Regal Ravioli

Ok. I'm officially back in Austin, so I really need to catch up on my reviews before I start eating out again. Which brings us to today's review, one of my FAVORITE places ever.

Regal Ravioli!

A cute little trailer sandwiched between Church's Chicken and The Flying Carpet, Regal Ravioli is right across the street from Habanero Mexican Cafe (which I review here).

And let me tell you right now, these are the best raviolis you'll ever have. Blows Chef Boyardee outta the park!

They have 3 raviolis (Cheese, Mushroom, Sausage) and 4 sauces (Bolognese, Tomato Marinara, Gouda Veloute, and Pecan Pesto) that are on the menu all the time, and also add specialties that are either daily or weekly.

When Drew and I went, he got the cheese ravioli with Bolognese sauce (which was AMAZING) and I got the sausage ravioli with tomato basil sauce, which was also super good.

The raviolis are 10-11 dollars, but with that you also get fresh-toasted garlic bread and it is HEAVENLY. Also, the portions are DEFINITELY worth the money, as is the quality of the food. You can see them making the raviolis by hand as you sit at the picnic tables.

I don't think I can accurately explain HOW delicious these are. I haven't had Regal Ravioli since April and I'm going crazy.

They also serve gnocchi, salads and meatball subs, and even though I haven't tried it, I can tell you it's probably going to be awesome.

SERIOUSLY GO TO THIS PLACE.

I rate them a 5/5!

Lunch: Monday-Friday 12-2.
Dinner: Monday-Saturday 6-10.

Website Here

Habanero Mexican Cafe

Alright, here's the next installment!

It's been awhile since Drew and I ate at the Habanero Mexican Cafe, and I can't say it was particularly memorable. I remember that I wasn't crazy about their queso, and that unlike most of the Mexican food places I eat at, this was authentic Mexican food and not Tex-Mex.

I think that might be why it's not particularly memorable to me- it wasn't the usual cuisine I was expecting, and that's no fault on their part.

They have a few different sauces for enchiladas, which is what I got. I believe I got the green sauce, but again, I'm not too sure. I ate everything on my plate- that I DO know for sure.

Their prices aren't on their website, and I remember them being a little more than I was expecting. I had a lunch special so it'd be a little cheaper.

I wasn't full enough to skip dessert, so we ordered Sopapillas, and THOSE I definitely remember. They were delicious and warm and just all- around amazing.

I'm not going to give them a rating, because I can't really remember much about the restaurant and I find that unfair.

Their hours are:
Sunday-Monday from 7 am to 3 pm
Tuesday-Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm
Friday-Saturday from 7 am to 9 pm

See their menu here.

Next up on the list is Regal Ravioli- a place that REALLY made an impression, so get ready for a thorough review!

Juan in a Million

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

Sorry guys. Final exams, France, and summer school/work just really let this get away from me!
But as I'm currently not in Austin for the summer, I thought I would go ahead and update so when I get back I can star back up!

Today's review is for Juan in a Million, probably one of the best-known Mexican restaurants in Austin. Located a little east of 35, it's a bit difficult to find parking- so prepare for that. It's always super crowded (but that's gotta mean it's super good, right?)

The first time Drew and I came here, I got a bacon, egg, and cheese taco. It was pretty good, but I prefer the breakfast tacos from my hometown. The next time around we went inside to eat and I was told to get the Don Juan.

Pause.

Wait for it.

THIS IS THE DON JUAN.

And this picture is a to-go Don Juan. When you eat in, you get several tortillas and a pile of the eggs, bacon, potato, and cheese and you just go for it-y ou can make the tacos as big or small as you want. It's delicious and magical and sooooooooooooo good. The only thing I wish could be better is the hot sauce- I'm not very fond of it. When we ate in, the service was very speedy, even though it was so crowded.

I don't have a picture of the actual restaurant, but it's very cluttered on the inside, which I seem to like for some reason. All along the walls are newspaper clippings about the restaurant, or celebrities shaking hands with Don Juan himself.

When you eat in, the owner, Juan Meza, often walks around, checking up on the customers, shaking their hands, and just making sure everyone is having a nice day. It's a very pleasant atmosphere.

I think I would give Juan in a Million a 4/5. The tacos are very good, but I just can't shake the deliciousness that is Taco Loco back home. DEFINITELY worth a try if you're in Austin and you haven't tried it for some reason. I definitely look forward to coming here whenever I can.

They're open every day from 7 am-3 pm, and around noon they're REALLY crowded.

Prices are super affordable. A normal breakfast taco is like $2.25. The Don Juan, which you can easily split into 2-3 meals, is priced at $4.50. I've only had breakfast, but I'm sure the lunch prices aren't that much higher.

Juan in a Million

Evangeline Cafe

I've been waiting forever to review this place! First of all, look at that picture. Cluttered and cute, am I right?

So starting in about November of last year I went on a gumbo kick. I just wanted good gumbo all the time- that's not too much to ask, is it? Well, one day I was looking on Yelp.com for some good cheap restaurants and I stumbled across Evangeline Cafe- a small Cajun restaurant off of Brodie Lane, and there was only one thing on my mind:

GUMBO!

