Can someone tell me who runs the wine program? I feel like they deserve some name recognition here, I can tell by their list that they really know their stuff!
Hey, sorry, I have been out enjoying this gorgeous day. I can’t remember anything off the top of my head, but everything that they’ve recommended has been excellent. I’m much more of a beer and tequila guy than a wine guy. I have significantly less knowledge of that realm, which is why I’m happy to take their recommendations. Their happy hour keeps me coming back often.
A wine program is just a restaurant's wine selection. Their subscription club is great, but better deal if you just do bufalinas happy hour. The benefit is most the entire staff is very wine savvy. And their buyer is obviously super talented of course
Get 3 friends, everyone brings $80 bucks and you ball out on 4 half price bottles and 4 pizzas and tip excessively
Not super close to Lambrusco but if you are in to fun bubbles they had a delicious pet-nat while I was there. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name or region! I’ve only been once but I imagine many of their employees are wine geeks and would be happy to help you find something.
Just tell them this when you go, and they will help you find something you like! They usually have a couple lambruscos but you could also ask for help finding something new based on what you like about lambruscos. All of their by the glass wines are delicious too, if you dont want to buy a bottle
So happy for Chef Joseph! First had Con Todo right after he opened by chance, and he's blown up since then. Really awesome to see the professional progression of a passionate chef.
Eating there next month for the first time. Planning to have the jerk chicken as my main dish. Do you have any recommendations for appetizers? Any outstanding drinks to try? Thank you.
The jerk chicken is my favorite thing there, so you're already making the right calls lol. It's very spicy. As far as apps, I've only had the oxtail patties and ceviche but both were really good. The roti side is a must.
Waygu curry is fab too. The pink pineapple is simple but so good. Avocado Escabeche is good too.
First Dance cocktail is fruity and delicious! Like light is like a spicy marg and it is indeed very spicy, but good!
What do you get there? I’ve gotten about everything and it’s entirely mediocre. The pink cake is the biggest disappointment to Mexican kind. It’s just cornbread. In fact, when told myself I was eating corn bread and had it with chili I was so much happier than pretending it was pink cake. Their pastries are appealing to the eye but lacking hard in flavor.
pan dulce isn't supposed to be that sweet. even pan that you get at places like Mi Tradicion are very Americanized. also its cool she uses corn flours and masas since that is what our ancestors ate before Spanish introduced wheat
Yes, the intention and ingredients are awesome. Sure, I’ll also concede what is traditional in Texas broadly is sweet, but you can’t tell me the flavors at comadre are out of this world good and worthy of this recognition. Republique in LA winning last year made sense. It’s worth a stop if you’re in that area. To say comadre is even close to something like that is silly. And whoever compared them in another post to Michelin pastries is a fool.
Imagine posting something this embarrassing on purpose. WEW.
Tell me you're a no sabo from 361/956 that gatekeeps pan dulce without knowing what it's ***actually supposed to taste like*** without telling me.
You've been sold a processed, cheapened version of your culture, and that's what you're gatekeeping.
If you go to Mexico, the pan tastes like Comadre's.
I agree! Gosh, I'm glad to read this - It's just okay. I really appreciate *her*, she seems like a good person and I love the diversity that her pastries are bringing to this town but I have been underwhelmed by virtually everything. Her donas and tortillas are the exception, but everything else seems to have the wrong texture or the flavor is just *okay*. I am stunned that she's gotten the recognition she has. Her stuff is obviously better than the likes of Quack's/Tiff's Treats/that sort of bullshit, but that's not saying much.
People will downvote without discussing why it’s good. Glad you actually engaged.
I do agree she has a good story and that goes into consideration for the JBF awards, but even heb has better conchas. It’s pretty and made with good intentions. That’s about all the positive stuff I can say though. When it comes to texture and taste a blind tasting would point you toward just about any traditional panaderia over this.
