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Overrated Austin restaurants?


Chet Steadman

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I understand that you're paying for the view at the Oasis.What I don't understand is why they don't hire a real chef and serve decent food. It's really not that hard. I understand the answer is that they don't have to, and that they're always booked anyway so why waste unnecessary resources upping their food game. But damn, that place could be a destination restaurant for the entire State of Texas if they gave two shits about the food.

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Glad to see some mention of PHP’s pizza on here.  I thought it was atrocious and was called crazy for that.  Still go for the beer all the time but can’t remember the last time I ate there.

I’ll throw TopGolf into the mix.  Granted most don’t go there for the food but it’s awful.  It’s the kind of menu where nothing sounds all that great and I always end up disappointed 

 

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I'm not sure why anyone is mentioning PHP as "overrated" when their pizza has been widely criticized for years.  That said, PHP's pizza has gotten a lot better over the past couple of years.  It's still not going to win any awards, but it's decent.

The pizza rolls are very good, and the beer is excellent.  But talking food only, I don't think it's ever been "rated" highly enough by anyone, to ever refer to it as "overrated."

 

 

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1 hour ago, irishtexan said:

I understand that you're paying for the view at the Oasis.What I don't understand is why they don't hire a real chef and serve decent food. It's really not that hard. I understand the answer is that they don't have to, and that they're always booked anyway so why waste unnecessary resources upping their food game. But damn, that place could be a destination restaurant for the entire State of Texas if they gave two shits about the food.

They could hire Wolfgang Puck as the chef, but with the volume and desire to get people in and out of the restaurant, the results would likely be the same.  Since the food is secondary to the atmosphere for most who go there, I think it would be better to have a more limited menu - burger, fajitas, a couple salads.  No reason to try to serve steaks and seafood.

Edited by Jerry Callo
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I don't think most of you know what "overrated" means.

99 percent of the places mentioned here are casual restaurants where you can get a plate of food and a drink or two for $20. Would any of you really suggest Denny's or IHOP over Magnolia or Kerby; or Chili's over Maudie's or Trudy's?

Most of you are wrong. Except for Guero's. That place sucks.

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38 minutes ago, utee94 said:

I'm not sure why anyone is mentioning PHP as "overrated" when their pizza has been widely criticized for years.  That said, PHP's pizza has gotten a lot better over the past couple of years.  It's still not going to win any awards, but it's decent.

The pizza rolls are very good, and the beer is excellent.  But talking food only, I don't think it's ever been "rated" highly enough by anyone, to ever refer to it as "overrated."

No shit.  PHP is a brew pub that makes fantastic beers and has a top notch guest tap list.  They also serve pizza.  Nobody goes there for the pizza and stays for the beer.

And the answer to the question forever will be Jeffrey's (both versions).

Edited by Kringelbert Fishtybuns
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What y'all are doing with saying some of these places are "overrated"... I see it.

I also agree that all of these shitty, overpriced, crowded restaurants named in this thread are overrated. Especially the aforementioned Pinthouse, Hopdoddy and Amy's. Shitty shitty shitty. People should stop going. Spread the word.

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Seriously you fuckers. Go to PHP. Get a beer. While drinking the first, go ahead and hop back in line and order another.  In the meantime, have a friend who you buy a beer for on your second time through the line order pizza rolls and the Armadillo. By then, go get another beer.  Smash some very good pizza rolls and a pretty good but not great pizza while very buzzed.  Enjoy. Profit.

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23 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

I've had some great burgers at Hopdoddy's and Casino.  I'm sure there are plenty of other good burgers in Austin, but I'd like to see the definitive Top 10 list, because if those two aren't on it I'm missing some damn good options.

I know Hopfield's gets a lot of love.  I'll assume it's Top 10.

I like plenty of bar burgers like Roaring Fork, etc. but they're not exactly transcendent.  Where are all these hidden gems hiding out?

I used to live in an apartment directly behind Crown & Anchor. I gotta say it's my favorite place in town when I'm craving a burger. Nau's drug is kind of a cool experience for a burger. 

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1 hour ago, PatSolitanojr said:

Nau's drug is kind of a cool experience for a burger. 

Sure, if you have an hour or two to wait for a burger.

The last two times I've been, I've watched the girl make one ticket at a time. She won't start a single item from the next order until the entire first order is complete. I waited an hour the last time and there were only 3 other tables there ( 2 top, 2 top, 3 top) and there were only 2 of us.

