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MAX’S WINE DIVE
The 50 Best Burgers 2009 »
207 San Jacinto Blvd (512-904-0111)
Open Mon–Wed 4–midnight, Thur–Sat 11–2 a.m., Brunch Sun 11–3.
web site | map | latest review | photo | access ++ |  add to library | |
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Wine Bar /
Eclectic |
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(From December 2009) A starter of falling-off-the-bone baby back ribs—glazed in hoisin and glitzy with cilantro and chile sauce—ignited our taste buds at this stylishly converted warehouse beloved of the downtown profes-sional set. By comparison, the buffalo sliders seemed bland, and we snoozed through the trio of fried green tomatoes, pickles, and jalapeño slices. But we all—including the quasi-vegetarian at the table—snapped to over the silky richness of cola-glazed pork belly flanked by sauerkraut and warm potato salad. The ultrarich mac and cheese almost did us in. Happy hour is popular, and l-o-u-d. Beer & wine. |
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MULBERRY
360 Nueces (512-320-0297)
Dinner 7 days 5–11 (bar open till 1 a.m. Sun–Thur, 2 a.m Fri & Sat). Brunch Sat & Sun 10-4.
web site | map | latest review | photo | access ++ | add to library | |
$$-$$$ |
American /
Wine Bar |
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(From January 2009) This newish wine bar is small (intimate is in), sleek (mod is cool), and stylish (Michael Hsu, of Olivia fame, is the designer). As we watched the smartly dressed crowd of twentysomethings catching up on the day, we noshed on meatballs in a delicious broth tinged with white wine, lemon, and bay leaves. We also approved of the braised veal atop creamy polenta with fennel-apple salad (though a tad bit-ter), and a smooth white Bordeaux left us glowing. Kudos to the staff for wine knowledge and friendliness. But beware if you sit at the table in the back corner (the one with the derrière-numbing benches), because you could die over there before a server notices. Beer & wine. |
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UNCORKED TASTING ROOM
900 E. 7th (512-524-2809)
Open Mon–Fri 11–midnight, Sat 3 p.m.–1 a.m. Closed Sun.
web site | map | latest review | photo | access ++ | add to library | |
$–$$ |
Wine Bar |
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(From November 2008) Ultracool—that describes this sleek urban spot on the outer rim of gentrified East Austin. We watched the sun set behind the Capitol (a stellar sight, by the way) as we tasted a flight of light whites. Then our cheese “bowl” arrived: a baguette, grapes, honey, chèvre, feta, and an amazing baby caprino dredged in fine charcoal (the young cheesemaker hails from Blanco). Korean beef bulgogi with sticky rice and a cool cucumber salad satisfied, but it was the seared ahi tuna rubbed with sesame that blew us away—simple, succulent, and utterly pristine. Beer & wine. |
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VINO VINO
4119 Guadalupe (512-465-9282)
Dinner Sun–Thur 5:30–10, Fri & Sat 5:30–11.
web site | map | latest review | photo | access ++ | add to library | |
$$ |
Wine Bar |
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(From December 2009) You can fashion a satisfying supper of serial nibbles at this semi-cavernous wine bar made cozy by glowing red lamps. We started with a great little salad of baby arugula, fresh figs, and ultrathin slices of good prosciutto dressed with lemon and olive oil. From the “Bigger” section of the menu, we ordered quail wrapped in bacon, sided by fat corona beans and a few clams (several not thoroughly steamed) in a hearty grain-mustard broth. We finished with the dark-chocolate-and-beet cake, lush with shredded beets and sided by mint-marigold ice cream. Wine. |
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