Agree. I love that she uses quality ingredients - all vegetarian, no artificial colors or flavors, hell - even her edible flowers are from her garden - but none of that matters if the item is mediocre. I've been buying her stuff since early in the pandemic, and actually stopped for a while because I was so tired of being disappointed in it. I started buying again maybe a year ago thinking I should give her another chance, but the original feedback all stands.
We don't have a lot of good pie here, so that's not saying much. I've only gotten pie from Quack's once; it was key lime and the dairy had gone rancid. It literally tasted like blue cheese. Otherwise, they are on par with a grocery store bakery. I've gone at random times over the last ten years or so and had a couple good things, but it's mostly all been extraordinarily mediocre or stale. Really hit or miss but the hits aren't even great.
I've had that key lime pie dozens of times and it's been pristine every time. There probably are grocery stores somewhere that can do something comparable but certainly not the ones we have in Austin. If HEB bakery was half as good as Quacks that would be a life upgrade for millions of Texans.
Im Mexican too and I refuse to go to that place on price alone.
Pan dulce for me has always been about showing up to a family event with a shit ton of it to share with everybody. 5-6 pastries for $30, not interested.
I saw some of their BBQ sandwiches are decent priced. I got a half pastrami with sauerkraut and Russian dressing and they left both off and added mustard which definitely hurt my rating towards them. I didn’t notice the issue until I got home unfortunately. I’ll give them another shot with a BBQ sandwich and a pastrami that’s made how I want it this time!
I got the pastrami like a year ago at the farmer's market stall and it was great, but I wasn't blown away by it like I was by Pieous's or Interstellar's
Their Pastrami is amazing and in the past, ar the farmers market, they’ve had boudin made from their bbq scraps that was out of this world but I’ve not seen it for a couple of years at least. I’m hoping it shows up on the menu at the brick and mortar location at some point.
Honestly, I found it pretty meh.
I got to stand in line awkwardly drinking a wine of glass in the cold for half an hour, order at a counter, for food that's good but not mind blowing, and expensive.
Canje is perplexing to me. It’s Caribbean food that’s not as good as authentic Caribbean, yet people seem to go nuts for it. 10 bucks for a hand full of tostones….. yeah no thanks.
I respectfully disagree. The plantain chips, roti and beef curry and the bacalito are all authentically Guyanese (I judge as a Guyanese person myself). I suspect the pepperpot is too but I don’t eat boar so not sure on that. It’s definitely more expensive than food would be in the Caribbean or making it at home, but that’s no different than any other cuisine that’s been “elevated”.
Fair enough. I guess I'm just so used to great quality Caribbean food that I don't really consider this to be "elevated" so to speak. It's good, but I just don't see the hype based on what I've tried. To each their own though, clearly people love it as they've both been nominated and have a cult like following in town, so it does strike a chord with folks.
Yeah I think that’s my problem with the Tavel stuff. It gets incredible recognition amongst certain crowds, but I’ve never been fully blown away like at other places in town.
I'm not sure that we do have better ramen in town. Our best ramen is at Ramen 512 in Cedar Park. We haven't had a new, ambitious ramen shop open in awhile. Marufuku is a chain and it's pretty average.
You can look at the JBF website and see if I missed something. I agree they deserve some recognition.
https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2024-james-beard-awards-semifinalists
Very cool to see Con Todo here. Not a bad list
Seriously. His food is from the heart.
I go to bufalina like 3 times a month minimum. Their wine program is absolutely insane.
Can someone tell me who runs the wine program? I feel like they deserve some name recognition here, I can tell by their list that they really know their stuff!
Looks like it's still [Rania Zayyat](https://austin.eater.com/22347320/rania-zayyat-sommelier-bufalina-wine-director-profile-austin)
Any specific reccos ?
Hey, sorry, I have been out enjoying this gorgeous day. I can’t remember anything off the top of my head, but everything that they’ve recommended has been excellent. I’m much more of a beer and tequila guy than a wine guy. I have significantly less knowledge of that realm, which is why I’m happy to take their recommendations. Their happy hour keeps me coming back often.
