Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Surly Horns

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Football ... Basketball ... Baseball ... Other Sports ... Futbol ... 🤫995🤫 ... Gambling ... Movies & TV ... Music ... Hobbies ... Lulz ... Food & Travel ... Daily Texan ... Business & Markets ... Cloak Room ... Help ... For Sale ... Board Discussion ... Advertise... Tailgate Donations

Featured Replies

15 hours ago, Bevo said:

 So where can I live that is like the old Austin if I don't want to live in a place that is like a far inferior version of New York?

Asheville NC, Knoxville TN, Lexington KY, Wilmington, NC, Chattanooga TN.

That's as close as I've seen in my travels.

  • Replies 8.9k
  • Views 563.3k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

Posted Images

3 hours ago, BurntEyes said:

Asheville NC, Knoxville TN, Lexington KY, Wilmington, NC, Chattanooga TN.

That's as close as I've seen in my travels.

I promise you each one of those towns has locals bitching about people moving in and the town changing.  I know Asheville has had a big influx of new residents.

This took me half a second to find...

https://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-crime-public-safety-fox-news-and-friends-criticized-violent-ongoing-homelessness-issues-residents-speak-out-business-owners

“North Carolina locals are demanding their city leaders address surging crimes and homelessness making their streets dangerous,” said 'Fox & Friends' anchor Todd Piro.

The news channel highlighted the city’s 31% increase in violent crime over the last five years, and more than 600 homeless people.

“The city has become completely lawless and all of this drifts over into our neighborhoods,” said Helen Hyatt, of the Asheville Neighborhood Coalition

4 minutes ago, texasdago said:

I promise you each one of those towns has locals bitching about people moving in and the town changing.  I know Asheville has had a big influx of new residents.

This took me half a second to find...

https://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-crime-public-safety-fox-news-and-friends-criticized-violent-ongoing-homelessness-issues-residents-speak-out-business-owners

“North Carolina locals are demanding their city leaders address surging crimes and homelessness making their streets dangerous,” said 'Fox & Friends' anchor Todd Piro.

The news channel highlighted the city’s 31% increase in violent crime over the last five years, and more than 600 homeless people.

“The city has become completely lawless and all of this drifts over into our neighborhoods,” said Helen Hyatt, of the Asheville Neighborhood Coalition

Okay, got it - like Austin 15 years ago.

6 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

spam GIF

Goddamn inflation!!! 

(Checks notes)

apparently Honolulu is inaccessible by standard trucking routes.  

5 minutes ago, Bevo said:

Okay, got it - like Austin 15 years ago.

Y'all are welcome to move so that I can drop into a restaurant on a Saturday night with a slightly shorter wait

In mid-January, there was a murder of a 22 year old at the Cricket Hollow apartments on I-35. Two 21 year-old guys arrested for it this weekend. According to the news story:

"Court documents said officials believed Jaimes and Allen identified Gamez-Santos as a target for robbery, as he was wearing an “Audemars Piguet watch valued at $99,850,” and in the process, committed capital murder when he was shot and killed."

One person dead, three lives destroyed over a fucking fancy watch.

2 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

a fucking fancy watch

And it was probably a $100 fake version anyway.

1 minute ago, Cap33 said:

And it was probably a $100 fake version anyway.

I mean, given the age of the people involved and location, it's very possible. I'd hope that if you have the means to buy a $100K watch that you aren't hanging out in the apartments off 35.

18 minutes ago, Cap33 said:

And it was probably a $100 fake version anyway.

image.gif.6be0719aa57d7dd357cd030249e2e007.gif

In the Philadelphia of Austin, it's worth $50.  You gotta problem with that?  Go see my friend Nicole down on Rainey and we'll see what's waterproof to three atmospheres!

On 2/9/2024 at 2:07 PM, texasdago said:

I'm on my second round living in Austin.  First round was during my college years... the best time for one to live in Austin.  Yeah, it was kick ass back then for sure but "round two" me will tell you the current Austin while more expensive - definitely more expensive - offers better food than it used to, dare I say more music options than before (the music scene/options are truly ridiculous), more places to go have fun at night (used to just be mostly 6th street and Red River a few places in west campus... now east Austin, west 6th, south Lamar/1st/congress, etc), more outdoor options (just look at the people paddleboarding on Town Lake and having a good time... nobody did that crap when I was in college), breweries, wineries, stuff in the hill country, a more vibrant downtown (I don't miss the surface lots)... I really enjoy it.  I do hope to get the F out of Texas eventually but, for now, I'm making the most of it... even at 109 degrees.

