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As the first coolish wind of fall playfully raked its craggy fingers through our follicles, we tromped toward Guadalupe, our stomachs growling. But, alas, we were met with upturned chairs and the swish-swish of a broom herding the last of a day’s worth of wayward crust crumbs into a dustbin. We checked the door: Boom’s closes at nine. It was 9:10. As we wandered, heartbroken, north on Guadalupe and wondered aloud whether or not Starbuck’s served salads along with its corporate coffee, Papa Hog remembered seeing, among the rubber chickens and fire-breathing nuns of Toy Joy, a wonderful looking salad in Toy Joy’s new addition, Dhaba Joy. We promptly turned south and headed toward 29th Street, a new mission for sustenance upon us. However, peering through the window of Dhaba Joy among colorful chairs and tables (surely they don’t leave these lovely things out all night?) we could see cookies and cakes and pastries and coffee drinks but no salads. Forlorn, we wandered, stunned, into the parking lot next door, the scent of lint and clingfree sheets hanging in the air. Suddenly, Mama Hog remembered that La Madeleine served salads. "Maybe they’re open!" she exclaimed. After a determined trek across the neighborhood—this was our last hope—we arrived at La Madeleine’s doors: open till 10 on weekdays! The salad pickins’ were getting to the bottom of the trough, but fortunately we arrived just before a herd of college students and there was enough for us hogs. Mama Hog bravely chose the spinach salad with mushrooms, bacon, red bell peppers, strawberries, and pecans with a balsamic vinagarette. ("Is that salad poop free?" Papa Hog asked. "Yes," replied the beret-topped salad server.) Papa Hog ordered the salad sampler, which gives a hog three choices of salad and soup. Papa chose Caesar’s salad, fruit salad (healthy!), and a cup of French onion soup that tango’d on the tongue. The food was good, and Mama Hog exclaimed that it hit the spot. For whatever reason, we Hogs never remember La Madeleine as a potential trough stop. Papa Hog believes it’s because of the horror he experienced when he realized how much saturated fat was in their tomato basil soup, his favorite (La Madeleine started selling jarred amounts of the stuff and were required to provide "nutritional" information on the side. It’s like reading a Stephen King novel: one serving has 14.2 grams of saturated fat, 70 percent of your daily recommended amount, and there is surely more than 8 ounces in those Texas-sized servings!) Mama Hog thinks we don’t remember la Mad because we’re a little biased against chains, altough La Mad is Texas born via Dallas. Perhaps it's because our first experience in a La Mad was in an uptight part of Dallas, which wasn’t agreeable to us laidback, mud-rolling slobs from Austin. Nonetheless, this little bit of wannabe France west of the neighborhood can be a hog-saver when the bellies are a-calling. Entertainment bonus: upon leaving, a homeless dude offered to jump from a perilously high retaining wall across the street for a dollar!
The menu at Salvation Pizza is simple enough: pizza, large or small, and salad. For the pizzas, Salvation has the standard toppings – pepperoni, sausage, black olive, and Canadian bacon - and a few unexpected ones: spinach, snow peas, baby clams, bacon, lemon, capers, asparagus, shrimp, and broccoli (broccoli?), among others. They call their wares Pizza Napoletana, which is a fancy way of saying "thin crust only." They have a list of "top ten" standard pizzas, all of which are inventive at some level. How about a #2 of asparagus, bacon, and jalapeno? Or a #9 of baby clams, lemon, and olive oil? That is not to say you can’t get your standard toppings, but why not try something kooky? (We hogs would like them to add a pizza called "The Slop Bucket.") Papa Hog has enjoyed Salvation’s version of sausage, mushroom, and black olives (one of Papa’s comfort foods) spiced up from time to time with mild jalapenos. Mama Hog prefers white pizzas and has been pleased with Salvation’s margarita pie. We both agree that Salvation’s pies are pretty darn good. In fact, with our previous favorite pizza places either closing down or messing with their dough recipe, Salvation has become our pizza trough of choice. Papa Hog and a friend, Bern-Hog, went to experience Salvation in person (Mama and Papa Hog had only gotten take out living only a block away). Fortunately, Salvation inherited Starlite’s outdoor patio, which is a plus for the pizza-trough experience. The staff were friendly and even put two of our beers on ice until we finished the other two we brought (Salvation is working on getting a beer and wine license). The pizza was mighty fine: a small pie amply filling two hungry hogs for not a lot of green. All in all, two hooves up. Liz and Michael, the owners, have created a fine addition to the ‘hood. So if you are looking for a great slice of non-frat pizza, Salvation is just a few blocks away… Salvation Pizza is located at 624 W. 34th Street
(535-6676, no delivery). Small pizzas range from $10 to 12.50 and large pizzas range from
$14 to 17.50, depending on the toppings.
