. But the fish itself was very fresh and delicious.

(7/10) Garlic Edamame
A twist on edamame. The outside of the edamame was coated with an addictive teriyaki garlic sauce. We couldn’t stop eating them and were happy to see they gave a generous portion!

(8/10) Chicken Gyoza
Steamed dumpling stuffed with chicken. The gyoza was very enjoyable. It didn’t even need the dipping sauce, but the sauce complemented it well. We’d order this one again.

(6/10) Agedashi Tofu
Firm tofu, cut into cubes, deep fried until golden brown. The outside was slightly crispy, while the inside was warm and soft. The quantity was huge, but the quality of the soy sauce the tofu was sitting in was sub-par. We’ve had some better agedashi tofu at other sushi joints in town.

(6/10) Eel Roll
Eel and avocado. A simple roll, decent but no bells and whistles. The eel was fresh. We may order this roll’s fancier cousin next time – the caterpillar roll.

(7/10) Choo Choo (Magnolia) Roll
Spicy tuna, cucumber with blackened tuna on top with a honey wasabi sauce sprinkled with goat cheese. This is without a doubt one of the most unique rolls we’ve had. This fusion roll could have been on the menu at a restaurant such as Uchiko. The honey wasabi sauce was subtle, but there may have been a tad too much goat cheese. With goat cheese, a little goes a long way. Also the tuna was yummy, but not blackened. The jury is still out on this one…

(8/10) Spicy Jen-Jen Roll
Spicy tuna, cucumber and avocado. Topped with fresh salmon, spicy aioli and tempura flakes. This is a fun and filling roll. The tuna and salmon were fresh, and the flakes added a nice crunch. Dipping this one in soy sauce enhanced all the flavors even more.

(8/10) Lava Volcano Roll
Sauteed Scallops, jalapeno, scallions and onion with spicy sweet sauce over a crunchy California roll. This creation was amazing! The scallops were marinated well, cooked perfectly and very tender. Afin gave a generous portion of them too. The Korean spicy sweet sauce was on the spicy side – even for seasoned veterans like us. Beware of the jalapenos (unnecessary!) in this – we were literally sweating as we ate this roll. This is not to say it wasn’t good – it was outstanding! It would be even better with a little bulgogi or kalbi in the roll. This roll will wow you and possibly set your tastebuds on fire!

(6/10) Russian Roll
Crabmeat, fresh salmon, avocado and cucumber topped with silky super white tuna and black caviar. The white tuna was indeed silky – it almost tasted like cream cheese! We couldn’t taste the salmon too much. The black caviar made for a beautiful presentation and created a fun texture. This roll was good, but Afin has too many other options for us to order it again.

(7/10) Service

We went on a Sunday evening for dinner. The hostess saw us come in, walked away, came back a minute later and said that there was a wait. She then asked us to sit on the sofa. We asked her if she’d write our name down on the list. No hello or anything – we didn’t know if she was new or stressed or both. We were seated 15 minutes later and to our relief, our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Our food was brought to our table on a timely manner, by multiple staff members. We had to ask a few times for our water to be re-filled. If you like wasabi and ginger, you may have to ask for it. Our waiter kindly put our leftovers in containers for us. All in all it went pretty smoothly.

(7/10) Ambiance

Afin is located in a somewhat deserted looking strip mall. The window panes are so dark that we wouldn’t know the restaurant was open aside from the neon open sign. The interior is interesting–the walls are painted a deep blue, and there isn’t much else on the walls. The restaurant is semi-separated into two halves by beautiful bamboo like scrolls that have foliage on them. There is a sushi bar and alcohol bar with limited seating. The rest of the restaurant has booths and tables. There were two TV’s with muted sports on, and one large projector like screen that was playing a violent Asian movie. Top 40/pop music was coming out of the speakers. There was a little bit of traditional Japanese decor if you looked for it. The ambiance was casual, and it’s good for couples or groups. On Sunday, they have an all day happy hour that is pretty awesome. If you’re in the mood for fresh sushi and happen to be on this side of town, (keep in mind they are only open for dinner), drop in and give it a try!

