August 2, 2006
Austinist Pigs Out: Blue Star Cafeteria and Ranch 616
John at Blue Star Cafeteria and Emily at Ranch 616 reminded us this week that, yeah, the food is the thing, but fantastic table service can make first-class food out of this world.
Don’t let the word cafeteria fool you - Eddie Bernal’s handsome and fresh Blue Star Cafeteria, the little sister of 34th Street Deli and Santa Rita Tex Mex Cantina, put a great big selection of comfort foods in front of our fat little faces - think vegetarian patty melts that don’t sacrifice taste, big honkin’ cheeseburgers that you can call juicy without being cliché, crispy fries, herby fried artichoke hearts – washed down with water and wine – and you’ll start to get the picture. More smart than fancy, the food goes hand-in-hand with the modern décor, and Eddie’s friendliness and attentive wait staff dish out subtle reminders to come back soon.
Blue Star Cafeteria
4800 Burnet Rd.
Lovejoy’s Bartender and MySpace Hooker Davis’ birthday led us downtown to Ranch 616 where we were reminded that Chef Kevin Williamson’s dichotomous upscale yet homey approach to eating in Austin allows us to show up in flip-flops, drink our fill of viognier and micheladas, and stuff ourselves to the gills with unexpected Texas cuisine . Caldo de pollo authentico, fish tacos, fried onions and (deceptively safe-looking) fried jalapenos, startlingly delicious fish cakes with signature chili lime aioli, and exceptionally tender calamari went perfectly with the involuntary foot-stomping caused by Lucas Hudgins and the First Cousins. Once more for good measure, though, please be careful – the fried jalapenos look harmless.
Ranch 616
616 Nueces St.
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santa rita is the worst. frat-mex. it's where people from plano and the woodlands go to eat mexican food when they infest our town.
After the whole kiddie controversy with Blue Star Cafeteria, I figured it was only fair I try it myself. I found what I had (the reuben) to be overpriced and underwhelming, alas. Among other things, a reuben's bread should be just-right cruncy, not sopping-in-oil greasy.
I didn't see much on the menu that couldn't be had cheaper and better at the Little Deli - desserts included.
Also, the acoustics were lousy (very noisy). That could be good or bad depending on what you want. (Maybe the acoustics are how the whole kiddie controversy started)
we just got back from Blue Star. the cod was crisp and fresh and the blue burger was savory. the fries were cold so we asked for more, which cam eout lukewarm. the staff was friendly, but despite good food and decent service, the place is TOTALL OVERPRICED. a blue burger and coke, after tip, $16. a small salad with cod, no drink, with tip, $24. i felt like i was visiting friends in dallas. it seemed to be full of a lot of soccer moms and a few office peeps. interestingly, there was a UPS guy eating at the bar. damn, getting to wear shorts to the offic eand shell out $16 for lunch. i need a new job, apparently.
Durnit, I knew when I passed out early last night that I was missing something. Davis' birthday!
I suspect the reason I passed out early Tuesday was that Monday night, I was up late with Davis drinking to the arrival of his birthday. I still need to find out what happened with Chacho and the shower.
Oh yeah, The Blue Star and Ranch 616 are great ... I don't care if I know folks who work at each place ... that's got nothing to do with it ... really!