So Drew and I got in the car and drove on over to this place for lunch- it was pretty crowded but there was no wait for a table and we were seated right away. I don't think I got a lemonade the first time we went there, but I've had it since, and their lemonade deserves a mention- it's delicious and tangy and sweet and everything you'd want a lemonade to be.

Now...Evangeline's has a whole list of appetizers- I've yet to try the alligator bites, BUT I WILL. I like to consider myself something of a connoisseur of fried pickles....and Evangeline Cafe might have the best I've had yet. And I grew up in the same city as Riverpoint, which got famous on HGTV for their fried pickles. The pickles at Evangeline's has just a little bit of spice to it that makes them irresistible- and a must have every time we go.

Their menu, at first glance, can look a bit pricey- especially for a college student. The trick to Evangeline's is to go at lunch- they have lunch specials that are delicious and cheap! Without fail I get the combo that is a Po-Boy of your choice (fried shrimp for this girl!) and a cup of either gumbo or red beans and rice (Your guess to which one I choose!). The first time we went, Drew got the fried catfish Po-Boy, which he liked. I had a bite of his and devoured mine, and my vote lies with the shrimp, but I'm just not a big catfish person.

When you get a Po-Boy, you have a choice of sauce to try on it. Go for the Evangeline Sauce- it's sort of like a Thousand Island Dressing- orange and tangy. It's not overpowering in the slightest, so you're still able to taste whatever you got as the primary ingredient in the sandwich, again, I recommend the fried shrimp.

Their gumbo.
Is.
Amazing.

In all seriousness, their gumbo is seasoned to deliciousness and just the right mix of rice, broth (is that what it's called?), and chicken and sausage. It's probably my current favorite thing ever. I wish I could describe it more, but I just can't find the words. All I know is that I'm always really sad when I'm done with it.

My only complaint about Evangeline's-- and I mean it, my ONLY complaint-- is that it's normally pretty busy, which means that the waitstaff can get pretty tied up. I've never had an awful experience with this, but it's something to keep in mind if you're in a hurry.

The lunch combos at Evangeline Cafe range anywhere from $6-$8, depending on what you get. They're only available Monday-Saturday (Evangeline's is closed on Sundays) from 11-3, so you have plenty of opportunities to try them out. My normal ticket here is around $15 dollars....a little pricier than some places, but still doable on occasions for a college student, and completely worth it.

They have live music here almost every night, I think. So if you'd like to catch some music, try this place out at night- the baskets and gumbo are still under $10.

My rating is 5/5, because I love this place so much. Drew and I have been back here several times since we first tried it, and there's a reason for that- delicious food and a great, fun atmosphere!

Evangeline Cafe

Texas Chili Parlor

The first stop on our list was back in January- we went to the Texas Chili Parlor, which I had been DYING to try for the past year. Finally the Texas weather got cold enough when our schedules weren't busy (which was always the problem in the Fall semester), and Drew and I, along with my roommate Maria, headed on over there for lunch.

First of all, it was only a 15 minute or so walk from the UT campus, which didn't bother me, since we were about to eat anyway (in my mind it evens each other out!). We got there and there was about a 10 minute wait- it was Friday around lunch time. We got in and I was immediately digging the atmosphere- the walls were cluttered with all kinds of memorabilia, the lighting was dimmed a bit, there was a bar towards the front of the store, and the waiters were talking to their tables like they were old friends. It was all very kitschy and familiar, and I loved it.

Now for starters, you have GOT to get their bottomless chips and salsa- it's probably some of the best salsa I've ever had. For $2.50, you have absolutely no excuse to NOT get them. Just do it. Don't question me on this.

Now if you like chunky chili, I think this is the place for you. They have 3 spiciness levels of their chili. Drew, Maria, and I all got the mild (X) chili, and it was pretty tasty. I'd probably get the Spicy (XX) chili next time...I need a little spice in my life! However, there were large chunks of meat in my chili- which I realize is weird to say since chili is literally just a bowl of chunks of meat, more or less. But these chunks were a little tough to chew, and that's not really what I like in my chili. But hey, to each her own.

I wish I had started this blog earlier like I was planning, because I'm having a bit of trouble remembering every little detail. But (to my recollection) I don't think this chili had beans in it- which is always a plus in my book!

So in the end, I was able to get a drink, some AMAZING chips and salsa, and a bowl of beanless(?) chili for a total of around $10. Which, let's face it- is awesome.

All in all, I'd give this place a 3.5/5, but hey, who am I to judge? If you're in the mood for some chili, check them out and see for yourself!

Texas Chili Parlor

The Girl Behind the Blog

Hey guys!

A little about me: I'm a 2nd year Radio-Television-Film major at the University of Texas at Austin. At the start of the Spring '13 semester, my boyfriend and I decided to venture out from our normal restaurants (read: P. Terry's) and try some of the food the lovely city of Austin has to offer.

Every few weeks Drew and I find a local restaurant we want to try and just go for it. What kind of Austinite would I be if I didn't share in my adventures?

P.S.: I'm always open for new suggestions!