Restaurant: Chez Nous
Location: 510 Neches Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Map
Phone: (512) 473-2413
Price: Dinner: $25 – $35
Hours: Lunch: Tues – Fri 11:45am-2:00pm, Dinner: Tues – Sun 6:00pm-10:30pm

Food (7/10)

(7/10) Pâté maison
Homemade pâté served with cornichons and nicoise olives. The house specialty was a duck liver mousse pate. It tasted great when accompanied with the olives and pickles on the baguette. The bread itself was tough and tasted a few days old. This would be less than ideal at any restaurant, and even more so at a French Bistro. The pate was still good, it just needed a better transport mechanism!

(9/10) Filet De Boeuf Au Poivre
Pepper crusted prime beef tenderloin steak pan-seared and served with brandy, stock and cream sauce. All entrees are served with pommes dauphines and fresh vegetables. The filet was divine! A melt in your mouth filet that was flavorful, tender and juicy. It even had a slightly crispy exterior which we loved. The brandy cream sauce was pretty good too. The sides were mediocre and consisted of squash, a cooked tomato and something that resembled and tasted similar to hush puppies. Although it’s one of the pricier items on the menu, the portion was large and the tenderloin was worth it.

(5/10) Entrecôte Béarnaise
Grilled prime ribeye steak medallions with grilled onions and bearnaise sauce. The flavor was great, and the onions were a nice touch. We thought we’d state the positives first. The beef itself was extremely chewy, and the sauce was underwhelming. We couldn’t eat half of it b/c it was gristle and fat. We’ve had this kind of cut before at nice restaurants but were disappointed in the outcome here.

(7/10) Crème Caramel
Homemade caramel custard. Since we were stuffed, we wanted to order a lighter dessert instead of our usual chocolate choices. Creme caramel would fall into the category of flan, creme brulee or panna cotta. It had a silky smooth, creamy texture and a subtle caramel-y sweetness. It was a tiny dessert for the price, so if we order it again we’d each have to get our own!

(7/10) Service

Chez Nous only takes reservations for parties of 6 or more. We went on a Saturday night and waited about 10-15 minutes before being seated. The hostess gave us a choice of two different seating options which we thought was sweet. For those of you who want to practice your French, the whole waitstaff seems to speak it so practice away! Most of the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Our waiter was not a chatty fellow and we noticed early on that he didn’t engage in any small talk. Still he was efficient and brought everything out in a timely manner.

(8/10) Ambiance

Chez Nous is located on the corner of 6th & Neches, which makes parking an issue. They do not have valet, which means you have to find near by street parking or a lot. The inside has a casual and cozy French country bistro feel to it. With dim lighting and flowers at each table, it’s romantic and intimate. Almost too intimate and could be considered a little cramped. The tables are close together which makes the noise factor high if it’s busy. For those who are not able to use stairs – note that you have to take some stairs to get to the restrooms. Chez Nous is a nice, special occasion restaurant – try it and tell us what you think!

Restaurant: Le Soleil
Location: North Austin, 9616 N. Lamar Blvd, Ste 156, Austin, TX 78753 Map
Phone: (512) 821-0396
Price: $7-$12
Hours: Mon – Fri 10am – 10pm, Sat 10am – 2am

Food (5/10)

(5/10) Vietnamese Seafood Crepe – Banh Xeo Hai San
Rice flour crepe with bean sprouts, onions, shrimp, calamari and mung bean. Served with carrots, cucumber, mint leaves, lettuce and fish sauce. The crepe itself was decent but didn’t have enough crisp to it. The sprouts, onions and mung beans complemented each other well. There was barely any shrimp or calamari inside. We had to pour a lot of fish sauce on top, and we forgot how much sodium that sauce contains. If you order this appetizer, be sure to drink lots of water afterwards!

