Curra's - Mexican Food, Yucatan Style

Curra's Grill - 614 Oltorf Street, Austin TX 78704

512.444.0012

www.currasgrill.com

After several attempts to find a good authentic Mexican restaurant in Austin, Abby and I ended up at Curra's, which came recommended by a local foodie. We were excited to try it, as it featured interior Mexican cooking from the Yucatan region--something that we never yet tried.

Atmosphere:

In my opinion, good Mexican should never be too upscale. So while Curra's features a nice enough atmosphere, it's nothing fancy. The interior has colorful chairs and tables and even showcases Aztec-style art on the walls. Although Abby and I sat outside, I kept peeking inside, admiring a large Aztec tapestry.

The pro of sitting outside was that we got to enjoy the music of a live band. This is quite common in Austin, as I mentioned in my Stubb's review--and it's what I absolutely love about this city. Just like at Stubb's, the vibe at Curra's was casual and laid-back. We didn't feel rushed, as we let ourselves relax after a long working day.

Food:

After our dining experience at Curra's, we couldn't be happier that we took our friend's advice. The food was spectacular and the drinks were among the most original I've ever seen.

Chile con Queso - We just had to have this, as we knew that Austin features some of the best homemade queso in the country. We ordered a small but the portion seemed bottomless--even after we were done, there was a lot left over. The queso was absolutely delicious--it was chunky with plenty of ground beef and the actual cheese was as smooth as silk. A nice touch was the spoonful of guacamole on top--it was simple but a nice complement to the cheese. The chips were awesome too--they were super thin, light and maybe even homemade.

Avocado Margarita - Our foodie friend told us about this unusual margarita--only in Texas... I was on a mission to try it and was so glad that I did. Despite it sounding peculiar and unappetizing, it was fabulous. Citrusy from the lime, it had only the faintest hint of avocado. I think that the avocado showed itself more in texture--it was really creamy and buttery. Abby tried it too and was surprised at how good it was.

Mole Enchiladas - You might laugh at the above picture of these (I did!)--look like anything familiar? Besides its unnerving "natural" presentation, this dish was spectacular. The mole sauce was thick and almost chocolatey, perfectly paired with the tender chicken and beef enchiladas. I liked the modest sprinkling of sesame seeds on top, never seeing this before, I thought it was original and very tasty. The sides of refried pinto beans and rice were also great and I devoured almost everything on my plate.

Fish Tacos - This was Abby's entree and although I didn't try it, she loved it. The tacos were stuffed with fried snapper filet strips, served with fruit, pico de gallo and chipotle cream sauce. Abby who's sort of a fish taco connoisseur was muy impressed!

Service and Cost:

Just like at Stubb's, the service was really fast. The minute that we sat down, our order was taken and I think that our food arrived within 15 minutes of us sitting down. As I mentioned, we didn't feel rushed--so we hung out for quite a while and enjoyed some good conversation.

The prices at Curra's were incredible. Our margaritas were $4.95 each as well as the queso, while our entrees were both under $10. The entire dinner cost less than $25 each and I can't even explain how full we were--literally bursting at the seams.

3 Mmmms

Stubb's BBQ - Real Texan 'Q

Stubb's Bar-B-Que - 801 Red River, Austin TX 78701

512.480.8341

www.stubbsaustin.com

I had the great fun of going to Austin, Texas this week for work. Visiting this city once before, I knew what I was in for--friendly folk, unbeatable live music and of course amazing bbq. On our first night, we tried an awesome local 'q spot called Stubb's.

Atmosphere:

Although Stubb's doesn't seem like much in terms of atmosphere, it's pretty famous--especially in the music world. Back in the 70's, Stubb's served as the place for respite and song for legendary musicians such as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt among others. Today, it continues to be the venue for local music acts, showcasing different live bands each night. We caught some action at the end of our meal, as music infiltrates all corners of the space--both in the dining room and in the lower-level amphitheater. Overall, the atmosphere is casual and relaxed--you can walk in wearing your oldest pair of jeans, a comfy t-shirt and no one will look at you twice.

Food:

Stubb's came recommended by a fellow co-worker and Texan, Jackie. She raved about its tasty food--and she was so right. Blue Smoke and Hill Country, watch out!

Red River Rita - We started the evening with a typical Southern drink--a margarita. Our expectations were high, as we craved a 'rita with the freshest ingredients, rimmed with the coarsest salt. While I thought that Stubb's' version tasted fresh, it was too sweet for me--the sugar biting the back of my throat. I kept pouring water into my glass to dilute it yet it was still too sweet.

Fried Green Tomatoes - I've heard a lot about this Southern snack but have never had the opportunity to try it--until now. My co-worker Abby and I devoured 6 large green tomato halves. Served with a tangy tartar sauce, the tomatoes were firm and sort of sweet on the inside with a beautiful crispy crust on the outside. What I loved about them is that they weren't messy and seedy, like your standard red tomatoes. I'd reorder this dish in a heartbeat--and Abby would too.

Stubb's Minor Combo Plates - Abby and I got two of these and shared everything on our plate. We ordered four types of meats and four types of sides.

The Meats - We chose a little bit of everything--brisket, chicken, pork ribs and sausage. Out of these, my favorites were the ribs and chicken--they were marinated in Stubb's smoky bbq sauce. The chicken was tender with delicious crispy skin while the ribs were topped with a tasty dry rub that Texas is known for. I thought that the brisket was too dry and I had to use more of Stubb's' bbq sauce to give it flavor. The sausage was yummy yet it didn't have enough spice. I wouldn't have minded a little more seasoning.

The Sides - This was the most exciting part of the meal, in my eyes. I couldn't wait to try Stubb's' version of creamy mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, cole-slaw and Serrano cheese spinach. Abby and I both agreed that the mac and cheese reigned supreme--it was silky smooth and really cheesy without being heavy. The cole slaw was another favorite because it was crunchy and not drenched in mayo. I could've done without the spinach, which sounded amazing on the menu but was way too spicy in real life. The mashed were good but uneventful--I really couldn't see anything special about them. They came with a side of gravy, which was so needed--without it, the mashed were too dry.

Service and Cost:

Our waitress was really quick--almost too quick because it seemed like she couldn't wait to serve the next table. She brought out the drinks even before we had a chance to start up a dinner conversation and our main dishes appeared a mere 8-10 minutes later. I'm not complaining--we were super hungry and the fast service was appreciated. However, I didn't get a taste of the Southern hospitality that I was hoping for.

We couldn't believe how affordable this place was. Our fried green tomatoes were just $5.95 and our combo meals set us back $13.95 each. With drinks, the whole dinner ended up being well under $60. This is simply unheard of at NY BBQ joints--especially at Blue Smoke. I'd surely come back the next time I'm in town.

3 Mmmms