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12 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

Extra virgin olive oil, house cheese blend, local artisan sausage, poblano peppers, ricotta cheese, and cilantro.

Yup, I like that one.  Why do you hate Poblano peppers?

But the one I get the most often is the Banh Mi.  Or, just a pizza roll and a salad, to save room for more beer.

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I understand that you're paying for the view at the Oasis.What I don't understand is why they don't hire a real chef and serve decent food. It's really not that hard. I understand the answer is that they don't have to, and that they're always booked anyway so why waste unnecessary resources upping their food game. But damn, that place could be a destination restaurant for the entire State of Texas if they gave two shits about the food.

They did a few times from what I heard but they couldn’t retain a decent head chef likely due to the high volume and cheap owner.


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On 4/16/2018 at 1:53 PM, Brisketexan said:

Gueros is mediocre for every thing...except one.  Their tacos al pastor are really, really good (or at least they were, last I went a coupla years ago).

It's the only thing I get there -- tacos al pastor and a cold beverage, and I'm happy.

Otherwise....yeah, overrated.

Yup - tacos al pastor are the way to go. 

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On 4/16/2018 at 3:03 PM, Doc Holliday said:

I'll keep an eye out for her as they are right around the corner from me and I really hope they figure out their operations as half the menu wasn't available and everything was slow to come out.

Are you in Windsor Park or University Hills? I live close by as well and am looking forward to having a drink and appetizers at their bar one night. The place looks great.

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The Hula Hut
I haven't found anything there that is worth a shit


The queso and fajitas are solid but not really worth the pain in the ass it typically is to go there between the waits and parking. It also seems to have gone downhill a bit since Chuy’s sold it off.
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On 4/15/2018 at 5:09 PM, Captain Ron said:

Hideout Pub
Bender Bar
Pour House Pub
Hopdoddy
Jeffrey's 
Crown & Anchor
Counter Cafe
Vince Young's
Huts
P. Terry's
 

Glad you posted this because I was having trouble thinking of overrated restaurants I feel that strongly about.

But, 1. Hopdoddy. Overrated AF. $20+ for burger fries and a drink? It's not that f'n good. I'd rather get BBQ for that price point.

Also, Huts and P. Terry's are not better than Casino El Camino (and I'm cool with P Terry's). And whoever said Via 313 is overrated needs to get kicked.

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3 hours ago, BurdineBandit said:

But, 1. Hopdoddy. Overrated AF. $20+ for burger fries and a drink?

A cheeseburger and fries at Hopdoddy is $11.  Yeah, it's "high" compared to Top Notch, but well less than Roaring Fork and equal to Waterloo Ice House, and better than all three.  I'm not sure I get the complaint (other than the wait, which is ridiculous).

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2 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

A cheeseburger and fries at Hopdoddy is $11.  Yeah, it's "high" compared to Top Notch, but well less than Roaring Fork and equal to Waterloo Ice House, and better than all three.  I'm not sure I get the complaint (other than the wait, which is ridiculous).

I'm really not one who quibbles or complains about a few bucks here or there if I think something is good.  But this conversation made me think of my experience at All Star Burger this weekend- burger, fries and fountain drink - $18 and change.  wtf  

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2 minutes ago, Jack Straw said:

I'm really not one who quibbles or complains about a few bucks here or there if I think something is good.  But this conversation made me think of my experience at All Star Burger this weekend- burger, fries and fountain drink - $18 and change.  wtf  

For a good, real-deal burger and fries for the family, we've really become a Mighty Fine family.  It's plenty good, consistent, fresh, not too expensive (feeding 4, including a teenage boy).  It's not gourmet, but it ain't fast food.  Different burgers make different sense at different price points.

I love a big-ass gourmet $15 burger sometimes.  I love a $2.50 thin patty bowling alley burger sometimes.  I won't pay $10 for the bowling alley burger.  And as far as gourmet burgers, once you get above $12-15, you're wasting money.

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^^ right, i guess that was my point, that a towering speciality burger like casino or hopdoddy or houston's (bartlett's) is not something I have a problem paying extra $ for - $10, $12, $14, whatever -  and All Star just seems like a run of the mill non-fast food burger - to me anyway (not to mention the burger to bun ratio on the stuffed blue cheese burger almost made me laugh out loud).  that said, i haven't had a mighty fine in years - and that sounds pretty damn good right now.

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