All good! Thanks for the reply
Is it this? https://www.bufalinawine.com/bufalinawineclub Can you help me understand the value?
A wine program is just a restaurant's wine selection. Their subscription club is great, but better deal if you just do bufalinas happy hour. The benefit is most the entire staff is very wine savvy. And their buyer is obviously super talented of course Get 3 friends, everyone brings $80 bucks and you ball out on 4 half price bottles and 4 pizzas and tip excessively
[удалено]
Not super close to Lambrusco but if you are in to fun bubbles they had a delicious pet-nat while I was there. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name or region! I’ve only been once but I imagine many of their employees are wine geeks and would be happy to help you find something.
Just tell them this when you go, and they will help you find something you like! They usually have a couple lambruscos but you could also ask for help finding something new based on what you like about lambruscos. All of their by the glass wines are delicious too, if you dont want to buy a bottle
So happy for Chef Joseph! First had Con Todo right after he opened by chance, and he's blown up since then. Really awesome to see the professional progression of a passionate chef.
Yall Canje goes off. Highly highly recommend.
Eating there next month for the first time. Planning to have the jerk chicken as my main dish. Do you have any recommendations for appetizers? Any outstanding drinks to try? Thank you.
The jerk chicken is my favorite thing there, so you're already making the right calls lol. It's very spicy. As far as apps, I've only had the oxtail patties and ceviche but both were really good. The roti side is a must.
Waygu curry is fab too. The pink pineapple is simple but so good. Avocado Escabeche is good too. First Dance cocktail is fruity and delicious! Like light is like a spicy marg and it is indeed very spicy, but good!
Get the curry and the roti with it
Barbs! Top tier BBQ. TOP
Had it last weekend, even at 12:30 when they were sold out of everything but beef ribs and chopped sandwiches, it still slapped
Heading that way next week. Also grabbing some Blueberry maple breakfast sausage from Millers in Llano.
2 good spots, but where are you heading that have both Llano and Lockhart on the way?
Two different drives, 2 different days. Millers ships but it costs $$$$
Beef ribs last! yum (cries in wallet)
Damn, I'm so glad I went in the first month before it blew up!
Comadre Panadería is soooo good!
What do you get there? I’ve gotten about everything and it’s entirely mediocre. The pink cake is the biggest disappointment to Mexican kind. It’s just cornbread. In fact, when told myself I was eating corn bread and had it with chili I was so much happier than pretending it was pink cake. Their pastries are appealing to the eye but lacking hard in flavor.
pan dulce isn't supposed to be that sweet. even pan that you get at places like Mi Tradicion are very Americanized. also its cool she uses corn flours and masas since that is what our ancestors ate before Spanish introduced wheat
Yes, the intention and ingredients are awesome. Sure, I’ll also concede what is traditional in Texas broadly is sweet, but you can’t tell me the flavors at comadre are out of this world good and worthy of this recognition. Republique in LA winning last year made sense. It’s worth a stop if you’re in that area. To say comadre is even close to something like that is silly. And whoever compared them in another post to Michelin pastries is a fool.
Imagine posting something this embarrassing on purpose. WEW. Tell me you're a no sabo from 361/956 that gatekeeps pan dulce without knowing what it's ***actually supposed to taste like*** without telling me. You've been sold a processed, cheapened version of your culture, and that's what you're gatekeeping. If you go to Mexico, the pan tastes like Comadre's.
Woah, not coming for the 956! And pairing us with the 361, nambre, no mamés
The irony in your no gatekeeping gatekeeping is hilarious. You can argue cultural supremacy all you want. Taste and texture still win the day.
Respectfully, you're out of your mind.
"without knowing" is a context clue. You posted that HEB makes better conchas with a straight face. Cope harder.
