Vino Vino - Austin, TX

I hate wine bars that play off the word "wine" in their names. Vino Vino is a perfect example. It's so cheesy. Joe's Wine Bar would be an infinitely better name. Nevertheless, after reading that the mussels and fries were good, Sweetmonger and I decided to try it. The awful name is in no way an indication of the quality of the food. Our meal was very good.

It's seat yourself and not wanting to take up one of the larger tables we opted for a seat at the bar. The wine list isn't extensive but it's well chosen and our wines were very good. They also have 3 Real Ale beers and 1 Chimay on tap. After my wine I ordered a Real Ale Pale Moon Rye. I haven't mentioned this beer before, but I've been drinking a lot of it lately. It is very well done and has an assertive flavor and beautiful color.

Vino Vino's food was very good. We each ordered two appetizers for our meal. The portions are substantial, and I can't imagine how big their "main" courses are. Sweetmonger went with a lemony chicken soup. It was nice. I had Pork Belly, chard and a carrot gastrique. This dish had a lot of flavor. The Pork Belly was crispy and salty on the outside and fatty, moist and tender on the inside. Just like it should be. I almost loved it; however, it had one problem. I think it stayed in the kitchen a little too long as it was not as warm as it should have been. I am usually a stickler for correct temperature but it tasted so good that I didn't care that much.

For our main courses, we each ordered mussels and fries. The broth was classic: white wine and tarragon. And the fries were served with a delicious aioli. Although these mussels were good the broth by itself was a step below that which we had at The Clay Pit a couple weeks ago. However, when the aioli was mixed in, these mussels were almost every bit as good.

For dessert we ordered a sheep's milk cheese served with red grapes and black pepper. We don't order dessert very often, but I was glad we did this time. It was great.

Vino Vino may become a dining staple for me. I just hope the temperature on the pork belly was a one time screw up, because if they think that is the temperature at which it should be served, then the kitchen has a major problem.

Vino Vino

www.vinovinotx.com

4119 Guadalupe St.

Austin, TX

The Clay Pit - Austin, TX

It always makes you feel good to walk into an Indian restaurant and see a large Indian family eating at a table. Whether it is an accurate predictor of what's to come is another story but it certainly gives you a little confidence that a really good meal is around the corner. Nevertheless, I did not expect anything great from The Clay Pit. I have been disappointed too many times with the food in Austin, and even after walking up to the restaurant surrounded by an amazing two block radius of Indian aroma, I wasn't getting my hopes up.

To say the least, The Clay Pit is one of the better restaurants I have been to in Austin, Texas, and I will be returning again and again. The food is perfectly seasoned, perfectly prepared and ridiculously tasty. Sweetmonger and I started off with and appetizer of Mussels simmered in a garlic, red wine curry. I've eaten a lot of mussels at a lot of different restaurants. These were the best I've ever had. The whole wheat spinach and paneer naan was the perfect bread to soak up the remaining curry sauce too. This may very well be the best single dish I've eaten in since moving to Austin.

Needless to say, our main courses didn't quite live up to the heights of the mussels but they were still very good. I went with the goat curry. The goat meat was falling off the bone tender was a super moist. The curry of ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, tomatoes and onions was robust yet deeply flavored. I wouldn't hesitate to order it again. Even better, the meal went perfectly with my Samuel Smith India Pale Ale. Sweetmonger's main was a great Biryani with a delicious Raita sauce. We tend to be tough to impress, but The Clay Pit did it with room to spare.

The Clay Pit

www.claypit.com

1601 Guadalupe St.

Austin, TX 78701