(5/10) Shaken Beef – Bo Luc Lac
Tender square pieces of beef with garlic, cooked quickly on high fire served on top of lettuce. We wanted to see if this dish would live upto it’s reputation at Le Soleil. Unfortunately, it did not impress us in the least. It almost tasted like a dish you could order at Panda Express. Actually, the beef at Panda Express might be a little more flavorful (albeit also unhealthier). The beef was tender and did possess a little garlic flavor. The lettuce and tomatoes tasted fresh. This dish was served with a lemony-pepper type sauce, which added a little oomph. Maybe we’ll have better luck with our next entree.

(6/10) Combination Rice’s Clay Pot – Com Tay Cam Thap Cam
Stir-fried chickens and prawns with straw mushrooms, ginger, onion and special rice. This pot was pretty good. The chicken and prawns had a good flavor. We noticed that we only got 3 pieces of prawn – and not too much chicken either. We felt somewhat jipped! The mushrooms, ginger, and onion added a yummy earthiness to the dish. Out of the 3 dishes we tried, this one was the best.

(5/10) Service

We called ahead to make sure they were open, and a gruff, impatient man answered the phone. He sounded unpleasant but did answer our question. After we got to the restaurant, we were seated immediately. Nobody came to get our drink order for a little while, but there were very few staff to begin with. Our waiter was all business, and could definitely use a few pointers about how to interact with patrons. Still, he was efficient with our order, and our waters were refilled promptly. After we were finished eating, it took a while to get our bill. We can only hope the service is better when they are less busy.

(5/10) Ambiance

Le Soleil is located in a strip-mall. The ambiance is forgettable…bright walls without any decor. Very plain, with a large mirror on the side walls. There is an aquarium in the front, and one or two plants that seem their only function is to attempt to hide some speakers. It’s a good thing Le Soleil’s food is not as bland as their decor. Still, the food and ambiance also leave something to be desired.  Instead of coming here, we recommend Sea Dragon because they have better quality food and an extensive menu.

Restaurant: La Sombra
Location: Central Austin, 4800 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756 Map
Phone: (512) 458-1100
Price: $9 – $12 Lunch, $15 – $25 Dinner
Hours: Tues – Thurs 11am – 10pm, Fri – Sat 11am – 11pm, Sun 11am – 10pm

Food (8/10)

(8/10) Cubano Sandwich
Served on toasted bollilos with your choice of fried sweet plantains, papas fritas, yuca chips or mixed greens. We chose the fried plantains. The sandwich includes: pulled pork, honey glazed ham, provolone, whole grain mustard, and house-made pickled cucumbers. The bread was good, and the mustard was a great choice for this sandwich. The pickled cucumbers had a unique and addictive flavor, but the texture of the pickle stood out in a negative way. The way the provolone melted onto the meats made us salivate for more. For a side, we chose the fried plantains thinking we’d end with some sweetness. On the contrary, the plantains were not sweet but they were still perfectly fried. This sandwich really hit the spot for lunch!

(8/10) Enchiladas De Pollo
Braised chicken with corn tortillas with tomatillo salsa, queso fresco, black beans and rice, and traditional Mexican garnishes. The tomatillo sauce was spicy and delicious. Everything on the plate tasted fresh and was bursting with flavor. The chicken was a little bland if you got a piece by itself. The corn tortillas and rice were soft, and there was a perfect amount of black beans on the side. This dish was a bit heavier than the sandwich, and is a winner!

(7/10) Service

We dined at La Sombra for lunch on a Friday afternoon. We thought that this place might be bustling during this time, but we almost had the place to ourselves. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by one of the waiters and he took us to a table. He took our drink and food orders promptly. During the meal, someone that appeared to be the manager came to check on us to see if we needed anything. He did not seem gracious when we complimented the food, which led us to believe that he has gotten too used to receiving positive reviews. Our other small gripe was it was difficult to get our waiter’s attention to ask for the bill. The service was solid, but this was not surprising given the small number of patrons.

