Where is the Best Seafood in Austin, Texas?
This was my first trip to Pappa’s. I had the half dozen oysters ( I got 7) and the Medium order of the fried Alligator.The alligator was crispy, not greasy, and the breading had a kicky flavor. The creole sauce that came with it was spicy without overpowering the taste of the alligator. I’ve never had alligator before and was quite please with the order.The oysters were just that raw oysters on a half shell. It came with the usual horseradish and a shrimp cocktail sauce. They were good even though I was eating them in a month that didn’t end in “R”.The french bread was a nice bonus.The restaurant is large and they had plenty of tables that can accommodate large parties. I went at about 5 on Saturday and got a seat right away.For the medium order of alligator, oysters, bread, and water, my meal was $15.05. I did leave a little hungry and went to the Austin cookie lounge for desert.Pros + good food, good service, large restaurantCons – Loud and a bit pricey
What a surprise this Lake Travis restaurant was – great food, views, and ambience! That is a unique combination. We drove out the first time along the road past Volente to the Lime Creek Marina and took the marina lift down past the waterfall to this charming cafe hanging over the lake. The mahogany plank flooring, teak tables and chairs, and metal sculptures set the stage for a varied menu. We sampled four dishes $13 to 23 all with yummy sides included. The Snapper Louisiane had a Cajun cream sauce over the crawfish/shrimp.The NY Strip was 10 oz of tender steak covered with blue cheese, scallions, and candied pecans. The Jamaican jerked chicken breast and shrimp stuffed with jack cheese and jalapenos rounded out the entrees. These in addition to the appetizers, wine and drinks made this a must return experience. Our second visit was by boat using convenient free slip by the restaurant. This time we concentrated more on the salads and desserts. Favorites were the Lake Travis Summe
The ambience is wonderful, the service is great and the food is excellent. We will go back in a heartbeat. It is so nice to have this quality of restaurant in Austin!The portions are very big. We thoroughly enjoyed everything, although the minestrone is a bit thicker than is classic and had no legumes. The salad dressing and all the sauces were excellent and rich; The boar shanks were so tender they melted in your mouth and the pork chop was thick and juicy with a fabulous marsala sauce. With a bottle of wine and tip (no dessert or coffee) we spent $75, but could have ordered much less and left full.Pros + Great happy hourCons – no parking
I enjoy a good meal. Eating out has always been an occasion for me-be it a simple diner snack or an elegant five course extravagance.I love the whole experience. My requirements are straightforward-good food prepared by a chef that cares about his ingredients and the entrees he prepares and a staff that cares if the customer-specifically me-is enjoying the meal they have provided.I want to feel that I am important when I eat out. Too many restaurants make me feel like I am intruding upon them if I ask for anything that is not part of the routine. I want to be able to ask for my favorite wine or even a simple request of having my salad dressing on the side. I’m not looking to be picky;I’m just looking to be well taken care of. My associate, Donald, told me to try the Emerald out in Bee Caves.”It’s family-owned and operated (rarely found in today’s everchanging restaurant industry) since 1984. Tell them that I sent you and bring me back some Irish Soda bread!”Well, I did make the reserva
Online reservations, great, but when I called to confirm I spoke with a very unfriendly, young male host. That should have tipped me off to the level of service I should expect. Bar service took too long, waiter took even longer. Drinks during dinner took far too long and several were just plain forgotten! The menu is deceiving, it looks like a delicious assortment but it’s all rather bland. The food is not fresh, it’s thawed. From the ceviche to the mango salsa I was consistenly disappointed. I’ve been to several South American restaurants and this one is by far the least impressive. It’s as if Chili’s opened up a Latin chain, making it overpriced for what it is. Good for a group because of the large space, and with good company you forget so much about the mediocrity of the food itself.Pros + Spacious, Decent Parking, Good for GroupsCons – Service, Value, Flavor