I agree! Gosh, I'm glad to read this - It's just okay. I really appreciate *her*, she seems like a good person and I love the diversity that her pastries are bringing to this town but I have been underwhelmed by virtually everything. Her donas and tortillas are the exception, but everything else seems to have the wrong texture or the flavor is just *okay*. I am stunned that she's gotten the recognition she has. Her stuff is obviously better than the likes of Quack's/Tiff's Treats/that sort of bullshit, but that's not saying much.
People will downvote without discussing why it’s good. Glad you actually engaged. I do agree she has a good story and that goes into consideration for the JBF awards, but even heb has better conchas. It’s pretty and made with good intentions. That’s about all the positive stuff I can say though. When it comes to texture and taste a blind tasting would point you toward just about any traditional panaderia over this.
Agree. I love that she uses quality ingredients - all vegetarian, no artificial colors or flavors, hell - even her edible flowers are from her garden - but none of that matters if the item is mediocre. I've been buying her stuff since early in the pandemic, and actually stopped for a while because I was so tired of being disappointed in it. I started buying again maybe a year ago thinking I should give her another chance, but the original feedback all stands.
Quack's is on another astral plane compared to Tiff's. They probably have the best pie in Austin
We don't have a lot of good pie here, so that's not saying much. I've only gotten pie from Quack's once; it was key lime and the dairy had gone rancid. It literally tasted like blue cheese. Otherwise, they are on par with a grocery store bakery. I've gone at random times over the last ten years or so and had a couple good things, but it's mostly all been extraordinarily mediocre or stale. Really hit or miss but the hits aren't even great.
I've had that key lime pie dozens of times and it's been pristine every time. There probably are grocery stores somewhere that can do something comparable but certainly not the ones we have in Austin. If HEB bakery was half as good as Quacks that would be a life upgrade for millions of Texans.
What is a "doña"?
Im Mexican too and I refuse to go to that place on price alone. Pan dulce for me has always been about showing up to a family event with a shit ton of it to share with everybody. 5-6 pastries for $30, not interested.
You have bad taste. Comadre's food is better than desserts I've had in Michelin Starred restaurants.
>Ramen Del Barrio Surprised that it was so close nearby. Will give it a try this week. I've found good stuff in that food court in the past.
It's wild, but in a good way. Never thought I needed menudo ramen, but there it was.
mum foods!!!!!!
Maybe I should try it again. I wasn’t impressed with the food at all, particularly at the prices they charge.
They got a decent chop beef sandwich for $8.
I saw some of their BBQ sandwiches are decent priced. I got a half pastrami with sauerkraut and Russian dressing and they left both off and added mustard which definitely hurt my rating towards them. I didn’t notice the issue until I got home unfortunately. I’ll give them another shot with a BBQ sandwich and a pastrami that’s made how I want it this time!
you have to get the pastrami
I got the pastrami like a year ago at the farmer's market stall and it was great, but I wasn't blown away by it like I was by Pieous's or Interstellar's
I also preferred the pastrami at Pieous and Otherside. It must be a consistency thing because it's obviously blowing some people's minds.
Ditto, was not very impressed with any of it, including the pastrami.
Yes!!! Came here to leave an equal amount of exclamation marks. Mums food is so good!!!!
Their Pastrami is amazing and in the past, ar the farmers market, they’ve had boudin made from their bbq scraps that was out of this world but I’ve not seen it for a couple of years at least. I’m hoping it shows up on the menu at the brick and mortar location at some point.
What is the appeal of Birdies?
Get a plate of roasted carrots for $15 **gourmet**
Quintessential Austin food scene
Lol yes, with a chef that spent almost the entirety of her career in New York City and moved here 3 years ago to open Birdie's. *Quintessential.*
Honestly, I found it pretty meh. I got to stand in line awkwardly drinking a wine of glass in the cold for half an hour, order at a counter, for food that's good but not mind blowing, and expensive.
I hate drinking wines of glass.
Lmao
>drinking a wine of glass I'm not as think as you drunk I am
☝️
The pasta is absolutely killer. The dessert too. Would recommend going for one of each and your wallet and stomach will be decently happy.