(8/10) Ambiance

La Sombra took over the space occupied by the former Sampaio’s. The interior is modern with neutral colors, with off-white walls covered with a leafy design. Lots of bamboo accents, billowy drapes, burlap-covered seatbacks, and natural light during the day. There is a small, trendy lounge area as you enter the restaurant. There is a beautiful and large bar area inside and a partially shaded patio outside. Soft music was playing in the background while we dined. Overall, La Sombra has a cool, inviting look. It was great for a quick lunch, and we’ll come back during for dinner to try more dishes and drinks.

Restaurant: Odd Duck Farm To Trailer
Location: South Austin, 1219 S. Lamar Rd, Austin, TX 78704 Map
Phone: (512) 565-4149
Price: $4 – $6 (~$10 per person)
Hours: Tues-Sat 5:30pm – 10pm

Food (7/10)

(6/10) Gouda Grits
With soft boiled chicken egg, grilled zucchini and mushrooms. These grits were semi-creamy and still retained their earthiness. The squash and mushrooms added a nice touch, but the egg is what gave it some extra oomph. The egg was cooked to perfection so that when you break into it, the yolk pours out and blends into the dish. However, these grits were still too old-fashioned tasting and were not savory. Not to mention, it did not seem to complement anything else on the menu.

(8/10) Pork Belly Slider
With sauerkraut, onion, paprika aioli. There aren’t many places in Austin to get a pork belly slider, but Odd Duck did it right. The pork belly was grilled just right and was flavorful, tender, and juicy. The quality of the meat was on par with nice sit-down restaurants around town. This combined with the soft and moist bun will make you want to order several of them!

(7/10) Grilled Corn Salad
With butternut squash, feta cheese, and thyme dressing. The corn salad was pretty good and the feta complemented it well. The thyme dressing was mild. Although it was a side, it was still a pretty small portion.

(7/10) Service

The girl taking our order was friendly and helpful. She told us what some of the favorites were, and was honest about the wait time. She said it would be about 45 minutes, and they would find us and bring our order to us. Sure enough, about 45 minutes later they brought out our food. The ordering process was efficient. They were just backlogged with orders because it was extremely busy on a Friday night.

(7/10) Ambiance

Odd Duck operates as a food stand in South Austin, and shares space with Trey’s and Gourdough’s. The area around the trailer is still gravelly, which has pros and cons. The upside is that you don’t have to worry about ants and other inspects crawling on your feet. The downside is that the ground is rocky and you have to be careful not to step on a sharp stone. It’s not very wheelchair accessible, but there are several benches with umbrellas. There are also Christmas lights up everywhere, which adds a fun dimension at night. Another plus is that the whole outside seating area is BYOB. Odd Duck uses mostly local, farm fresh ingredients so their prices reflect that. When you’re in the mood for gourmet food in a casual environment, grab your favorite bottle of vino and head over to Odd Duck Farm to Trailer.

Restaurant: Sarah’s Mediterranean Market
Location: North Central, 5222 Burnet Rd #500, Austin, TX 78756 Map
Phone: (512) 419-9605
Price: $6 – $12
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am – 9 pm

Food (7/10)

(6/10) Hummus & Pita
The hummus was very good, extremely creamy and had a little olive oil drizzled on top. It was a nice portion too. It was a little bit too lemony-flavored though. The pita bread was cold and hard (and as a result a bit on the dry side), but we’ve experienced this quite a few times at other Mediterranean places as well. We need to ask someone of this is the traditional way to serve pita bread, because we much prefer the hot, soft, and fluffy kind.

(8/10) Baba Ghanouj
The baba ghanouj was absolutely wonderful! One of the best we’ve had in Austin. It had just the right amount of smokiness and wasn’t too lemony or too salty. We could have eaten this without the pita, just like a yogurt! Both the hummus and the baba ghanouj were garnished beautifully, with paprika, cilantro and tiny slivers of purple onion.

(9/10) Chicken Skewer
This chicken was mouth-wateringly delicious. We want to know what is in the marinade! It was juicy, tender, and full of flavor. We ate the chicken with the pita, but should have ordered a side of rice instead. Some of the chicken pieces were small, but they were perfectly cooked small pieces. We’d definitely order this again.