But with change comes opportunity, and the closing of the Granite brought Fino, the second restaurant of the fine folks that brought Austin Asti in Hyde Park. Similar to the Granite, Fino is a nice place. In fact, it’s the nicest restaurant in the ’hood. It’s a place to take a date if you want to impress them, to celebrate something special, or take family (as long as they don’t drink bottles and bottles of champagne). Fino has completely redecorated the place, not that it was a <ahem> pigsty before, but it is sleeker now–more modern. Gloriously, the patio is still open for outside dining. And the chow? Yummy! If you’d like, you can eat tapas-style by ordering a number of what Fino calls "small plates." The first several times Mama and Papa Hog were at Fino, we couldn’t get past the small plates. The steamed mussels in spicy tomato and fennel broth are wonderful as are the oven-roasted shrimp with feta cheese, tomato, and oregano. Fino also has "big plates" which are likewise filled with snort-worthy chow. And hogs like big plates. Papa Hog’s favorite big plate thus far is the pan seared scallops in three ways: (1) green olive and lemon tapenade, (2) bacon panzanella, and (3) avocado and summer corn salsa. Papa Hog doesn’t know what half of this stuff is, but his big plate is always cleaned in short order. Mama Hog has squealed in delight over the semolina crusted trout plaki! Fino serves other fish dishes as well vegetarian dishes and lamb, pork, and chicken dishes. Fino also has specials (a grilled trout was unbelievably good one evening). Fino also serves paella for two, although it has been a little bit of a hit or miss with us. And what hog can resist dessert? How about pistachio baklava with homemade pistachio ice cream and apricot sauce? Blackberry clafouti with sour cream ice cream? Looks like Mama Hog’s gonna have to spray off Papa Hog more often (and put some lipstick on herself) and head to Fino’s at least once a week... Small plates range from about $5 to $10, big plates range from $16 to $22, and desserts are $8. Fino is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, dinner on Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Full bar! (Fino Restaurant Patio and Bar, 2905 San Gabriel St, 474-2905, M-Sat,
Papa Hog, having always enjoyed a good chicken pot pie, tried the chicken and mushroom pie and enjoyed it thoroughly (the folks sitting next to us gave us odd looks because of all the grunting. Hey: A hog’s gotta grunt!) Mama Hog choose the Asian chicken pie and likewise enjoyed it. Boomerang’s provides several "pie toppers:" sauces you can put on your pie if you need additional flavor. The pies are about five dollars a piece, and selection gets limited later in the evening as pies sell out. However, this is probably more a function of a new restaurant finding its stride as Boomerang’s has only been open since early February. The food is served quickly, and the restaurant is a casual place to hang out. A wide-screen television shows the sport event of the day. After a second trip, Papa Hog chuckled to himself again, having a better understanding of the name: "Well, it looks like I’m the boomerang now, because I plan on coming back here again and again!" (Boomerang’s Gourmet Veggie & Meat Pies, 3110 Guadalupe,
Suite 150, 380-0032, M-Sat, 11am-late,
coming soon: please submit potential links to the neighborhood listserv:
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last updated: 06.20.2006 by robert.e.mace |
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Hogs go to La Madeleine. After a late Tuesday night at the office, catching up on
home emails, and 30 minutes downloading reggaeton remixes of old Shakira songs, Mama and
Papa Hog found themselves beneath the clanging of the nine o-clock hour having not had
dinner. Unfortunately, we were both in one of those moods where nothing sounded good.
After searching the refrigerator and pantry several times, Papa Hog found a box of
macaroni and cheese in the cupboard, but Mama Hog aimed her snout toward the ceiling and
snorted: "That is not my favorite brand of mac and cheese." After a brief debate
as to whether or not half a container of cottage cheese would suffice as a meal, we
decided that salads were in order. Now, where to go for salads at this late hour,
especially since neither of us wanted to drive either… First stop: Boomerangs, which
offers side salads in addition to meat pies. 
Hogs at Salvation Pizza. When
Starlite left the neighborhood for more hipster digs in the warehouse district, they
announced that they would open another neighborhood restaurant, although less
hi-falutin’, in its place: House Red. They even painted their original blue house
red. Therefore, imagine our surprise when a pizza joint – that’s right: a pizza
joint! – opened instead. At first, we hogs were concerned about a pizza place called
"Salvation Pizza." Would we get proselytized while eating our pepperoni and
cheese? After all, we are pignostic. Fortunately, there is no religion at Salvation Pizza
unless you equate finding a great slice of 'zah to enlightenment.