Every perk of "New Austin" is nothing unique to Austin.  Breweries, wineries, live music, decent restaurants, all these things are popping up in almost every town with a decent sized population.  Breweries are sprouting up left and right, and are currently experience attrition due to oversaturation and people switching from beer to other alternatives or not drinking.  Seems like local restaurants are overtaking the chains left and right, too.  As good as we are locally, we still don't have a ton of great James Beard winners, nor do we boast a single Michelin star in the city.  I would say your experience is more of a post-covid culture shift versus an Austin awakening.

2 minutes ago, PvilleStang said:

Seems like local restaurants are overtaking the chains left and right, too.  As good as we are locally, we still don't have a ton of great James Beard winners, nor do we boast a single Michelin star in the city.

It would be impossible for an Austin restaurant to be granted a Michelin star.  They only review restaurants in New York, California, Illinois, Florida, and Washington DC.

I’ll tell the guys at Bert’s to find another dream.

On 2/11/2024 at 10:29 AM, MAUFRAIS said:

52705df8ca1e833910a09185a0678773.gif

image.thumb.png.52e5033f8df6f6c8045a9dcbe487013d.png

55 minutes ago, PvilleStang said:

Every perk of "New Austin" is nothing unique to Austin.  Breweries, wineries, live music, decent restaurants, all these things are popping up in almost every town with a decent sized population.  Breweries are sprouting up left and right, and are currently experience attrition due to oversaturation and people switching from beer to other alternatives or not drinking.  Seems like local restaurants are overtaking the chains left and right, too.  As good as we are locally, we still don't have a ton of great James Beard winners, nor do we boast a single Michelin star in the city.  I would say your experience is more of a post-covid culture shift versus an Austin awakening.

But... so???  Just because Austin has new breweries and wineries and decent restaurants and other places do too doesn't mean anything to me.  It doesn't discount the positives of those things were I live.  

As for Michelin Stars, I've never cared about that.  Is there a single Michelin starred restaurant in Texas?  If there was, would most of the people in Austin care?  And if they did, would they be the people that Old Austin rants about?  Probably.  

  • Author

We are just a bunch of old ladies at a denture finding party complaining about shit. Here's all of us on this thread to everything in Austin.

cd9c14b8bdde3a69670ed864d6de3014.gif&f=1

4 minutes ago, texasdago said:

As for Michelin Stars, I've never cared about that.  Is there a single Michelin starred restaurant in Texas?  If there was, would most of the people in Austin care?  And if they did, would they be the people that Old Austin rants about?  Probably.  

Again, 4 states and DC.  No other states could have a starred restaurant.  The lack of a star is a non-starter (heh) for restaurants in most states -- they can't get one, no matter how good the food is.

1 minute ago, crash_davis said:

We are just a bunch of old ladies at a denture finding party complaining about shit. Here's all of us on this thread to everything in Austin.

cd9c14b8bdde3a69670ed864d6de3014.gif&f=1

2, 1,......man, I just can't do this.

On 2/10/2024 at 10:07 PM, YGIFS said:

Goddamn inflation!!! 

(Checks notes)

apparently Honolulu is inaccessible by standard trucking routes.  

and yet they have an interstate highway....;)

Hey kids, look.  Pearl Harbor!  I just can’t seem to merge over to the left.  

4 minutes ago, YGIFS said:

Hey kids, look.  Pearl Harbor!  I just can’t seem to merge over to the left.  

5f8914e6-560b-4542-b7bc-6bec05102be4_tex

3 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Again, 4 states and DC.  No other states could have a starred restaurant.  The lack of a star is a non-starter (heh) for restaurants in most states -- they can't get one, no matter how good the food is.

used to do nevada until 2019 as well but stopped because people weren't buying the book for vegas.

as our local michelin reviewer expert, i can tell you that there are a few restaurants in austin that that would definitely qualify for at least a star if, as jimmy points out, michelin actually reviewed austin.

i would venture a guess that amongst pasta bar, juniper, este, dai due, suerte, franklin, odd duck...there'd be a couple that could get a star.  certainly nowhere in austin has the focus on service hospitality necessary for a 2 or 3 star but food quality wise, there are a few.

6 minutes ago, sidis said:

i would venture a guess that amongst pasta bar, juniper, este, dai due, suerte, franklin, odd duck...there'd be a couple that could get a star.  certainly nowhere in austin has the focus on service hospitality necessary for a 2 or 3 star but food quality wise, there are a few.