(5/10) Lamb Skewer
Most of the lamb pieces were tough and dry, but we did find a few decent ones in there. We were really looking forward to the lamb, and disappointed that it was overcooked. The lamb did have a nice flavor, but we could only chew on it so much before realizing it was a battle we wouldn’t win. For now, we’ll stick to the chicken here.

(7/10) Baklava
The baklava was nice. A little dry, but still tasty. The staff gave each of us a baklava and a date since it was our first time in the restaurant. The dates were yummy too. It was a very sweet gesture.

(7/10) Service

The cashier was chipper and charming, and they engage their customers in a witty banter. We all felt they were very warm and helpful had suggestions. You place your order, pick a seat, and pick up your food after they call your number. Since we ordered a good amount of lamb and discovered most of it was inedible, we let Sarah (our cashier) know. She proceeded to try a piece and frostily claimed it was the best lamb in Texas, and she didn’t understand how we could think otherwise. However, she did agree to give us one more skewer of chicken. We didn’t expect her to be happy while doing that, but we thought she could have been more receptive to our concerns. So the service is great if everything is good, but can waver if there is a bump along the way.

(6/10) Ambiance

Sarah’s Mediterranean Grill & Market is located in a small strip-small in the Allandale neighborhood. As the name states, there is both a grill and a small market here. You can eat lunch or dinner here and then shop for groceries! The interior is clean, modest, and smells delicious since they have an open kitchen. There is a short wall seperating the 2 eating areas from the grocery area. The tables and chairs are very basic, but functional. There is a TV in the corner for customers to watch while eating. We dined here during a slower time, but we imagine this place is more crowded during lunch time. In this case, it could get a bit crammed due to the limited space. Understandably, people come here for the food and service, not the ambiance

Restaurant: Boomerang’s Gourmet Veggie & Meat Pies
Location: 3110 Guadalupe Street #150, Austin, TX 78705 Map
Phone: (512) 380-0032
Price: $6-$8
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am – 8pm, Sat-Sun 12pm – 6pm

Food (7/10)

(8/10) Steak & Mushroom Pie
Grilled steak, mushrooms and onions combined in a traditional sauce with a touch of thyme. Aussie meat pies are handheld, flaky pastries filled with meats and vegetables. The pie crust is extremely delicious, flaky, buttery and tastes fresh instead of pre-made. The steak and mushroom filling was good, but a little dry sometimes. We could have chosen to get a pie floater – where they would cover the pie with mashed potatoes and gravy. Keep in mind this the first time we’ve had “Aussie” pies, so we don’t have much to compare them to.

(7/10) Bootlegger Steak & Cheese Pie
Grilled steak, onions and Monterey Jack cheese combined in a gravy made with Austin’s Independence Brewery Bootlegger Brown Ale. This one was fun and cheesy, but lacking in flavor a bit. Also we tasted a bit of vinegar-y flavor that we couldn’t identify properly. Still, it was a solid pie. The grilled onions complemented the meat well. The steak was soft and tender. Several of us felt that one pie alone was not enough to satisfy our hunger. A pie and half seemed just right.

(7/10) Southwest Chicken Pie
Grilled chicken breast, green and red bell peppers, corn, black beans and cheddar cheese mixed a signature Adobe sauce. The southwest flavoring was pretty good, and we enjoyed the filling. The Adobe sauce was great. We noticed that all the pies had a consistently wonderful crust.

(7/10) Thai Chicken Pie
Tender marinated chicken, water chestnuts, ginger, cilantro and basil combined in our gourmet Thai peanut sauce. Thai in an Aussie pie…what a fun little combination! The chicken was a little dry at times, but had a good flavor. It was a little odd to have water chestnuts and light, flaky pie crust in the same mouthful, because the textures didn’t go well together.

(8/10) Curry Veggie Pie
Broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, peas, onions, ginger and garlic all mixed in our signature mild curry sauce. This one was surprisingly yummy! A good way to get some veggies in too. The curry flavor was more medium than mild, but we were happy because it added a little kick. It was refreshing to see that Boomerang’s has quite a few veggie options for their pies.