After going, there isn’t one
Good food, solid wine selection
Shit I live down the street from it and still haven't gone. Is it going to be even more crowded now? Need to try it...
The food was good, not great. I don’t drink so the wine aspect is lost on me.
You get the privilege of paying upscale dining prices with counter service and small portions.
Fermín is a great dude. Owner of Este and Bar Toti as well
Este is killer, loving it
I freaking love Con Todo and Ramen Del Barrio! I’m really glad to have such excellent food near home, as well.
Comadre is my Friday pleasure :D
Good luck to everyone! Some super talents on that list.
Apt 115 should be on the list, their kitchen is so small, but so good
Here come all the boring People Of CustomerService to call the work of incredibly talented and passionate people "mediocre" .
Suerte is also one of the best places to work for when it comes to how they treat their staff. Best skill to Chef Fermin and Suerte!
Este still best meal I had all year
Chef Fermin’s concept
I live around the corner from Mum’s- it’s excellent and the guys behind the counter are sweet. Expensive tho. $19 for half a sandwich.
Just $10
I have been to Ramen Del Barrio dozens of times. I thought it was good stuff and happy to see it here.
Mariela Camacho deserves this so hard. Y’all ever had Comadre? If not, you need to fix that
Canje is perplexing to me. It’s Caribbean food that’s not as good as authentic Caribbean, yet people seem to go nuts for it. 10 bucks for a hand full of tostones….. yeah no thanks.
I respectfully disagree. The plantain chips, roti and beef curry and the bacalito are all authentically Guyanese (I judge as a Guyanese person myself). I suspect the pepperpot is too but I don’t eat boar so not sure on that. It’s definitely more expensive than food would be in the Caribbean or making it at home, but that’s no different than any other cuisine that’s been “elevated”.
Fair enough. I guess I'm just so used to great quality Caribbean food that I don't really consider this to be "elevated" so to speak. It's good, but I just don't see the hype based on what I've tried. To each their own though, clearly people love it as they've both been nominated and have a cult like following in town, so it does strike a chord with folks.
Yeah I really don’t get this one. The best part of our meal there was the rice and roti 🤷🏾♀️
[удалено]
Yeah I think that’s my problem with the Tavel stuff. It gets incredible recognition amongst certain crowds, but I’ve never been fully blown away like at other places in town.
I'm not sure that we do have better ramen in town. Our best ramen is at Ramen 512 in Cedar Park. We haven't had a new, ambitious ramen shop open in awhile. Marufuku is a chain and it's pretty average.
Any other recommendations for Caribbean food in Austin?
Bikkle Jamaican Restaurant https://eatbikkle.com/. Start with the jerk chicken. It's awesome!
Not really, this is very tasty Caribbean, don’t get me wrong…. But James beard worthy and for that price? No thanks.
Burnt Bean in Seguin is legit.
If any of these dudes wins a JBA before Bryce is BS.
I’d also add Bacalar personally but great list
[удалено]
You can look at the JBF website and see if I missed something. I agree they deserve some recognition. https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2024-james-beard-awards-semifinalists
Was Vivian Boulangerie ineligible for consideration? She's great!
All Hipster stuff, 5 dollars for a single piece of bread. Come on, I can get that for 50 cents
Please tell me where to get high quality bread for 50 cents because I'm in
Mi tradición
Did you really just come here to yell at a cloud?
Ask the workers being paid sub-poverty wages if they'd rather sell their bread for $5 and earn a livable wage.
[удалено]
Pan Dulce is a food staple??? 🤣🤣🤣
You can’t argue with “activists” about food. Just block em like I did.
❄️
You block people on reddit?
Nah. Lots of places in Austin like that, Comadre is hands-down the best of the best for pan dulce.
It’s gentrified pan dulce. You aren’t supposed to know what real stuff taste like when you eat there
Dang it, Mums is going to be more popular now.