I rarely dine at that level . . . would any of the Uchi restaurants make the grade in your mind?

1 minute ago, jimmyjazz said:

I rarely dine at that level . . . would any of the Uchi restaurants make the grade in your mind?

uchi and uchiko are definitely michelin star level food.  they have no service though.  they have waiters.  nowhere in austin has 2/3 michelin star service/hospitality.  not even close.  it's an order of magnitude difference...totally inconsequential to the quality and enjoyment of the food but it there is not a single place that even tries to achieve anything in that arena.

Good points, all.  I still pay attention to the Michelin rating when we used to travel in Europe and still in New York.  but other than that, it doesn't mean much.  But it's an interesting outlier.  It's a completely provincial and antiquated and outmoded ranking model, but yet still carries weight in significant sub-populations.  Kinda like Wine Spectator rankings.  You can just as easily glean more insightful and current intel on a restaurant or bottle or whatever from more reliable sources these days, but for certain niches...it has gravitas.  Kinda like I'd laugh at somebody giving me a hotel suggestion from a Fodor's, but I still like watching Rick Steve's on PBS and take his recs to heart. I dunno.

But Austin absolutely has superlative food quality, sourcing, chefs, and sommeliers.  But do sorely lack in service and circus experience.  Just the nature of our town.  I remember about 10 years ago, the Austin Food & Wine Foundation (or whatever the fuck it was called) was promising this massive upgrade in our dining scene and I thought it was just Austin ego.  And they wanted to start coalescing around the windfall of cash and culinary opportunities coming into town.  And I naively brushed it off thinking it was just pride of authorship.  Covid pause notwithstanding, our town is just flush with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to mid-to-high end dining.  And we still have some unique long-time stalwarts to boot.  We still have younger munchkins so rarely get to dine out these days except for a business dinner or fundraiser here or there, but it's in almost every part of town fucking insane how good our restaurant scene is.  It was always good, but it's world-class now.  Just not star-rated apparently.  But then, who gives a shit?  

2 hours ago, sidis said:

uchi and uchiko are definitely michelin star level food.  they have no service though.  they have waiters.  nowhere in austin has 2/3 michelin star service/hospitality.  not even close.  it's an order of magnitude difference...totally inconsequential to the quality and enjoyment of the food but it there is not a single place that even tries to achieve anything in that arena.

dipdipdip tatsuya gives it a real go.

Yeah the reality is the restaurant scene is much much better than it used to be... I mean light years... old Austin wishes we would only eat at Players, Threadgills, Nighthawk and Matt's El Rancho.  We're better off than we were... I don't need Michelin stars... there's plenty of great options around town.

Just now, texasdago said:

Yeah the reality is the restaurant scene is much much better than it used to be... I mean light years... old Austin wishes we would only eat at Players, Threadgills, Nighthawk and Matt's El Rancho.  We're better off than we were... I don't need Michelin stars... there's plenty of great options around town.

You left out Holiday House. Do you even Old West Austin, Bro?

 

22 hours ago, crash_davis said:

We are just a bunch of old ladies at a denture finding party complaining about shit. Here's all of us on this thread to everything in Austin.

cd9c14b8bdde3a69670ed864d6de3014.gif&f=1

1, 1, 1, 1

1, 1, 1, 1

4 minutes ago, hornian said:

You left out Holiday House. Do you even Old West Austin, Bro?

 

Pig Stand ftw 

  • Austin Pig Stand 1960
  • South Congress & Live Oak.

 

1B08BC27-E44F-476D-AA0B-74B1985D9F6E.jpeg

have you guys eaten at michelin star restaurants? dai due and odd duck are not on that level.

20 minutes ago, hornian said:

You left out Holiday House. Do you even Old West Austin, Bro?

 

plus the occasional "Austin died when they closed the Armadillo"

Disclaimer: I rarely get out of my bubble and eat at the same spots over and over... but does Austin have many restaurants with outdoor ambiance? I feel like this city is the king of restaurants that feature great views of parking lots and outdoor seating surrounded by parking bollards. Hell, I'd take indoor ambiance. Recently went to Tiki Tatsuya and absolutely loved it... in no small part because I felt like I was transported somewhere else. 

7 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

Disclaimer: I rarely get out of my bubble and eat at the same spots over and over... but does Austin have many restaurants with outdoor ambiance? I feel like this city is the king of restaurants that feature great views of parking lots and outdoor seating surrounded by parking bollards. Hell, I'd take indoor ambiance. Recently went to Tiki Tatsuya and absolutely loved it... in no small part because I felt like I was transported somewhere else. 