(6/10) Service

The service was average. We would have liked it to be friendlier, especially since we were the only ones ordering at that time. He just seemed disinterested and was not helpful even after we mentioned it was our first time there. If it was busier, we wouldn’t have expected as much. The cashier was quick and efficient though, and we bought our frozen pies. We used a Groupon for our order. If we didn’t have a coupon, we would have thought the price was a little steep, only because the pie wasn’t very filling (no pun intended!) or it may be that we’re hearty eaters.

(5/10) Ambiance

Boomerang’s has a few parking spots available near the front, and a larger parking lot across the street. The front of the store faces 32nd Street, so it’s easy to miss. The inside is a little drab, and a few touches would go a long way. The interior consists mostly of green brick and green pillars, and has tables and chairs for seating. Because of the windows, there is a lot of natural light during the day. There is also a TV mounted in the back corner. Until the service and ambiance improves, we’ll continue to get their frozen pies and eat them in the comfort of our own home!

Restaurant: Rio’s Brazilian
Location: 408 N Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78702 Map
Phone: (512) 828-6617
Price: $8 -$14
Hours: Tue-Thu 7 am-9 pm, Fri 7 am-10 pm, Sat 10 am-10 pm, Sun 11 am-9 pm

Food (8/10)

(9/10) Pão de Queijo Trio
Cheese breads made from yuca root and parmesan cheese Original, Basil & Roasted Red Pepper. Three come in an order, and parmesan cheese is sprinkled over them. We recommend you start with these additively soft and chewy cheese breads. We love the basil and the red pepper cheese breads, and enjoy dipping the original one in one of the three Malagueta sauces. They pack a little heat after the initial sweetness…mmm heaven!

(7/10) A Bandeira do Brasil
Handmade avocado pasta served cold with julienne mango, scallion, tomato and seared bay scallops. This is a fun little pasta dish. The avocado flavor was very mild, but the pasta was cooked perfectly. The mango added a pleasant sweetness, and the scallops were seared nicely.

(8/10) The Maracanã
Papaya and fresh roast beets topped with alfalfa sprouts, artisan sea salt and a handmade raspberry sauce. The first thing you will notice is the beautiful presentation of this appetizer. The Maracana is a refreshing, perfect-for-summer option for anyone, but especially vegans. You can taste the freshness of the beets, and it paired wonderfully with the papaya. We wouldn’t have minded more raspberry sauce. We were surprised to find how much we enjoyed this dish because we don’t like sprouts too much, and papaya usually has a funky smell. Well, there was no weird odor, and the spouts added a nice dimension to the dish.

(8/10) Kibe Salgadinhos
Beef with tabouli, mint, onion, garlic, and tomato. Salgadinhos are traditional & contemporary Brazilian savory pastries, served with spicy Malagueta sauce. The malagueta is a small but powerful pepper that is used in Brazil and Mozambique. The breading on the outside was a little coarse, but the inside was phenomenal. The beef was tender, and the other flavors complemented it well. It looks small but it is dense and had a spicy kick to it! Rio’s sure knows how to do salgandinhos right.

(9/10) Bolinho de Aipim de Camarão
Yuca root pastry stuffed with shrimp, garlic, green peppers, and tomato, rolled in toasted yuca flour. This savory pastry was addictive. How can you go wrong with shrimp, green peppers and garlic inside a soft but crunchy yuca exterior? Order this one and your taste-buds will rejoice! This bolinho tasted great on its own, and when dipped into the Malagueta sauce. We were happy to find another winner.

(10/10) Almôndegas de Carne Suína
Traditional Brazilian pork meatballs made with scallion, basil and carrots, served over rice with a pink crème de leite sauce and sweet potato crisps. Wow, we have finally found another perfect-10 to add to the list! These meatballs were flavorful and savory! The pink creme complemented the pork perfectly and the sweet potato crisps added the perfect crunch to every bite.

(8/10) Mousse de Chocolate com Maracujá
Rich chocolate and passion fruit mousse served with fresh whipped cream. Basically, passion fruit and chocolate married each other and invited home-made whipped cream to their wedding. It is a beautiful union of flavors, and a great way to end a meal. This tropical dessert is not heavy, so you will have room for it after your meal!