Hogs
at Fino. Mama and Papa Hog are always kinda sad when a neighborhood eatery closes
it doors. No more can you hear the tinkle of silverware while savoring an extra-special
specialty. Such was the case with the closing of a neighborhood stalwart, the Granite
Cafe, which, apparently caught between a rock and hard place, closed down. Papa Hog fondly
remembers wheelbarrowing his hobbled sister to the Granite for a graduation dinner with
family and then, emboldened by ample champagne, offering to pick up the check only to be
visibly shocked at the tab (someone had been ordering very very expensive champagne...).
Hogs at Boomerang's. Papa Hog
has to admit that when he saw that the name of the new restaurant opening on Guadalupe was
"Boomerang’s," he got a good chuckle. "What will their slogan
be?" he wondered. "The meal that comes back on you?" But instead of serving
chili, Boomerangs serves gourmet veggie and meat pies in the tradition of the land of down
under. "Aaaahhh!!!!" said Mama Hog, "Boomerangs are from Australia!"
Recently opening in part of the stylishly remodeled building that used to hold Half Price
Books (where you used to take books for resale), Boomerang’s offers a variety of
pies, including chicken and mushroom, southwestern adobe chicken, beef, bbq, pizza, and
two vegetarian choices. They also serve salads, soup, and kettle chip as well as beer,
including several beers from the outback. One of the owners, Emilie Fennel, told us that
she and her husband, Jack, had lived in Australia, fell in love with meat pies, and
dreamed of bringing them to Austin. A friend of ours that is familiar with Australian pies
noted that the "key is in the crust." Unlike chicken pots here, the crust in an
Australian pie is wonderfully light and flaky. It’s a pastry! Indeed,
Boomerang’s has the key, because Papa and Mama Hog enjoyed that crust. 
Hogs at Foodheads. Everytime we go
to Foodheads, we think about that Fish Heads song by Barnes & Barnes (Fish heads, fish
heads, roly poly fish heads. Fish heads, fish heads, eat them up, yum!). However, eating
at Foodheads is the polar opposite of eating fish heads. And you gotta love a neighborhood
joint that, in a nod to neighborhood history, names its headline sandwich and specialty
breakfast taco after "Gypsy Grove," the subdivision the restaurant sits on in
our neighborhood. Foodheads is located in a comfortable bungalow on 616 W. 34th
Street. Its shabby chic decor and walls of cookbooks are a comfortable place to enjoy
their tasty breakfast tacos, sandwiches, soups, and salads. The b-fast tacos are great,
but our favorite items on the menu are found in the soups and sandwiches section.
Foodheads makes the tastiest sandwiches in town, including tuna nicoise, pork tenderloin,
and, yes, the Gypsy Grove Sandwich, a heavenly concoction consisting of marinated and
grilled pork tenderloin and grilled ham on garlic toasted baguette with Swiss cheese,
cherry peppers, tabasco slaw, and a fried egg. If your doctor (or your conscience…)
won’t let you eat something like that, Foodheads has a "choose your
veggies" vegetarian sandwich with hummus. Not open on Sundays or for dinner,
Foodheads is a morning or lunch stop kinda place. And no: they don’t serve fish
heads… (616 W. 34th Street; 420-8400; M-F, 7:30am-3:30pm, Sa,
8:30am-close; 
Hogs at Starlite (now moved downtown...). The quaint little house at 626 West
34th Street has held several different restaurants the past decade, including O'Briens,
Senor O'Briens, and Rythmn House. The little blue house now holds one of Austin's fine
dining establishments: Starlite. Starlite is a good place to enjoy a cocktail and
appetizer on the covered patio or a full, and absolutely delicious, meal inside. Starlite
is not a run-to-the-trough-to-eat-and-run-home kinda place. It's a place to savor and
enjoy the evening. Wendy and I really enjoy Mojitos (a rum drink with mint) with the fried
oysters for a Friday-after-work cool down. For dinner, we've tried the pork, duck, and
tuna: all cooked to perfection with a wonderful symphony of flavors. Meals at Starlite
remind me of when we were in France when every bite was a wonderful surprise. The
waitstaff are friendly and very knowledgeable about which wines go with which meals. The
menu is limited and, I'm told, changes often. This is a good thing, because it would be
hard to choose if there was too much to choose from. Reservations are recommended, but
when we eat there, we walk in and can still get a table (although we request to sit
outside: inside seating may be harder). Entrees are in the $20-$25 range. Starlite also
has a delicious Sunday brunch. Highly recommended! *****