You need to get out of your bubble for sure as we love all the places where we can eat outside.  Where is your bubble?

3 minutes ago, texasdago said:

You need to get out of your bubble for sure as we love all the places where we can eat outside.  Where is your bubble?

NW Austin

11 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

Disclaimer: I rarely get out of my bubble and eat at the same spots over and over... but does Austin have many restaurants with outdoor ambiance? I feel like this city is the king of restaurants that feature great views of parking lots and outdoor seating surrounded by parking bollards. Hell, I'd take indoor ambiance. Recently went to Tiki Tatsuya and absolutely loved it... in no small part because I felt like I was transported somewhere else. 

Have you ever been outdoors in Austin from May through September?

44 minutes ago, texasdago said:

Yeah the reality is the restaurant scene is much much better than it used to be... I mean light years... old Austin wishes we would only eat at Players, Threadgills, Nighthawk and Matt's El Rancho.  We're better off than we were... I don't need Michelin stars... there's plenty of great options around town.

Readers Poll - Food - The Austin Chronicle

6 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

Have you ever been outdoors in Austin from May through September?

Shoot... I'll eat outdoors year round.  No Fs given.

But it does depend what you're looking for.  I mean, you can go the path of something like Bar Peached and eat in their sunken patio area or hang outside of Cosmic Saltillo or drive over Flo's off of 35th.  I mean, you can always drive over to Ski Shores from NW Austin and pay a bit more to enjoy the experience.  I have done it in August when it was 105+ and I maybe would not recommend that unless you pull up in a boat.

24 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

have you guys eaten at michelin star restaurants? dai due and odd duck are not on that level.

Yes and not every Michelin star place is a French Laundry level either. 

5 minutes ago, YChang said:

Yes and not every Michelin star place is a French Laundry level either. 

you named a 3 star restaurant considered for a long time to be one of the best in the world.  way to take a stance.  

Edited by gsoda3

On 2/3/2024 at 6:35 AM, South Austin said:

Why the fuck can’t Austin make a straight fucking line on the road with all these mobility improvements?

This shit drives me nuts. Fucking schroedingers lanes out here. Congress from 71 to Stassney is just a mess of random lines without discernible lanes. 

1 hour ago, hornian said:

You left out Holiday House. Do you even Old West Austin, Bro?

Fuck that vegetarian lady in Tarrytown.

27 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

There's a new dashboard for crimes in Austin that you can break down by district, year, or crime. Pretty interesting.

https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiYmYyNTQ4NjgtNjhlMC00YjNiLWE0MDAtZTUwNWU5ZGIwNTk4IiwidCI6IjVjNWUxOWY2LWE2YWItNGI0NS1iMWQwLWJlNDYwOGE5YTY3ZiJ9

Surprisingly, theft from motor vehicle is trending down nicely (columns are 2020-2023):

image.png.5d8ef823c20ab07b5060b15332c19db1.png

Car theft has soared (thanks, Kia). 

 

why steal from the car when you can just steal the car?

32 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

Disclaimer: I rarely get out of my bubble and eat at the same spots over and over... but does Austin have many restaurants with outdoor ambiance? I feel like this city is the king of restaurants that feature great views of parking lots and outdoor seating surrounded by parking bollards. Hell, I'd take indoor ambiance. Recently went to Tiki Tatsuya and absolutely loved it... in no small part because I felt like I was transported somewhere else. 

Bulevar - where the old Z Tejas was in the Arboretum - has a nice patio that has a good view. 

4 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Fuck that vegetarian lady in Tarrytown.

She was literally a law school exam question in my property law class.  

5 minutes ago, hornian said:

She was literally a law school exam question in my property law class.  

John Kelso was seemingly the only Austinite who was powerful enough to take her on, and she still didn't bite.  A very weird lady.  She ruined a lot of lives in that neighborhood.

28 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

you named a 3 star restaurant considered for a long time to be one of the best in the world.  way to take a stance.  

Oy, not trying to be too argumentative... but this is a 1 star place I went to last year was really good but obviously subjective to me, not head and shoulders above dai due or Odd duck https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/new-york-state/new-york/restaurant/joomak-banjum

That's all. 

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...
Football ... Basketball ... Baseball ... Other Sports ... Futbol ... 🤫995🤫 ... Gambling ... Movies & TV ... Music ... Hobbies ... Lulz ... Food & Travel ... Daily Texan ... Business & Markets ... Cloak Room ... Help ... For Sale ... Board Discussion ... Advertise... Tailgate Donations

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.