(9/10) Service

We have dined at Rio’s Brazilian several times and the service has been consistently excellent. The owners, Ben and Elias, go out of their way to make sure that everyone has a fabulous dining experience. Since we are Brazilian food newbies, we asked several questions regarding the menu and they patiently answered them. Dishes are always prepared in a timely manner and served with a smile. Rio’s also has a happy hour menu, where both food and drinks are discounted quite a bit! Often times, they will bring patrons some samples of something delicious they concocted in the kitchen. On occasion, we have to request the waitstaff to refill our water, but this is a minor issue. Our waiter seemed a little inexperienced, but eager to please. Everyone is very friendly and accommodating – it’s the kind of place where they will remember your name and your favorite dish.

(8/10) Ambiance

Rio’s is tucked away in a modest building on the East-side. You shouldn’t miss it though, because the front is painted in the national colors of Brazil – bright green and yellow. There is a great outdoor patio, where there’s often either live music, or upbeat music playing from the speakers. There is also a drive-through available for those in a hurry. The interior is charming and welcoming. Brazilian photographs adorn the walls, fresh flowers at each table, and stylishly funky furniture awaits your presence. Rio’s is a full-service restaurant by day, and turns into a vintage-hipster lounge at night. It has a truly unique vibe, and they welcome wine and coffee lovers alike. With great eats, friendly service and a casually chic atmosphere, this little cafe is one of our favorite spots in town!

Restaurant: Food Shui
Location: 1700 West Parmer Ln #610, Austin, TX 78727 Map
Phone: (512) 339-4545
Price: $8 -$10
Hours: Mon – Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 12pm-8:30pm

Food (8/10)

(8/10) Thai Basil Bowl
Snow peas, carrots, asparagus, onion, mushrooms, jalapenos and fresh basil stir-fried in a spicy Thai sauce. All entrees are served over steamed jasmine rice with a summer roll. Fried rice and brown rice are available for an extra fee. We chose chicken for this bowl and got plenty of tender juicy pieces. The sauce was very good and had quite a spicy kick to it. There were lots of veggies as well. We opted for the brown rice, and received two generous scoops. We were pleasantly surprised to see that the basil flavor came through. Order this and your palates will be pleased!

(7/10) Lemon Pepper Bowl
Choice of fried batter shrimp, chicken or tofu with onions, jalapenos, bell pepper and black pepper over steamed rice. Served with broccoli and lemon dipping sauce. The cashier told us we could get any meat, and get it grilled or fried. We decided to get fried chicken in this one. Again, these were high quality pieces of chicken – and a good portion too! It was pretty flavorful, and the broccoli tasted fresh. The lemon dipping sauce consists of a small lemon wedge that had pepper on it. We didn’t see it in our bag until after we finished our meal. If we order this delicious bowl again, we’ll try the grilled shrimp as a healthier option.

(7/10) Service

We went into Food Shui on a Sunday evening, and were greeted briefly by the friendly cashier. The restaurant was pretty empty. We told her it was her first time and asked for dishes that were bold and flavorful. We placed our order with her and waited for about 10 minutes. We received our to-go order and went home to eat it. Later on, we noticed that the summer rolls that were supposed to come with our entree were not included in our containers. So we called and let them know. Although we did not receive an apology or a solution, we asked if we could come by and pick them up with our next food order. They agreed and said we could pick them up anytime. The service was good, but there is room for improvement.

(7/10) Ambiance

Food Shui is located in a busy strip mall in North Austin. It is casual, clean and modern-looking on the inside. There are track-lights and nondescript pictures hanging on the walls. There are half-booths, and tables and chairs for seating options. When you’re craving Americanized Chinese or Vietnamese food and don’t want to visit a chain restaurant (such as Panda Express), give Food Shui a try. Sometimes simplicity can be a wonderful thing. High quality Asian food served in a bright and tidy eatery – we’ll be back one day soon.